THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1861. Cloudy morning but rather a pleasant day. I have been engaged most of the day at home, heard the boys recite their lessons. Went to the Ave, bot some oil cloth for our Parlor stove and cut it down to fit. Wife went up to the Presidents to see Mrs Lincoln, [...]

NOVEMBER 21st.—My mysterious lieutenant was arrested this morning, on the western route, and proved, as I suspected, to be a woman. But Gen. Winder was ordered by the Secretary to have her released.

Nov. 20. Yesterday, having a day to myself, I visited Annapolis. I was greatly interested in visiting the old State House on account of the historic memories that cluster around it. I was shown up in the hall where Washington, in December, 1783, resigned his commission in the army to the Continental congress, then in [...]

Wednesday, 20th–The first thing this morning was to finish drying our clothing, after which we cleaned up and burnished our guns. There are several thousand troops, infantry, cavalry, and artillery here in camp. The barracks are ordinary frame structures and built around the drill ground. The Eleventh Iowa is located on the west side of [...]

WEDNESDAY 20 Another fine day, much as yesterday. The great event of the day is the Grand Review which took place at Balls X roads some six or eight miles from the River in V.A. 75000 men or eighty Regts of Infantry, seven of Cavalry, and twenty Batteries of Artillery or 120 pieces. The Prest [...]

NOVEMBER 20th.—I had a protracted and interesting interview to-day with a gaudily dressed and rather diminutive lieutenant, who applied for a passport to the Mississippi River, via Chattanooga, and insisted upon my giving him transportation also. This demand led to interrogatories, and it appeared that he was not going under special orders of the adjutant-general. [...]

Bird’s Point, November 20, 1861 Part of Pitt’s (Col. W. Pitt Kellogg’s) cavalry are here. We are glad to see them as it will relieve us of considerable picket duty. But otherwise cavalry are of not much service in this brushy, swampy country. That fox of a Jeff Thompson that we chased down to New [...]

20th.–This morning we received marching orders to Bailey’s, to have a grand review of the whole army. Very few had any confidence in that part of the order announcing the purpose–a review. All believed it was to take Fairfax, and then perhaps to move forward on Centreville and Manassas ; but all were disappointed. It [...]

November 20th.–To-day a grand review, the most remarkable feature of which was the able disposition made by General McDowell to march seventy infantry regiments, seventeen batteries, and seven cavalry regiments, into a very contracted space, from the adjoining camps. Of the display itself I wrote a long account, which is not worth repeating here. Among [...]

Tuesday, 19th–We started down the river again at daylight and reached St. Louis at 3 p. m. We landed and marched to Benton Barracks, where we were to be at home. Just as we left the boat it commenced to rain and we marched the whole way in a downpour of rain which soaked our [...]

TUESDAY 19 A delightful day, bright but cool. Called up to the “White House” this morning to see Maj Watt, did not find him. Walked into the “East room” to see the New Carpet and papering, all very elegant. Called at Willards, met Doct Harris of the R.I. Brigade. He was released from Richmond on [...]

NOVEMBER 19th.—To-day Monsieur Paul, French Consul, applied in person for passports on behalf, I believe, of some French players (Zouaves) to Norfolk. Of course I declined granting them. He grew enthusiastic, and alleged that British subjects had enjoyed the privilege. He said he cared nothing for the parties applying in this instance; but he argued [...]

Jane Stuart Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza. New York, November, 1861. Dear Girls: I went to the provisional Hospital here to see if the volunteers wanted anything. Mrs. Darragh took me all over, and said she wanted woolen shirts and socks very much. So I sent the requisition to the society and she will get [...]

November 19th.–I rarely sat down to write under a sense of greater responsibility, for it is just possible my letter may contain the first account of the seizure of the Southern Commissioners which will reach England; and, having heard all opinions and looked at authorities, as far as I could, it appears to me that [...]

18th. Monday. Theodore, Roxena and mother came to camp in the afternoon.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1861. Cold, clear day but no frost. Went to Geotown in the morning to pay my rent. Got there an hour too early, waited in the Hotel (reading the morning paper) for Mr Bangs. Walked over and rode in the omnibus back. Bought a fine board for the parlor. Have concluded to [...]

Monday, 18th–We left Keokuk at daylight and ran all day without accident or incident. We again tied up for the night, for fear of encountering a “secesh” battery on the banks. The weather is delightful and riding on the “Father of Waters” is very enjoyable.

NOVEMBER 18th.—To-day the Secretary told me, in reply to my question, that he had authentic information of the seizure of Messrs. Slidell and Mason, our commissioners to Europe, by Capt. Wilkes, of the U. S. Navy, and while on board the steamer Trent, a British vessel, at sea. I said I was glad of it. [...]

Caroline Carson Woolsey to Eliza. Nov. 18th. Dear Eliza: Your most delightful letter has just been read aloud amid the cheers of the assembled family. What a splendid time you are having with your brigadiers and serenades. How I should like to sacrifice myself and join you in a few of your “noble” sprees, and [...]

November 18th.–There is a storm of exultation sweeping over the land. Wilkes is the hero of the hour. I saw Mr. F. Seward at the State Department at ten o’clock; but as at the British Legation the orders are not to speak of the transaction, so at the State Department a judicious reticence is equally [...]

17th. Sunday. Stayed at Uncle’s in the morning. Theodore rode my horse to Uncle Jones’. Stayed over night.

Sunday, 17th–We had a pretty stiff introduction to our first night on a river boat, for it snowed in the night. My bunk-mate, James Fossett, and I lay down on the deck with our heads to the smoke-stack instead of our feet, in order to avoid lying with our heads down hill. By morning we [...]

SUNDAY 17 Cool, pleasant day, did not go out to church. Wife and the boys went. Julia is still confined to the house and coughs a good deal yet. Took a long walk this evening, brought up at Willards Hotel. Saw Mr Stillson there from Rochester. Hotel very full, in fact the City seems to [...]

NOVEMBER 17th.—There are also quite a number of letter-carriers obtaining special passports to leave the Confederacy. They charge $1.50 postage to Washington and Maryland, and as much coming hither. They take on the average three hundred letters, and bring as many, besides diverse articles they sell at enormously high prices. Thus they realize $1000 per [...]