SUNDAY 26 Warm today, went to church with family. Chas and young Saml Androus are both with us, came up last night. Saml is somewhat sick, is geting better. His Regt is at Alexandria. The excitement of yesterday has passed off but troops are passing over the River today and the large Govt Wagons are [...]

SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1861. Another most exciting day. Rumours of fighting on the other side of the river were rife all over the City the middle of the day but were without foundation. The Funeral of Col Ellsworth took place from the Prests House. His remains were in the East room where thousands passed through [...]

FRIDAY 24 This has been a day of excitement. 10,000 troops crossed the Potomac this morning early at different points near the City. Col Ellsworth with his Zuaves went to Alexandria on Steamers. . . He was shot dead at the “Marshall House” where he had taken down a “Secession” Flag, by a man named [...]

THURSDAY 23 Nothing in particular going on today here. The War seems to assume greater proportions every day, and a contest seems to be inevitable soon. Troops ar[e] arriving all the time from the North and generaly going into camp. Chas and Saml are better today, have been there twice today; tonight with wife, staid [...]

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1861. No particular occurence has marked this day here except the raising of a fine National Flag on the Genl Post office. Mr Lincoln handled the cords. Mr Seward, Mr Blair (the P.M.), and Mr Smith the Sec’y of the Interior spoke on the occasion. Was down today to see Chas and [...]

TUESDAY 21 Today the weather has been fine, quite still times in the office. Matters and business there are now assuming their usual channels, but applications for Patents have much fallen off of late. Went with Juliet up to the camp of the 7th NY Regt (“Camp Cameron”), a great crowd of spectators there. We [...]

MONDAY 20 Another cool day, a fire comfortable to sit by all day. It has rained most of the day. Troops a[re] mostly gone from the Pat office. Went down to the Parade of the 12th with wife this evening. Afterwards went on to the Ave. Was at the “National” an hour or so. People [...]

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 1861. Cool today, fire in Parlor in the morning. Went with Juliet to the camp of the 12th Regt in the morning and heard Rev Mathew Hale Smith (the Chaplin of the Regt) deliver an eloquent discourse to the soldiers. Got to church in time from there and heard Doct Smith, a [...]

SATURDAY 18 Fine cool day. Very pleasant for the soldiers to drill. “Squads” being seen all over the City marching to and fro under a drill officer. Had letter today from Brother C R. Wrote him in reply after going over to the Genl P.O. Was introduced to Mr Lewis Clephane, the City P.M., by [...]

FRIDAY 17 Another fine day. The Michigan Regt got in last night, Col Wilcox. Young Saml Androus is among them from Coldwater. He called upon me at the office this morning. The Regt is for the Present quartered at Woodwards Building. Attended the Parade of the 12th with Wife and Doct Everitt & Lady. Afterwards [...]

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1861. The weather has been fine today and nothing in particular has occured to vary the past routine in the office. My health is excellent this spring. I have made use of cherry bitters occasionaly and perhaps it has kept off my usual billious attack at this season of the year. Attended [...]

WEDNESDAY 15 This has been a fine airy day. The RI Regt is a[l]most gone from the Pat office. Troops are coming into the City every day. It is so common now to see Regts march through the streets that it is hardly known where they come from by the crowd. Went to hear the [...]

TUESDAY 14 Warm today. Some of the northern soldiers fainted in the streets. 2nd Connecticut Regt got in today. The 2 Connt Regts are in camp on 7th st at the “Park” about a mile north of the Pat office. Went up after dinner to see the NY 7th Regt camp and Drill or dress [...]

MONDAY, MAY 13, 1861. Rather hot today. M. 80. RI Regt preparing to leave the Pat off and go into camp near Glenwood Cemetery. Six or eight of the Regts are now in camp. Nothing new now occuring from day to day in the office. We attend as usual in our rooms, and do what [...]

SUNDAY 12 Pleasant warm day. Went to church with wife & children. Doct Smith preached in the afternoon. The church was half full of soldiers of the R.I. Regt. Some 4000 troops have arrived during last night and today. The Regiments now in quarters paraded this evening as usual. We were at F[ranklin]. Square. I [...]

SATURDAY 11 This has been a fine day and the Military have been all alive. Regiments marching, Bands playing and Drums beating, Bugles sounding, and now and then the deep booming of cannon. I was in the office all day, but was writing & reading the news, having not much official business to transact. Attended [...]

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1861. A bright morning, but rain all day after 12 o’clock. Troops continue to arrive, 30,000 here now. They are now mostly going into camp in the suburbs of the City. Reports of large bodies of troops in Virginia indicate work near here before long. I should not be much surprised to [...]

THURSDAY 9 Fine day and much enjoyed by everybody. But little seems to be attended to except military matters. Soldiers marching, Drums beating and Bugles sounding all the time, and now and [sic] one hears the deep booming of a heavy Cannon from Fort Washington, or from the Navy Yard or perhaps from some vessel [...]

WEDNESDAY 8 Another fine bright day. Have been bothered some with ladies at the Pat office calling upon me. I might perhaps better say interupted. They all want to see Gov Sprague of R.I. I took in five and introduced them. Then into the quarters upstairs, then into the Surgeon Genls quarters, then into the [...]

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1861. It has been a pleasant fine day and much enjoyed by all after the long cold rain. 4000 soldiers from NJ are here now. Saw them all on parade on the Ave tonight. Went with wife to the Capitol, into both chambers. Had to pass eight sentries. Went into the East [...]

MONDAY 6 Rain again most of the day. Many of the troops are in an exposed condition and suffering for shelter. The NJ troops came in early this morning, over 3000 in the rain and could find no shelter for sometime. Drilling of RI soldiers in the Halls of the Pat office all day. Everything [...]

SUNDAY 5 Went to ch this morning with whole family, some soldiers in the congregation in uniform. Cool day, wore my cloak. Chas was up to dine with us. Doct Eddy called in the afternoon with Mr Cramer. He is on a visit to the City, staid an hour or two. Went down to Willards, [...]

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1861. Rain all the first part of the day. Soldiers still drilling in the Halls. Our ears are constantly saluted with the word of command and and [sic] the clangor of arms on the marble floors. Went on to the Ave after dinner with wife and Juliet. Soldiers and citizens crowded that [...]

FRIDAY 3 Rainy day, cold and chilly. In the Pat office the troops have been drilling in all the Halls. The RI Marine Battery, 6 [Janus?] rifled cannon, 150 men, 90 Horses, &c have arrived. They marched through PA Ave to the Prests with their guns and attracted much attention. There is not much doing [...]