Washington January 1st 1864 This has been a pleasant day and people have I think enjoyed themselves much better in making their “calls” than they did last year and especialy the year before. Every one seems to feel in good spirits and very hopeful in regard to the future. Mr Lincoln looks brighter and less [...]

Thursday Decr 31 1863 Alas for yesterdays Sun and balmy air and brilliant atmosphere. It has rained all day and as I now write, the rain decending upon the tin roof sounds like the roar of a Waterfall, but I like that Music. It was always charming to me to hear the rain decending upon [...]

Wednesday Decr 30th 1863 Today the weather has been warm and pleasant, almost too warm for comfort in the Sun. I went down to the Bank to get a Draft to send home today and found it more pleasant to seek the shady side of the street. All are anticipating a pleasant New Year and [...]

Sunday Decr 27th 1863 Congress has adjourned over until the 5th of Jan’y and many of the Members have gone home to spend the Holydays. Christmas has passed off pleasantly. It was a beautiful bright day on Friday and appeared to be enjoyed by all Classes. I walked up to the Capitol in the forenoon [...]

Tuesday Decr 22nd 1863 I sent the Books to the Boys yesterday, one to Each costing about $2.50, and also a head dress for wife which was the handywork of Julia, all by Adams Express, .50cts to NY. I called and spent an hour with Mr Vanmaster at Mrs Wakeleys. Mr James Bashford is still [...]

Sunday Dec. 20th 1863. Went to the Capitol this morning at 11 o’ck and heard Rev John Lord (the Lecturer) preach, subject the “Sorrows of Knowledge,” took his text from Solomon, or Ecclesiastes, 1 chapter last verse, “For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” He dwelt upon the [...]

Saturday Dec. 19th 1863 I am still rooming at Mr Bartle[tt]s 379 11th St where I take my breakfast at 8 o’clock a.m. I dine at Doct Munsons 442 9th st at 5 o’clock. My room, board, & fuel costs me about $1.00 pr day. I furnish my own fuel and burn wood which is [...]

Wednesday Dec 16th 1863 The “Army of the potomac” is virtualy in Winter quarters. The roads are so bad in Virginia now that heavy Artillery cannot move. Genl Mead is still in com[ma]nd of the Army and it is generaly conceded that He was not to blame in falling back under the circumstances. Longstreets army [...]

Dec 3rd 1863 Today we learn that Mead has fallen back (this way) to this side of the “Rapidan.” This creates much disappointment here and the general opinion is that Genl Mead is incompetant. But the whole policy of the forward movement is not publicly understood. Congressmen are now flocking to the City and stowing [...]

Wednesday Dec 2nd 1863 Since my last date Genl Grant has defeated the rebel Army under Bragg at Chattanooga taking Six or seven thousand prisoners and about Sixty cannon. Genl Mead moved South from the Rapahannock last week. He has cut himself loose from all supply trains or Depots from this direction. He has ordered [...]

Wednesday November 18th 1863 Since my last date I have been Home and Staid eight days, left here the 31st Oct & returned the 10th Inst, brought Julia back with me. She is staying at Mr Hartleys on NY Avenue. Neither Genl Meade or Admiral Dahlgreen have been removed as was reported at that date, [...]

Friday Oct 23rd 1863 Events are passing of perhaps much importance to the Country, but no Battles of any note have been fought. Lee has retreated back across the Rappahanock. Genl Meade thought he could not follow immediately and has been relieved of the Command of the Army of the Potomac and Genl Sedgwick is [...]

Monday October 19th 1863 Not much of pub[l]ic interest has occured for a week past in the field. There has been almost constant skirmishing over the River within from 30 to 60 miles of here. Our army is now near the old Bull Run Battle ground and another general Battle is expected there or near [...]

Sunday Oct 11th 1863 This has been a delightful day but rather cool. I got up this morning and took a long walk before breakfast. Spent some time in the Stanton Hospital and heard Dr Gurley preach this evening. He gave an interesting account in his Sermon (or remarks) of the Life and Martyrdom of [...]

Thursday Oct 8th 1863 There has hardly ever been so dull a time (for news) as for the past week or two. There seems to be nothing going on in the Military line that we hear of that is worthy of especial notice. But we are expecting to hear of important events at Charlston and [...]

Monday Oct 5th 1863 Perhaps I might have made it interesting to have continued my diary. But I have been absent some time since my last date, and important events it is true have occured, great Battles have been fought, and great Victories have been won by our arms. The month of July saw our [...]

Monday June 29th 1863 The very atmosphere has been full of rumors today in reference to the movements of the rebels in P.a. & Maryland. Yesterday they captured a large wagon train (170 Six Mule Teams) within Ten Miles of this City. The train was on its way To Frederick M.D. The Rebels are probably [...]

Monday June 22nd 1863 I have hardly fulfilld my purpose of noting down “important events as they occur” for many important events have occured since my last writing. No very important Battle has been fought by the “Army of the Potomac” with the exception of that while Hooker was across the Rappahannock about the first [...]

Washington April 4th (Saturday) I left Washington on the 16th March on a two weeks leave of absence and spent the time visiting my family at Sag Harbor L.I. I returned the 2nd Inst (Thursday). I had a very pleasant visit and regreted leaving home more than I ever did before. This is a miserable [...]

Washington Sunday March 15th 1863. I saw today what has of late become quite common here, a Company of thirty or forty Prisoners and refugees from Virginia march through the City under guard to the Provost Marshalls office. The most of them were refugees from Richmond, foreigners, some of them with their families. Some of [...]

Saturday March 14th 1863 News that Vicksburgh is evacuated by the Rebels comes tonight pretty well authenticated. Nothing further from “Yazoo,” but we are expecting good news from that section all the time. I am rather in hope that Vicksburgh is not evacuated. I think its Capture by Genl Grant a sure thing and I [...]

Washington Friday March 13th 1863. It has been quite a cold day with Snow in the middle of it and freezing hard tonight. News by the papers that there has been a battle at Yazoo City Miss and that we have taken 7000 Rebels prisoners. I think the Report needs confirmation. No other news of [...]

Thursday March 12th 1863 A bright pleasant morning but followed by snow and wind, quite cold tonight. Capt Swan came up from the Army and called on me today. Maj E. P. Taft got a furlough to go home and was in one of the Govt offices this morning haveing his papers approved when he [...]

Washington Wednesday March 11th 1863 When I looked out of the window this morning everything was covered with Snow. But it has all disapeared tonight leaving a due quantity of mud in its place. No important events are chronicled in the papers today. In looking ahead a month ago I thought it impossible that a [...]