MONDAY, JULY 15, 1861. Nothing in particular has occured today, excepting the arrival of a number of Regts from the North and the passage of a number over the River into Virginia. Crowds visit the patent office every day. The City is very full now of strangers as well as soldiers. The latter are mostly [...]

SUNDAY 14 This has been a cool day, almost too cold for comfort. Troops have been going over the River today and others leave early tomorrow morning. Something will be done soon. I went out to church with wife, heard Chaplin of the 2nd N H Reg’t. His Regt leave[s] in the morning for Virginia. [...]

SATURDAY 13 A cool rainy day, woolen clothes comfortable. In the office all day as usual, a crowd of soldiers in the office every day. Troops are pushing over the River now rapidly, and a crisis appears to be approaching. We have just been looking at the signal lights at the camps over the river [...]

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1861. A pleasant cool day and apparently much enjoyed by all. A great many soldiers moveing, some just coming into the City, some going into camp back of the City, and some marching for Virginia. The Union Regt Col Slocum, Ny Y [sic] 27th Regt Volunteers, came in last night and occupy [...]

THURSDAY 11 This has been a cool delightful day with a little rain just before night, just enough to again prevent our proposed visit to the R.I. Camp. I went out and saw the Regt of Col Small parade, it is from Penn. More Removals in the Office today, one Examr (Reed)[?] and three or [...]

WEDNESDAY 10 This has been a fine day but rather hot for the marching troops. Some Regts have gone over the River and some have arrived from the North. A move towards the rebels is now makeing, and a battle or a race is now impending. My impression is the Rebels will run. Myself and [...]

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1861. The hottest day yet. M. 94. The sun fairly burned. No important news afloat. A flag of truce arrived from Jeff Davis to the Prest but amounted to nothing as is now understood. The Funeral of two of the City Volunteers who were killed in a skirmish up the River passed [...]

MONDAY 8 The excitement in the City is now increasing as the troops are moveing and battles expected. Various rumors are afloat from up the River but nothing more than skirmishes have as yet taken place. Four Examiners were removed today and some of the subordinates of the Pat office, other removals are expected. The [...]

SUNDAY 7 This has been a hot day. M. 90. Lieuts Whitlock and [Monville?] took dinner with us and we sent down dinner to Sergeant Mandevilles mess at the camp. We went down at 1 o’clk to see them off. The Regt is bound for Harpers Ferry and Martinsburgh to reinforce Genl Patterson. We parted [...]

SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1861. In the office all day as usual. Removals of Examiners expected shortly, great outside pressure for office, qualification a secondary consideration, Salaries are wanted. A general movement of troops is expected to take place tomorrow. Went down to the Navy Yard with Julia. Went on board of the new Steamer Pensacola. [...]

FRIDAY 5 Hot in the sun but a good air stirring. Congress is fairly organized and ready to go to work. I was at the Capitol a couple of hours today. Saw many of the “Members” with whom I was acquainted, went on the floor among them before the call to order. The Halls looked [...]

THURSDAY 4 The weather has been delightful and very favorable to the great Military Review. Twenty three Regiments, or over twenty thousand men, marched past the Prests House on the Ave. It was a great display for NY, for it was a Review of only the NY Regts by Maj Genl Sanford. Genl Scott, the [...]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1861. This has been a fine cool day and quite a stirring one round town. This afternoon three Regts were reviewed by the President at the “White House,” and other Regts were moving, coming in, and going out to Camp. The 12th Regt had a fine parade and were reviewed by Maj [...]

TUESDAY 2 Everything connected with the War seems to be standing still as far as we know, excepting the arrival of troops and their movement across the River. The City is now swarming with soldiers who stay only for a day or so and then go into Camp in the suburbs of the City. The [...]

MONDAY, JULY 1 This has been a fine cool day, but a heavy rain this evening. We all (the family) took a ride after dinner to the Camps back of us. We saw the Camps of fifteen Regts and went into a number. Saw the officers of most of the NY Regts in that vicinity, [...]

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 1861. Rained a little this morning but I went to church with wife in the morning. Took a walk up to the Depot in the evening, saw the arrival of the NY15 Regt (Col. McLeoud Murphy). Five Regts have arrived today. All the quarters (Buildings) on the Ave appear to be full, [...]

SATURDAY 29 It has been a pleasant comfortable day. Maj Genl John C. Fremont arrived last evening, and is at “Willards.” Much is expected of him in this contest. The Event of the day was the raising of the Stars & Stripes at tent on the Prests Grounds by the Prest. It caught in going [...]

FRIDAY 28 Today the body of Capt Ward of the little Steamer “Freeborn” was brot to the Navy Yd. He was killed on board his Boat by a shot from shore at “Mathies Point.” He was a brave man. We are frequently startled by the booming of Cannon over the River, and the first thought [...]

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1861. But little of moment has transpired in the City today. Some little rioting on the part of the soldiers, many having been paid off. The most important event is the arrest of Marshall Kane of Baltimore for treason. No fighting has taken place recently to speak of. But it is expected [...]

WEDNESDAY 26 It has rained a little today, laid the dust and made everything look fresh pleasant. Nothing has occured. Everything appears to be quiet, although the elements of strife are all around us. I think the rebels are in favor of making peace, and are causing the slight movement north that way. But there [...]

TUESDAY 25 Another fine day, cool and bright. Troops are coming every day in large numbers, 13000 came last week and 5000 were expected today and tonight. There was a large meeting of Officers at Genl Scotts quarters today. Various surmises are afloat, something is to be done soon. It will be difficult to keep [...]

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 1861. This has been a fine pleasant day. Nothing in particular has occured that is public. A full cabinet meeting including Genl Scott and other Genls of the Army has been held, a sort of counsel of War and State combined. We may hear from it hereafter. Three or four thousand troops [...]

SUNDAY 23 Rather a hot day but a pleasant one withal. I did not go out to church but busied myself at home reading and writing. Wrote to Brother C.R. Two of the 12 Regt dined with us, Mr Peck and Mr Hart, two fine gentlemanly young men, apparently, belonging evidently to the better Class [...]

SATURDAY 22 This is the day which was set for the capture of Washington by the “Secessionists.” But the day has passed off quietly and that thing has not been attempted. The Fifty thousand Bayonets here were a slight obsticle in the way. It has realy been the most quiet day that we have had [...]