Washington Wednesday Feb. 18th 1863. It has been about as unpleasant as it is possible for it to be today. It has rained nearly all day, and the snow and water on the pavement is nearly over shoes in depth. I have kept very close only going from my room to the office and back [...]

Washington Tuesday Feb. 17th 1863. Today we have a real old “fashioned Snow Storm.” It has snowed all day. The weather is mild and the snow melted fast, but it is about seven inches deep tonight on a level, a greater body of snow than we have had this three or four years. The side [...]

Monday Feb 16th 1863 A beautiful day, bright and mild. No particular news or excitement in the City. Arrests are made almost every day of those acting as Spies, or engaged in contraband trade. Mr Nairn a prominent and wealthy Drugist was recently arrested for purchasing medicines for the Rebels. He is now in the [...]

Washington Sunday Feb’y 15 1863. Went to the Senate Chamber this morning at 11. and heard G B Cheever the celebrated radical Abolitionist preach, or rather declaim against Slavery. I never heard the man before and had some curiosity to hear what he would say. The Senate Chamber was crowded. I did not leave the [...]

Washington Saturday Feb 14th 1863. Another fine day but a little cooler than yesterday. Mrs Schram of Pok’eepsie called on me today at the office and as Mr Newton is a quaker, she “thee” and “thoud” him out of all the seeds, bulbs, and Plants she desired. Lieut Bemis also called on me. I was [...]

Washington Friday Feb’y 13th 1863. A Beautiful bright pleasant day with the atmosphere so pure and braceing that I could not resist its influence but took a long walk before going to the office. We have so much wet fogy weather lately that the change is doubly welcome. We have warm (or rather Mild) pleasant [...]

Thursday Feb’y 12th 1863 No very strange event has happened today that I am aware of. Everything seems moveing along Smoothly here in the City. But there is a feeling of fear and distrust in reference to the threatening aspect of affairs in the North West. I am hopefull of the Armies in the field [...]

Washington Wednesday Feby 11. 1863 Fears are now frequently expressed that we are to have trouble in the free states. There seems to exist a great number of peace men, men who are willing to make peace on any terms “only stop the war.” The “Knights of the Golden Circle” (K.G.C.) a secret Society are [...]

Washington Tuesday Feb 10th 1863 The weather continues pleasant, and everything quiet as far as the War is concerned. The scene seems just now to be shifting to the South, and we are expecting every day to hear that Savannah or Charleston has been attacked, perhaps both. Genl Fosters N.C. Army has gone to S.C. [...]

Washington Monday Feb’y 9th 1863 Another delightful bright warm day and there does not seem to be any particular excitement about anything just now. It is a fact (altho the “papers” say nothing about it) that the “Army of the Potomac” is on the move. One whole grand Division has gone on board Transports and [...]

Washington Sunday Feb’y 8th 1863. A most delightful bright and warm day but wet and muddy crossings. I attended divine service at the Capitol again this morning, heard Dr Stockton. He was not as tedious as usual. There was a very good congregation present, a large portion Strangers. They go to the Capitol for the [...]

Washington Saturday Feb’y 7th 1863. This has been a bright and beautiful day overhead, some mud under foot. I was quite surprised to receive a visit at the office today from Genl Havelock dressed in full uniform. He came into the Hall and enquired for me and his presence created quite a stir as he [...]

Friday Feb’y 6th 1863. This day has passed off very quietly. Some rebel stories floating about tonight to the effect that there had been a “raid” on Aquia Creek, that all our immense Stores had been Burned &c. “Secesh” has been quite jubilent about it this evening. It is, of course, all “bosh.” I stoped [...]

Washington Thursday Feb’y 5th 1863. I hardly know how to fill out a page tonight. It has been cold and Stormy having snowed most of the day, tonight the snow is more like rain and the weather has moderated. I was on the Ave after I left the office and bought a pair of rubbers, [...]

Washington Wednesday. Feb’y 4th 1863 It has been the coldest day of the Season with a sharp cutting wind. The “Grand Concert” came off this evening. I had tickets rather more than I sold but did not see or hear much of the Concert. I think the audience (which was a large one) were not [...]

Washington Tuesday Febru’y 3rd 1863 It was quite warm and pleasant this morning. But tonight it is cold with a kee[n] north wind which quite upsets all my calculations for comfort in my room for the chimney and my stove do not work together at all, the draft being decidedly down instead of up. I [...]

Monday Feb’y 2nd 1863 Have not done much in the office today, there has not been much to do. I wrote a letter home inclosing a draft for $75.00, also sent a bundle of news papers. I send one every day, the “daily Chronicle,” which is left at my room every morning. A number of [...]

Washington. Feb’y 1st 1863. Sunday. Went to the Capitol today and heard the Chaplin Dr Stockton. He is rather dry and tedious, his sermons this winter have been more of a doctrinal, than a practical character. I believe in practical Christianity and practical preaching. I dont suppose that I am very orthodox, for it does [...]

Washington Saturday Jan’y 31st 1863 The month of Jan’y has passed away and in looking back I find matters connected with the War in much the same condition they were in a month ago. It seems no nearer a close, but on the whole I think matters look more bright for us generaly. The Rebels [...]

Washington Friday January 30th 1863 Not an unpleasant day over head but the Streets are in an awful condition, being unpaved they are almost impassible. Assisted Mrs Reed in the “N York Soldiers Relief association” Room in packing a Box to send to one of the Regts over the River. The room is in the [...]

Thursday Jan’y 29th 1863 It has been a wintery day, the snow still lying on the ground but it has frozen very little. The streets are deep with “slush.” The City is very quiet. All are in anxious expectation of hearing important news from some quarter, either from Rosecrans in Tennessee, or from Grant at [...]

Washington Wednesday Jan’y 28th 1863. It has snowed all day without cessation, but it has melted about as fast as it has come. It is a little colder tonight and the snow is three or four inches deep on the ground. Mr & Mrs Bemis called on me again today and I took them to [...]

Tuesday Jan’y 27th 1863 This has been a wet drizzly day, one well calculated to give a person the “blues,” and I think that almost every one has the “blues” in view of our present state of affairs. The future looks as dark and unpromising as ever. The rebellion seems to be just as far [...]

Washington Monday Jan’y 26th 1863 Well, Genl Burnside has resigned and “fighting Joe” Hooker is in command of the “Army of the Potomac,” and Genls Sumner & Franklin are relieved of their commands. What this last thing means remains to be seen, Court Martials possibly. I dread the effects which these movements may have upon [...]