March 20th, 1863.—Mattie and I have the whooping cough very bad. She cannot retain her food, though I do not suffer in that way, it is extremely painful. When the spells of coughing take me the blood oozes from my eyes, nose and ears. Three doctors have been called in and they say they never saw such a case. It is well I am not going to school this winter for I do not believe I could study.
Sam Donelson went back to the army of the West today. Mother is with Aunt Nancy.
Susan Bradford is 17 years old when this entry was made.