Sunday. 27th–I was again on provost patrol in the city, and with two others was assigned to the mule corral, the meanest place one could possibly be stationed at; for all we had to do was to see that the four mules penned up there did not kick down the fence.

Sunday, 27th.—Examining vaccination marks; small-pox in army.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Sunday Dec^r 27^th 1863

Congress has adjourned over until the 5^th of Jan’y and many of the Members have gone home to spend the Holydays. Christmas has passed off pleasantly. It was a beautiful bright day on Friday and appeared to be enjoyed by all Classes. I walked up to the Capitol in the forenoon to take a look at the East front. The North Wing East Portico is approaching completion and when finished will be a splendid sight. I should perhaps say when the whole East front is completed, as the South wing is to be finished in the same style, and then it is proposed to remove the old East Portico of the Main building and replace it with one projecting forward on a line with the Wings and in the same Style of Architecture. When that is done the East Front will be truly Magnificent. The Dome is nearly finished (outside). The workmen are now removing the scaffolding around the figure of Freedom which surmounts it. The head and shoulders as I can see from my window now project above the scaffold. This week it will all be removed. The great Bronze Door betwen the old chamber and the new “House” Chamber attracts much attention as a work of Art, it is unsurpassed of its kind. I made several “calls” on Christmas day but felt rather lonely withall. Julia is at Fort Simmons still staying with Mis Co^l Welling & Daughter. I spent the evening at my son Cha^s playing Chess with him. Mr Woodward was in their room part of the evening. “Egg Nog” and cake was plenty. We had a fine Christmas dinner at my boarding house, Dr Munsons. I ought to say my dining house as I only take my dinner there. I breakfast where I room. One of my old friends of the Patent office, Mr Strother, called upon me yesterday at the office. He has just returned from Idaho where he has been mining the past year in the mountains, spending most of his time at “Virginia City.” He gives glowing accounts of the gold resources of that region. Were I a few years younger I should be disposed to go back with him in the spring. This is a rainy sunday and I have not been out to church this morning. This afternoon I must visit the Stanton Hospital. I am sorry I did not do so on Christmas, as Mr Stanton (the Secy of War) was there and I would have brot John Peters to his notice and got an order from him to allow of his being mustered as an officer. Yesterday Julia and Miss Jamie Welling came down to the City from the Fort in the Fort Ambulance and poped into my room in the Pat office about noon. Julia had picked up a pet on the way in the shape of a large Newfoundland dog who she said “put his paws on the steps of the Carriage and asked to ride looking very tired.” They took him in and he was quietly sitting in the Ambulance when I waited on them on their departure. When Julia sat down the dog laid his head on her lap as though she had been his best friend looking up into her face and probably wishing to say, “I am truly grateful for your kindness and wish to be your attendent and defender as long as I live.” He was a noble looking fellow but belonged in Georgetown and had strayed from his master who has probably recovered him before this as the girls intended to leave him in G. on their return. Julia only staid in Washington a few minutes, only long enough to call upon me and thank me for her Christmas present which I sent her on that day, a little tortoise shell box to put her breast pin and earrings in.

DECEMBER 27th.—From Charleston we learn that on Christmas night the enemy’s shells destroyed a number of buildings. It is raining to-day: better than snow.

To-day, Sunday, Mr. Hunter is locked up with Mr. Seddon, at the war office. No doubt he is endeavoring to persuade the Secretary not to relinquish office. Mr. S. is the only Secretary of War over whom Mr. Hunter could ever exercise a wholesome influence. Mr. Stephens, the Vice-President, is still absent; and Mr. H. is president of the Senate.

Mr. Hunter is also a member of the Committee on Finance, and the protracted consultations may refer mainly to that subject—and a difficult one it is. Besides, if this revolution be doomed by Providence to failure, Mr. Hunter would be the most potent negotiator in the business of reconstruction. He has great interests at stake, and would save his property—and of course his life.

Another letter from Gov. Vance demands the return of some 300 bales of cotton loaned the Confederate States. He likewise applies for the extension of a detail of a North Carolina soldier, “for satisfactory reasons.”

26th. At midnight orders came to be ready to move an hour before daylight, not much sleep. Lewis not back. Col. Cook attacked the enemy near Mossy Creek. Capron and Garrard for support. Rained all the morning. Uncomfortable. Regts. in line all day. Some artillery and a little musketry firing. Foster sent his thanks for getting out well the other day. Our brigade rather light, 656. Camped near by. Made Hdqrs. at Dr. Peck’s, a rebel, clever, 6 ft. 4 in. in height. Gave me “The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.” Occupied a good room. Comfortable.

Saturday, 26th–The Eleventh and the Fifteenth Iowa returned from Redstone, and they report that there was no sign of the rebels out there. The rebels being out there was all a humbug. The regiments were sent out there so that the officers in town could have a spree on Christmas.^[1]

[1] Many thought at the time that it was a put-up job to give the boys a march–and I still believe it.—A. G. D.

DECEMBER 26th.—No army news. No papers. No merriment this Christmas. Occasionally an exempt, who has speculated, may be seen drunk; but a somber heaviness is in the countenances of men, as well as in the sky above. Congress has adjourned over to Monday.

25th. Cloudy and letter from home. How I should like to be at home today. God bless all the dear friends. Wonder where Thede is today. Gave two or three little Christmas gifts. Rachel Brazelton gave me a nice large apple as a Christmas gift. Took dinner with Maj. Nettleton. Had some apples to eat. In the evening wrote letters home and to Fannie. Sent Lu to Strawberry Plains.

Friday, 25th–It was a false alarm. The rebel attack did not materialize and we came in from picket at the usual time. The extra force from the other two regiments returned late in the afternoon. The camp is a lonely place with so many out at Redstone, and it is Christmas Day, too. I went to the regimental hospital and purchased from the steward a nice mince pie for my Christmas dinner, costing me fifty cents.

Friday, 25th.—Several captains under arrest this A. M., because their men went home. 36th and 39th Regiments were made up largely from surrounding country, so many of the boys would go out home for a few days.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

December 25th. Christmas Morn. The boys made very happy last night over the prospect of returning to our camp. Spent the evening singing, making speeches, having a good time. It was late when the tumult ceased and we lay down for a little rest and sleep. Our second Christmas in the service. We bid goodbye to old Charlestown as we go marching on, singing and cheering, on to Martinsburg. Weather fine, a perfect day. Hard marching over a very rough road. At i P. M. stopped for rest and rations. Again on the march, passing through Leestown, fording the Opequan Creek. Pushing right along, anxious to reach camp. About two miles from Martinsburg passed the picket line. With music by the drum corps and every man in line, we marched through the town, reaching camp just before dark. The guard left in charge of our camp gave us a hearty welcome. Very tired, glad to tumble into our tents after an absence of sixteen days.

DECEMBER 25th.—No war news to-day. But a letter, an impassioned one, from Gov. Vance, complains of outrages perpetrated by detached bodies of Confederate States cavalry, in certain counties, as being worse than any of the plagues of Egypt: and says that if any such scourge had been sent upon the land, the children of Israel would not have been followed to the Red Sea. In short, he informs the Secretary of War, if no other remedy be applied, he will collect his militia and levy war against the Confederate States troops! I placed that letter on the Secretary’s table, for his Christmas dinner. As I came out, I met Mr. Hunter, President of the Senate, to whom I mentioned the subject. He said, phlegmatically, that many in North Carolina were “prone to act in opposition to the Confederate States Government.”

Yesterday the President sent over a newspaper, from Alabama, containing an article marked by him, in which he was very severely castigated for hesitating to appoint Gen. J. E Johnston to the command of the western army. Why he sent this I can hardly conjecture, for I believe Johnston has been assigned to that command; but I placed the paper in the hands of the Secretary.

My son Custis, yesterday, distributed proposals for a night-school (classical), and has some applications already. He is resolved to do all he can to aid in the support of the family in these cruel times.

It is a sad Christmas; cold, and threatening snow. My two youngest children, however, have decked the parlor with evergreens, crosses, stars, etc. They have a cedar Christmas-tree, but it is not burdened. Candy is held at $8 per pound. My two sons rose at 5 A.M. and repaired to the canal to meet their sister Anne, who has been teaching Latin and French in the country; but she was not among the passengers, and this has cast a shade of disappointment over the family.

A few pistols and crackers are fired by the boys in the streets—and only a few. I am alone; all the rest being at church. It would not be safe to leave the house unoccupied. Robberies and murders are daily perpetrated.

I shall have no turkey to-day, and do not covet one. It is no time for feasting.

Thursday, 24th–I went on picket again this morning. Late in the evening the Eleventh and the Fifteenth Regiments were ordered out to a little town called Redstone, as it was reported that a strong force of the rebels was there. At 10 o’clock at night a detail of sixty men from the Thirteenth and Sixteenth Regiments was sent out to reinforce our pickets, as it was feared the rebels’ cavalry would make an attack upon Vicksburg in the early morning.

Thursday, 24th.—L. B. Smith elected orderly sergeant today in place of J. J. Harmon, absent without leave.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Christmas Eve, 1863.–Sarah Gibson Howell was married to Major Foster this evening. She invited all the society and many others. It was a beautiful wedding and we all enjoyed it. Some time ago I asked her to write in my album and she sewed a lock of her black curling hair on the page and in the center of it wrote, “Forget not Gippie.”

December 24th. General Averill and his troops returned today after a raid of fifteen days. The boys and horses show the effects of hard service as I saw them pass through town on to Harper’s Ferry. They did an immense amount of damage to the enemy. Hard fighting, fording many streams in extreme cold weather during cold rains, and snow. A soldier’s life in the field is a very severe one. The poor horses suffer as well as the men. Orders received for the regiment to return to our camp at Martinsburg. Christmas Eve.

DECEMBER 24th.—Another interposition of Providence in behalf of my family. The bookseller who purchased the edition of the first volume of my “Wild Western Scenes—new series,” since Mr. Malsby’s departure from the country, paid me $300 to-day, copyright, and promises more very soon. I immediately bought a load of coal, $31.50, and a half cord of wood for $19. I must now secure some food for next month.

Among the papers sent in by the President, to-day, was one from Gen. Whiting, who, from information received by him, believes there will be an attack on Wilmington before long, and asks reinforcements.

One from Gen. Beauregard, intimating that he cannot spare any of his troops for the West, or for North Carolina. The President notes on this, however, that the troops may be sent where they may seem to be actually needed.

Also an application to permit one of Gen. Sterling Price’s sons to visit the Confederate States, which the President is not disposed to grant.

The lower house of Congress yesterday passed a bill putting into the army all who have hitherto kept out of it by employing substitutes. I think the Senate will also pass it. There is great consternation among the speculators.

December 24th.–As we walked, Brewster reported a row he had had with General Hood. Brewster had told those six young ladies at the Prestons’ that “old Sam” was in the habit of saying he would not marry if he could any silly, sentimental girl, who would throw herself away upon a maimed creature such as he was. When Brewster went home he took pleasure in telling Sam, how the ladies had complimented his good sense, whereupon the General rose in his wrath and threatened to break his crutch over Brewster’s head. To think he could be such a fool–to go about repeating to everybody his whimperings.

I was taking my seat at the head of the table when the door opened and Brewster walked in unannounced. He took his stand in front of the open door, with his hands in his pockets and his small hat pushed back as far as it could get from his forehead.

“What!” said he, “you are not ready yet? The generals are below. Did you get my note?” I begged my husband to excuse me and rushed off to put on my bonnet and furs. I met the girls coming up with a strange man. The flurry of two major-generals had been too much for me and I forgot to ask the new one’s name. They went up to dine in my place with my husband, who sat eating his dinner, with Lawrence’s undivided attention given to him, amid this whirling and eddying in and out of the world militant. Mary Preston and I then went to drive with the generals. The new one proved to be Buckner,[1] who is also a Kentuckian. The two men told us they had slept together the night before Chickamauga. It is useless to try: legs can’t any longer be kept out of the conversation. So General Buckner said: “Once before I slept with a man and he lost his leg next day.” He had made a vow never to do so again. “When Sam and I parted that morning, we said: ‘You or I may be killed, but the cause will be safe all the same.'”

After the drive everybody came in to tea, my husband in famous good humor, we had an unusually gay evening. It was very nice of my husband to take no notice of my conduct at dinner, which had been open to criticism. All the comfort of my life depends upon his being in good humor.

[1] Simon B. Buckner was a graduate of West Point and had served in the Mexican War. In 1887 he was elected Governor of Kentucky and, at the funeral of General Grant, acted as one of the pall-bearers.

24th. At 1:30 orders came to move immediately to the Chuckey for the purpose of capturing a rebel brigade. Campbell’s brigade to attack in front and Garrard the rear, Garrard to have command. Col. Palmer, senior, of G.’s, had detachments from 11th Ohio, 75th Penn., 1st Tenn. When half a mile from road, rebels fired on our pickets and Palmer rushed out, bringing on an engagement. Rebels charged nearly to our horses, then we charged them for half a mile. Ordered back by Sturgess just as were making a flank movement. Rather heavy loss on each side. Saw Bennie Sears. Things looked rather scaly for awhile. Got out all right. In camp at 10 P. M. Supper.

23rd. Hillhouse came around early. Hurried breakfast and wrote a few lines home and to Fannie, for Thede to take. Got George a saddle and Lewis govt. horse. How I dislike to have Thede leave me. I shall be homesick. Still it is best. Poor fellow. God grant he may get well soon. Command moved at 9 A. M. following Woolford’s division. I waited till near dark. Lu (Emmons) and I went together. Awful ford over Holston. Found brigade at Newmarket. Took supper with Maj. Nettleton. Slept on floor.

Wednesday. 23d–The weather continues quite pleasant. There is no news. All is quiet here. There has been no foraging for two months now, for the reason that there is nothing left to forage. I often wonder what the farmers in this section live on; whatever they have certainly cannot be in abundance. The citizens of Vicksburg are a little more fortunate; that is, if they have the greenbacks, for since July 4th, last. Confederate scrip is no longer legal tender. Some people still have a little gold and silver, which comes from its hiding place when their larders run low.

Wednesday, 23d.—Built our winter quarter house to-day. Comfortable.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

December 23d. All quiet through the night. This is known as a very loyal town. The Johnnies call it Little Massachusetts, so we were informed by the people, who were very kind to us. With daylight our duty ended. We remained until noontime, when we left for Charlestown. Have been sorry that I did not keep the names of the cavalry scouts. The detail from our company, C, Thomas A. Loomis, Lemuel A. Manning, Charles H. Lynch. Arrived at headquarters late this P. M. Tired. Pleased with the trip. Enjoyed scouting when everything went well.

We are all the time watching the mountain passes and the fords. The guerillas know every foot of this country and section of Virginia. They make many raids on the B. & O. R. R., and are generally successful, capturing and wrecking trains. All is quiet at this point. Some of the boys managed to find skates and are having a great time on a pond. Women and children watch the tricks on the ice performed by our boys and seem pleased.

DECEMBER 23d.—Nothing further from the West. But we have reliable information of the burning (accidentally, I suppose) of the enemy’s magazine at Yorktown, destroying all the houses, etc.

I learn to-day that the Secretary of War revoked the order confiscating blockade goods brought from the enemy’s country.