FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1861. This has been a hot day. At the dress Parade of the “12th” this evening about twenty of the soldiers droped down, overcome with heat. All sorts of reports have been in circulation today. “Genl Beauregard” has been on the march for the City with one hundred thousand men. Many are [...]
THURSDAY 20 Hot day and everybody wondering what will happen next. Troops here under marching orders. The 12th expect to go tonight. Some 4000 new troops have arrived today. The Boys have been spending the day at the Prests with the Lincoln boys. Willie has been with me all [sic] the office all day. Was [...]
WEDNESDAY 19 Fine weather yet. Every one on tiptoe to hear news. Troops are passing over the River and an advance to Fairfax C.H. is expected. Exciting news expected from Old Point from the West as well as from the opposite side of the River. Attended the “Parade” this evening and went down to Willards [...]
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1861. Weather fine but a good deal of excitement on account of a fight over the River at a little Station on the RR called Vienna. Our troops ran into a trap on a train of cars (under a Masked Battery). Lost a number of men (Ohio Regt). Large bodies of troops [...]
MONDAY 17 A cool fine day. Nothing particularly new has occured, but matters over the River seem to be coming to a point. Went after up to the camp at Meridian Hill about a mile north. Three Maine Regts are there; [also] the NY 5th (German) and the NY 9th. About 4000 [men?] were on [...]
SUNDAY 16 It has been a fine comfortable day with a good breeze. Attended the service at the 12th Regt quarters, the Chaplin (Mathew Hale Smith) officiating. Large numbers of citizens attend every Sunday morning. The Regt is expecting orders every hour to move over the River into Virginia. The Dress Parade was attended by [...]
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1861. This has been the hotest day yet. M. 92 with a pretty good breeze all day. More troops have crossed the River, and many are looking for an assault upon the City. I do not. The Flying Artillery at Arlington House were practicing this evening, we could see the smoke and [...]
FRIDAY 14 Fine pleasant day. The evacuation of Harpers Ferry by the rebels is the only news of importance afloat today. Many think that the combined forces will now move on Washington. But I do not think they will attempt its capture. They are evidently afraid of “U.S.” and have acted cowardly in all the [...]
THURSDAY 13 It has been cooler today and quite comfortable. We are relieved today in reference to the “Bethel affair.” Our loss not more than first reported 25 or 30. Nothing stirring in the way of news of importance, but important events expected every day and people are on the “qui vive” all the time. [...]
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1861. Bad news today from Fort Monroe, a fight and a repulse with considerable loss of life. It is feared that the loss is much greater than reported, rumor says so. Our Friends E.P. & Capt Welling left on the 21/2 train for Home. I went with them this morning to the [...]
TUESDAY 11 Another hot day, much as yesterday. E.P. & W[elling]. today have been to Alexandria but the heat prevented them from going back to the entrenchments. There was a Review at the Prests this afternoon of five Regiments. The Scotch Highlanders was one, the 79th. They have a fine Band and make a fine [...]
MONDAY 10 This has been one of the hot days. M. 86 in shade. E.P.T. & Welling have gone (or rather have been) to Virginia, but the sun was so hot they did not go far. Some 4000 troops left this morning for Harpers Ferry, as is supposed. The RI Regt went with their fine [...]
SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 1861. Went down this morning to Franklin Square with my friends from the North to witness the weekly Inspection parade of the 12th Regt. Went from there to church. Doct Smith preached a Funeral Sermon upon Judge Douglass, a very fine effort. Went again in the afternoon with E.P. Introduced him to [...]
SATURDAY 8 Left the office today at 12 and went down to the Navy Yard with E P and Capt Welling, saw all the sights there. Went on board the “Freeborn” and saw the effect of the shot &c, she was in four engagements within a week. Capt Ward is evidently a “fighting Cock,” had [...]
FRIDAY 7 Offices all closed today in respect to the Memory of Judge Douglas. Took the occasion to visit Alexandria with my son H N Jr, and Mr Vansantvoord. We visited the “Marshall House” first where Col Ellsworth was killed. Got a pass there to go to the Camps of the Mich Regt and the [...]
THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1861. News seems to be quite scarce just now, nothing of importance having occured today that I am aware of. But we are in expectation of hearing of fights, or battles, in various directions. Doct King has been sick for the last three days and I have been nearly alone in the [...]
WEDNESDAY 5 A cool drizzling day, raining right down much of the time. Alone in our room again today, Doct King sick, Mr Upton off as usual nearly all day. Yesterday I made out a Classified Report of the applications for Patents in our Room for 1860 for the Commissioner. Was on the Ave after [...]
TUESDAY 4 Cooler today with some rain. In the office nearly alone all day. The Highland Regt arrived early this morning (2 or 3 o’clock). They march through the Ave playing the “The Campbells are Coming.” They have a fine Band of music. No particular demonstration has yet taken place on the other side of [...]
MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1861. Hot day. M. 88 — considerable excitement in the City. People seem to feel and think that affairs on the other side of the River as well as at other points are approaching a crisis. Troops are coming in and moveing over the river every day. We can see the tents [...]
SUNDAY 2 This has been rather a hot day. M: 84. I did not go out to church, all the rest of the family went. The 12th Regt returned to their quarters on Franklin Square today. We attended their dress parade at 6 o’clock. I went down to Willards afterwards, many officers there of Army [...]
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Excitement today, fight at Fairfax C.H. this morning, brilliant dash on part of U.S. dragoons. Fighting also below at “Aquia Creek” betwen War Steamers and rebel batteries, firing heard this evening (before dark) over the River. The Artillery practicing, or a fight, every one now on the “qui vive” to hear news [...]
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1861. Weather very delightful. Boys some sick last night (much fever) but better today. Nothing of particular interest has occured. The 7th NY Regt returned home today, term (30 days) being up, other Regts are arriving every day. Went down to the N Yard after dinner with H N Jr, ten or [...]
THURSDAY 30 Did not feel much worse for “wear” today for my long walk yesterday. Attended to business in the office as usual, got my months salary $150. Came home about 1/2 past 2 o’clock and with wife and Juliet went to the Prests to see some troops reviewed by the Prest and Genl Scott. [...]
WEDNESDAY 29 It has been a fine, cool, and airy day. Took a longer walk than I have for some time. Got a “pass” from Genl Mansfield and about 12 o’clock started with Mr Vansantvoord for Virginia over the Long Bridge. Visited the encampments of some 6000 men and their entrenchments. Was at “Arlington House,” [...]
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1861. The weather Continues very cool, a fire in the house to sit by is necessary mornings. The Heights opposite here in Virginia are now thoroughly occupied by some 15000 soldiers. More are going over every day, and more are coming from the North. 3000 came today, 1000 from N.H. and 2000 [...]