25th. Was kept very busy all day with wood.

Monday, 25th–Nothing of importance. Camp life is a big change from life at home. In the army, every man simply obeys orders; he knows his place and keeps it. Our officers generally are kind to the men, especially if a man tries to do his duty.

MONDAY 25 Coldest morning yet. M. down to 32. Went to the Pat office and got my appointment from the Comr after going to a Magistrate and taking the oath, in such cases prescribed by law. Have been engaged in filling out certificates of Lands to purchasers. Nothing new in the military line today or [...]

NOVEMBER 25th.—Yesterday Fort Pickens opened fire on our batteries at Pensacola, but without effect. One of their ships was badly crippled.

November 25. We have been evacuating the British with great zest to-day; good weather, clean streets, and many praises for the 22nd, Charley’s regiment, among other battalions–praises, that is, with the exception of some vile youths of the street, near Stuart’s, who shouted “hurrah for the never go ‘ways!” . . . We had a [...]

November 25th.–I remarked the other evening that, with all the disorder in Washington, there are no thieves. Next night, as we were sitting in our little symposium, a thirsty soldier knocked at the door for a glass of water. He was brought in and civilly treated. Under the date of the 27th, accordingly, I find [...]

24th. Sunday. Stayed in camp. D. R. H. and C. G. F. went up town. Read some and wrote home.

Bird’s Point, Mo., November 24, 1861. Sabbath morning, 10 o’clock. I’m in clover. I’ve got a great big “comfort,” weighs a ton, that has been sent to my partner and myself from a young lady in Bloomington. We’ve tramped so much since I received that pair of blankets from you, and we never know when [...]

Sunday, 24th–We had our first regular company inspection this morning at to o’clock, and at 2 p.m. we had general review, then at 5 o’clock we were on dress parade, but as it is Sunday there was no regular drilling.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1861. This has been rather a cool Sunday with the first Snow of the season this evening. We have seen no ice yet, and no very hard frost. Wife and all the Children were out to church this morning. Myself and Julia went this afternoon. Chas & Sallie called and spent an [...]

NOVEMBER 24th.—Gen. Floyd has retreated from Cotton Hill, and the enemy threatens our western communications. Gen. Lee has been sent to Western Virginia, but it is not an adequate field for him. He should have command of the largest army in the service, for his is one of the most capacious minds we have.

Winchester, November 24, 1861. I have read over again this morning your two last letters, and whilst they inspire a feeling of happiness that there is a dear wife at home whose love I prize and cherish more than anything else on earth, yet they make me feel sad that she is unhappy. I think, [...]

23rd. Brownell and Brooks left on furlough, so I had double duties.

Saturday, 23d–We cleaned up today, preparing for our first inspection and review at Benton Barracks. I sent $10.00 home today, the surplus of my State pay.

SATURDAY 23 Rained last night and was a rainy morning, but it cleared off about noon. I went to the Land office today and was examined as the law directs for all clerks, but it is very much of a “humbug.” If it is wanted to keep an applicant out, it is a very easy [...]

NOVEMBER 23d.—J. C. Breckinridge and Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, have been here; and both have been made brigadier-generals, and assigned to duty in the West. Although the former retained his seat in the Senate of the United States for many months after the war began, no one doubts that he is now with us, and [...]

Scene at Beaufort, S.C.—Negro Hucksters Disposing of their Produce to the Soldiers.—From a Sketch by W.T. Crane From Frank Leslie’s American Soldier in the Civil War, page 430, 1895 The pleasures of honest ownership were as sweet to the soldiers, even in the land of plenty, as to the most exemplary Christian citizen. Then there [...]

November. Bessie Wolcott’s wedding came off very brilliantly. Carry went out to Astoria the day before. Mother and Hatty drove out together. Mary is said to have looked very handsome in white silk trimmed with black lace and white silk ruches. Hatty wore her crimson silk with white valencienne spencer or waist, and mother was [...]

Nov. 22. The first death in our regiment occurred this morning. John Shepard of Company B died of typhoid fever. His remains will be sent to his home in Milford for burial.

FRIDAY 22 Saw the Sec’y this morning and presented Mr Lincolns letter. He was rather obstinate, could not restore me to the place I occupied in the Patent office at present possibly, but would give me a 2nd Class Clerkship in the Land Office for the present if I would accept of it. It is [...]

Friday, 22d–New troops are arriving all the time, and there are something like forty thousand men in the barracks at present. This camp has the appearance of being nearer the seat of war. It is a novel experience for us country boys to see so many men all armed for war, some on guard duty, [...]

NOVEMBER 22d.—We have information that the enemy have invaded and taken possession of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Accomac and Northampton Counties. They invaded the two counties with a force of 3000 men, and we had only 800 to oppose them. Of course there could be no contest against such odds. They carried my tenant [...]

November 22nd.–All the American papers have agreed that the Trent business is quite according to law, custom, and international comity, and that England can do nothing. They cry out so loudly in this one key there is reason to suspect they have some inward doubts. General McClellan invited all the world, including myself, to see [...]

21st. Visited Uncle Washington’s boat “The Rawson.” Heard Gough lecture.