1862
Thursday Jan’y 16th
Streets all ice this morning and all the boys out Skateing before breakfast. In the office all day. Geo D Prentice of the Louisville Journal in the room today. Very plain appearing man, rather slovenly in Dress and looking anything but a Wit who keeps the whole country laughing.
Went down this evening to see a fire Bomb burst and burn on the ground south of the Presidents House. It is designed to set fire to buildings, woods &c fired from a Mortar. The Lincoln boys were here to dinner and brought a request from their Mother that our boys “Bud” & “Holly” would go home and sleep with them tonight and they are there. War matters appear to be coming to a crisis and it is almost certain that there will be an advance soon. Genl McClellan is again in the Saddle after his illness, and expectation is on “tiptoe” to hear from the Burnside Expedition & Grants down the Mississippi. Called upon Judge Mason today. Saw Mr [Forburk?] of Buffalo at Willards. A perfect jam there tonight.
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The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.