JANUARY 6th.—No news.

Sunday Jany 5th

The coldest morning yet. M. down to 14. The Col is getting homesick, says he must take the cars in the morning. I did not go out today, family all went to Church. I staid at home with the Col. — It snows some tonight. The cars go at 6 o’clock. The Col wishes me to go to the cars with him, not a very pleasant performance in the snow before daylight. But a carriage would be too expensive for the Col. He has been with us (sick) ten days and we have done the best we could by him.

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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.

5th. A blustering, cold day. Delivered wood in the morning, then kept in the house quite closely.

Orders to Leave.

Jan. 5. Orders have been issued to break camp and go aboard the transports tomorrow morning. The boys are now breaking the frozen ground around the tent pins, packing their knapsacks and getting ready for a start. We have been here so long it seems almost like leaving home to break up and go out on untried scenes.

Sunday, 5th–Nothing of importance. Everything is very quiet and it appears lonesome today. Our company had no preaching today, as our chaplain is with another part of the regiment. The weather has become quite warm. Regular picket and patrol duty at night.

Bird’s Point, January 5, 1862.

We received the box of provisions to-day in very good order considering the length of time they have been knocked about on the route. It came by freight by some mistake or other. The doughnuts were the only articles spoiled. They had moulded. I sent the box over from Cairo but was not here when it was opened, so that aside from one cake labeled from Aunt Nancy, I don’t know where a thing comes from. I did recognize your home snaps, too, and thought there was something very familiar in the taste of a mince pie that I ate, but I am too badly used up to-night to be sure of anything, and tell you as I want to how much we are obliged to our good mothers for their thoughtful care for us. I believe every boy in our mess has received socks and mittens from home. One received them by mail from his mother in New York City. At 7 this morning I went over to Cairo with 50 men after forage for our teams. We stood around in the cold, mud and rain for five hours before we got to work, and then the men had all run off but 15 or 18 and we had to roll bales of hay over a way almost impracticable—and all told, it was a mean job and used me up very near totally.

Ame Babcock, Ike McBean, English and Leary have been to see us nearly every day for a week. Colonel Kellogg took supper with us last night. The gunboats were hammering away all day yesterday down the river, and after dinner the general sent our company with four others from our regiment and nearly all of the 1th, with one day’s rations, down the river. We waded about six miles through the mud down the creek and then came back without knowing what we went for. There are none of us that are sick, but we don’t feel as well as we did in tents. I wish we hadn’t built these cabins.

JANUARY 5th.—There are rumors of a court-martial, and I fear the enterprising Jackson will be made to suffer for the crime of others. That men sympathizing with the Union cause were daily leaving Richmond for Baltimore was known to all, but how they gained intelligence of the contemplated movement of Jackson is the mystery.

My dear Girls: The news of Mason and Slidell’s release has arrived since you wrote. It was generally known here about 11 A. M. Saturday. I am quite satisfied with the release and with the grounds of it. In making the claim, England runs counter to all her preceding history in the matter of maritime laws. In holding the men, we should contradict our own previous course. Is it not far better to put England in the wrong, by yielding to her claim and so negatively securing her assent to what America has so long contended for–the rights of neutrals? As the Washington Intelligencer said, Mason and Slidell are for a day, Maritime Law is for all nations and all time. For my part, I think our position more assured, more dignified, more honorable to us since the surrender than ever before. Of course it will not satisfy England. Their peremptory demand, and Lord Lyons’ laconic acceptance, are in contrast with Mr. Seward’s wordy, suave, argumentative letters. They have got in part what they asked–possession of the men; they have not got what they asked–an apology for the “insult to their flag” and the violation of rights of asylum. The Manchester Guardian even says plainly that “whether Mason and Slidell are returned or not, war preparation on the part of England must go on, the day being not far distant when the Southern Confederacy must be recognized, and England must be prepared to support her policy.” Mr. Seward, too, you know, says very plainly that recognition of the South would instantly be the signal of war between ourselves and all the recognizing powers.

5th.–I am very hard worked just now. The Brigade Surgeon is sick, and I being the ranking Surgeon in the Brigade, have his duties to perform. In addition, I have charge, at present, of a large share of the Hospital of the 49th Regiment Penn. Vols., the Surgeon being very ill. That regiment is in dreadful condition. Very many of them are sick, and of very grave diseases. Then, my assistant is off of duty, being suspended on account of charges pending against him, in court martial. From altogether I am much worn down, and need rest.

In my own Regiment, I have none who can be properly called sick. I excuse 75 to 100 from duty almost every day, but it is chiefly on account of bad colds, chaffed feet, or some minor trouble. I have not one man confined to bed, from sickness.

There are many dark clouds hanging over the country now. Amongst them, there are evident signs of loss of confidence in Gen. McClellan. I hope he will make haste to give good account of himself, and thus regain the confidence he has lost.

4th. Answered Fannie’s letter. Received a package from home–letter, pocketbook, etc.

Saturday, 4th–Some of the boys went out today on a ‘possum hunt. They were very successful, as this is a good ‘possum country, especially over on the banks of the Missouri river.

Saturday Jany 4th 1862

Nothing in particular has occured today. The morning was the coldest yet this winter. M. stood 23. At [sic] little sleet in the night with a little snow. The ground was nearly covered, it has been quite wintry. Lieut Swan called just before dark and staid about an hour. Col Merrick was out and Swan did not see him. I went with Swan dow[n] to “Willards,” Quarter Master Hamilton was there waiting for him. Col Bartlett of the 27th was also there on his return from home after a severe fit of sickness, invited him up to spend Sunday with me. The Hotel was quite full, saw some officers of the “Buck Tail” Regt (P.A.) who were in the Drainsville fight. The Capt I saw gave quite a graphic description of that brilliant affair. The Burnside Expedition is now about ready to leave Annapolis and the public is on the “qui vive” to know its destination. Much is expected from it. I came home, went to market and then called down to Mr Hartlys fro [sic] Julia who had been spending the evening there, to bed at 11 o’clock.

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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.

January 4th.—It is just as I feared. Gen. T. J. Jackson, supposing his project to be a profound secret, marched on the 1st instant from Winchester, intending to surprise a force of the enemy at Romney. But he had not proceeded half the distance before he found a printed account of his intended expedition in a Baltimore paper at an inn on the roadside. This was treason of the blackest dye, and will cost us a thousand men. The enemy, of course, escaped, and our poor soldiers, frost-bitten and famished, must painfully retrace all steps of this fruitless march.

Saturday Evening, January, ‘62.

I received yesterday from Mr. Stephen Williams thirty dollars, on the part of Mr. Alexander Van Rensselaer, “for a soldiers’ library.” Stephen, good old soul, said, “ Oh! I’ve got this commission; now won’t you help me? I don’t know about libraries; you can consult Howland,” etc., etc. . . . It will buy about forty plain books for a hospital or regiment. Would the 16th or any regiment in the brigade like one? . . .

Lizzie Greene sent a box of flannel shirts to a Connecticut regiment lately, and put a dozen cigars and a paper of tobacco in a pocket in each– “true Christian philanthropy,” William Bond says;– “send them something they ought not to have.” . . . We have been trying to persuade Mother to go down to Washington with Hatty and Charley, and take a look at things, but she is not to be prevailed on, I am afraid. Charley’s lame hand will prevent him from going for a while, but I think he and H. will go on while Carry is in Boston. Carry goes on Wednesday to Mrs. Huntington Wolcott’s and afterwards to Miss Parsons’, (lately engaged to a tall Captain Stackpole in a Massachusetts regiment now at Annapolis, expecting to go up the York river with Burnside’s expedition). Abby saw Mrs. George Betts to-day, who says her husband (in Hawkins’ Zouaves) expects to join the same expedition immediately. Transports are to take them at once from Hatteras to the rendezvous at Fortress Monroe. They have suffered severely at Hatteras; the mortality in George Betts’ regiment has been very great….

Malvina Williams says she hears G. and E. are known in Washington as the “Angels!”

Mr. Prentiss came in just now for a little call, cheery and bright, asking for your photograph to put in a book he had given him for Christmas. So you can send him one. It’s a good book to be in, Mr. Prentiss’ good book. . . .

William Wheeler, who has been very ill with camp fever, writes home that he has received great kindness from Miss Jane Woolsey, meaning G., and “was delighted with her.” I begged his friends not to mention it; it was but little I could do! But tell Georgy. . . .

Would you like three or four dozen more gloves for your men, lonely and cold sentinels, for instance? Spake the wurred. Mr. Gibson sends a lot of London papers all deep-edged with black for the Prince Consort (rest his soul) and their own sins (bad luck to them) I should hope. The “whirligig of time will no doubt bring in its revenges.” . . .

I had a vision of you to-day, as might be a year ago, sitting on the box seat of a sleigh, with a fur cap with ears, and, shall I say it, a roseate nose, visible when you turned around, skirrying over the crusty roads with the blue bloomy hills lifting, and the white fields rolling away, with the wonderful sparkling rime on everything and the heavy snow breaking down the fir-branches. The vision passed, as Cobb would say, and I tried to make another out of your present circumstances and didn’t succeed at all, which proves that your normal state is not warlike.

Young people at home could not be kept on the nervous strain all the time, and an occasional festivity served as a breathing place, though the regular occupation of the family followed hard upon it.

3rd. Received a letter from Fannie. Was busy with wood until dark.

Friday, 3d–Mrs. Hemmenway gave some of the boys permission to have a dance at her home last night. Quite a number of the boys went and they declare that they had a good time. The girls of the locality were there and most of them either smoked or chewed tobacco. They would dance a while, then rest and smoke, but those that chewed did not care to stop.[1]

[1] Craven Lane, a member of Company E, died of lung fever on this day at Jefferson City. He had been with us but a short time and was a very quiet boy.–A. G. D.

Friday January 3rd

Went to the office as usual. About 1/2 past 11 o’clock went with Col Mirrick to the War Department. On our way we passed through the Treasury to the “White House,” went into the East Room and about the House some. At the War Department we found a great crowd, dispatches comeing in and going out all the time. Officers with shoulder straps with Bars and the leaf and with Eagles and with Stars, hurrying to and fro. Many anxious ones waiting for an interview with the Sec’y, lame and sick looking soldiers waiting for their discharge papers to be made out. The Col had business getting the discharge of a soldier from Rose Wayne Co. The officials were obliging and the application was successful. Ed Dickinson called and staid an hour.

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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.

JANUARY 3d.—The enemy have in the field, according to their official reports, some three-quarters of a million of men; we, about 250,000, or one-quarter of a million. This might answer for defense if we could only know where their blows will fall; but then they have a strong navy and thousands of transports, and we have next to nothing afloat to oppose to them. And there is no entente cordiale between Mr. Benjamin and any of our best generals.

January.

Dear Girls: I have only been waiting for the New Year to come fairly in and shut the door, before sitting down quietly to wish you all the traditionary compliments of the season. . . . We all spent Christmas day together as usual in London Terrace. . . . The prettiest feature of the season was Mother’s Christmas tree for the children, who were in ecstasies of delight, and insisted even upon perching on the branches to get as near to it as possible. Night before last was devoted to a brilliant little party for the children Hatty and Carry,–a very handsome and successful affair. I did not go, my wardrobe presenting only the alternative of bogy or bride, either black silk or a too dressy white silk, but Robert and I feasted on some of the remains last night, on our roundabout way home from Mr. Everett’s lecture at the Academy of Music, and had a near and satisfactory view of the spun sugar beehives and candy castles surmounted by nougat cherubim, which graced the occasion.

2nd. Wrote some and read in “Shirley.”

January 2, 1862.

We’ve waited patiently until after New Year for the box of provisions, and nary box yet. Have given it up for a goner. We’re just as much obliged to you as though we had received it. We haven’t yet eaten all the tomatoes, etc., that came with the quilts. Partly because we are too lazy to cook them, but mostly because we don’t hanker arter them. Beans, bacon and potatoes are our special hobbies or favorites rather, and we are never dissatisfied on our inner man’s account when we have them in abundance and of good quality. Company H of the 17th, Captain Boyd, was down here on the 30th. All the boys save Chancy Black and Billy Stockdale were along. We had a grand time, Nelson’s, Boyd’s and our boys being together for the first time in the war. Yesterday, New Year, the camp enjoyed a general frolic. A hundred or two cavalry boys dressed themselves to represent Thompson’s men and went galloping around camp scattering the footmen and making noise enough to be heard in Columbus. The officers of the 11th Infantry were out making New Year calls in an army wagon with 30 horses to it, preceded by a splendid band. The “boys” got a burlesque on the “ossifers.” They hitched 20 mules to a wagon and filled it with a tin pan and stovepipe band, and then followed it in 60-mule wagon around the camp and serenaded all the headquarters.

General Paine said to-day that our regiment and the 11th would move in a week, but I don’t believe it.

Thursday, 2d–Nothing of importance. The weather is quite cold, but since we are in a building with stoves and plenty of wood, we do not suffer from the cold. Lookout Station is a small town on the railroad between California and Jefferson City; there is a store, tavern, and twelve residences, some of which are vacant, and the country around is heavily timbered.

Jany 2nd 1862

It has been cooler today but not freezing until night, high wind last night which changed before morning. In the office today. Nothing new stirring. The presidents sons here again to dinner with our boys who went home with them and did not return till near 9 o’clock. The boys have a show at the White House, Magic Lantern &c. The President usualy looks in. They say they send him a free ticket!! Mr & Mrs Lincoln take particular notice of our boys. They have dined with the President on two or three occasions. They have the “run” of the “White House.” Col Merrick and I went down to Willards this evening, the first time he has been out. Saw Genl McDowell and some other notables, came home before 7 o’clk. Mis Lowry called and spent an hour. The Col and I took a litle hot whiskey about 9 and the Col retired. 11 o’clock now, I am to bed too.

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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.

JANUARY 2d.—The enemy are making preparations to assail us everywhere. Roanoke Island, Norfolk, Beaufort, and Newbern; Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, Pensacola, and New Orleans are all menaced by numerous fleets on the sea-board, and in the West great numbers of iron-clad floating batteries threaten to force a passage down the Mississippi, while monster armies are concentrating for the invasion of Tennessee and the Cotton States. Will Virginia escape the scourge? Not she; here is the bull’s-eye of the mark they aim at.