FEBRUARY 21st.—All our garrison in Fort Henry, with Gen. Tilghman, surrendered. I think we had only 1500 men there. Guns, ammunition, and stores, all gone. No news from Donelson—and that is bad news. Benjamin says he has no definite information. But prisoners taken say the enemy have been reinforced, and are hurling 80,000 against our [...]

Friday, 21st–We are to bid goodby to Lookout Station tomorrow. Some of the good people living here are sorry to see us go. May they have success for their loyalty to the Union cause.

Feb. 21st. Continued our journey and reached Kansas City a little after noon. Arrested two men pretending to be secessionists–drunk. Encamped out on snow and ice a little distance from town. Major heard of a gang of jay-hawkers and secessionists at Independence under Parker and Quantrell. He detailed 150 men to go after them under [...]

February 21.–Our society met at Fanny Palmer’s this afternoon. I went but did not stay to tea as we were going to Madame Anna Bishop’s concert in the evening. The concert was very, very good. Her voice has great scope and she was dressed in the latest stage costume, but it took so much material [...]

Eliza Woolsey Howland to Joe Howland. February 21 We went yesterday to the Navy Yard and were very much interested in all we saw. They make 15,000 Enfield rifle and musket balls in every twelve hours, or 30,000 while (as now) they work day and night! They also turn out 800 rifled and other cannon [...]

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Open Content Program Title: [General George Brinton McClellan and his wife] Artist/Maker: Charles DeForest Fredricks (American, 1823 – 1894) Culture: American Place: New York, United States (Place Created) Date: 1862 Medium: Albumen silver print Object Number: 84.XD.1157.100 Dimensions: 9 × 5.4 cm (3 9/16 × 2 1/8 in.) Signature(s): (Verso, [...]

February 21st.–A crowd collected here last night and there was a serenade. I am like Mrs. Nickleby, who never saw a horse coming full speed but she thought the Cheerybles had sent post-haste to take Nicholas into co-partnership. So I got up and dressed, late as it was. I felt sure England had sought our [...]

21st.–No grounds yet on which to base an opinion as to when or where we shall go. One day brings us assurances that our Division will in a few days go to Annapolis to join the mortar fleet bound South. The next we hear that we are to advance and take Manassas. To-day we hear [...]

Thursday, 20th–No news of importance. Grant’s recent victories have made the Union sentiment stronger in this locality, which will be a big help to the few Union men left here.

20th. Received letter from Fannie and finished letter to her. Wrote requisitions to balance wood drawn. Were mounted and started from Fort Leavenworth at ten A. M. Traveled about twenty miles over the rolling prairies, and encamped in a piece of woods on an Indian farm. Country finely settled. Indians upon the woodland. Saw a [...]

Thursday Feb 20th 1862 This has been a bright pleasant day, quite a rarity for a month past. There is no particular news in the papers. I have been down onto the Ave this evening. Called upon Mr Daws M.C. who is sick at his rooms co[rne]r of 8th & Ave, bought some maps and [...]

FEBRUARY 8th to 20th.—Such astounding events have occurred since the 8th instant, such an excitement has prevailed, and so incessant have been my duties, that I have not kept a regular journal. I give a running account of them. Roanoke has fallen before superior numbers, although we had 15,000 idle troops at Norfolk within hearing [...]

COLUMBIA, S. C, February 20, 1862.–Had an appetite for my dainty breakfast. Always breakfast in bed now. But then, my Mercury contained such bad news. That is an appetizing style of matutinal newspaper. Fort Donelson ¹ has fallen, but no men fell with it. It is prisoners for them that we can not spare, or [...]

Headquarters 7th Illinois Cavalry, Cape Girardeau, Mo., February 19, 1862. Aren’t things working right now? Do you notice the accounts of the old 8th, and will you say again that I got out of her ranks at the right time? I knew that the 8th would never make her colonel (God bless him!) to blush, [...]

Wednesday 19th Rain all day, roads and crossing are in a horrible condition. The news looks favorable for further Victories to be heard of before long. The whole country is jubilent over the past. I have not been out tonight. After dinner I cleaned out the Aquarium and put in fresh water. The Eel has [...]

Wednesday, 19th–News came that Roanoke Island has been taken by our men. It is reported that our company will leave for California, Missouri, in three or four days and all are rejoicing that our stay here is about over.

19th. Commenced letter to Fannie. Cold better.

Wednesday, 19th.—We are now in our own comfortable little room on Grace Street, and have quite a home-like feeling. Our children in the city are delighted to have us so near them, and the girls have come on a visit to their cousin, Mrs. C., and will be present at the inauguration on the 22d.

Paroling the Prisoners. Feb. 18. The prisoners are all paroled, and were sent off today. Paroling the prisoners was rather interesting to the lookers on. They were required to affix their autographs to the parole, and it was curious to observe that a large majority of them wrote it the same way, simply making the [...]

Tuesday Morning.—The wires are cut somewhere between this and Tennessee. We hear nothing farther West than Lynchburg; rumours are afloat that Donelson has fallen. We are too unhappy about it to think of any thing else. Evening.—It is all true. Our brave men have yielded to overpowering numbers. The struggle for three days was fearful. [...]

Tuesday 18th Nothing new today. Extensive preparations are being made for celebrating the 22nd. I was down to the Ave and in to McClees Gallery. Ed Dick[erson] was up and spent the evening. Doct Barnes & Lady were over from Camp and called upon us. I spent the evening at home. ______ The three diary [...]

Tuesday, 18th–It is cloudy and quite cool. News came that Fort Henry has been taken and we fired a feu de joie. Some of the boys are afraid that the war will be over before we have a chance to have the honor of being in a battle.

18th. Drew requisitions for wood and attended to delivery. Had quite a cold.

February 18th. We have just packed and despatched Charley for Baltimore and Fortress Monroe, and are now writing notes of introduction for Mr. Vincent Colyer, who is to join him at the Fortress, and if possible take him with him to Roanoke and Port Royal. I have given him a note to Mr. Withers, and [...]