Thursday 3d Today obtained and sent the Photographs to Thos [Bourne?]. They were finished while I was in the Gallery. I sent them by Adams Express. I was in the “National,” saw a number of my friends there. Went to the Festival with wife & Julia, staid till near 11. They had a Negro Band, [...]

Wednesday April 2nd There is a great dearth of news here now, but a great looking for of great events about this time, but few soldiers are here now compared with what there has been. The forts over the River are all maned and probably 50,000 men besides. There must now be about 200,000 tending [...]

Tuesday April 1st 1862 A fine pleasant day. Went down to the Ave in the morning, got Draft of $20, sent to Mrs Barnes Phila. Called at McClees Photograph Rooms. He told me that he had mounted 2300 pictures the day before. The call for Photographs by Army officers has been unprecedented the past six [...]

Monday 31st It has been pleasant today after the thunder shower which we had last night. Got my months Salary today, bought me a new hat, wore my old one a year and a half. Paid Bills “too numerous to mention.” We know but little of what is going on relating to the War as [...]

Sunday March 30th This has been a cold rainy day, as uncomfortable for the soldiers as could well be. It rained so hard that none of us went to church in the morning. Wife and the boys went in the afternoon. I have not been out, staid in the house reading. ______ The three diary [...]

Friday March 28th Very pleasant today. Streets quite dry & dusty. A great movement of troops. A stream of men and Govt Wagons have been going down 14th St for a number of hours. The Divisions of Genl Keyes and Casey, 10,000 or 12,000 each, have moved for Alexandria to embark. Doct David called about [...]

Monday March 24th A Review today at Meridian Hill, Genl Caseys Division about 20,000 men (none of his Division have yet left). Troops are leaving on board Steamers every day at the rate of ten or fifteen thousand pr day. News today of a Victory near Winchester V.A. by our troops under Genl Shields. The [...]

Sunday March 23rd 1862 No War news public today. It has been rather pleasant and no rain. Our next door neighbor Comodore Smith had his house robed last night. The Thief went all over the house gathering up watches, money, spoons, &c, without alarming the inmates. He unlocked the back door with Burglers nippers. The [...]

Saturday March 22nd 1862 We have been listening all day to the booming of Cannon and beating of Drums. Troops are constantly embarking at the Arsenal and marching through and about the City. But the tents on the hills back of the City do not seem to diminish in number, but most of the Regts [...]

Thursday March 20th 1862 Wet drizzling day, as uncomfortable as need be. No news yet from Comodore Foot. I fear he has met with a repulse. Doct David & his Brother James were down and dined with us today. James is not attached to the Regt but is going down with it. It is expected [...]

Wednesday March 19th 1862 No news today. Nothing from Foot yet. Troops are embarking down at the Arsenal to go down the River. It is supposed that an attack is to be made upon Norfolk. An overwhelming force is going down. This afternoon we rode up to the Camp of the 98th NY, Col Duttons [...]

Tuesday March 18th News from Genl Burnside today. He has taken Newbern N.C. after a severe battle, 100 killed & 400 wounded, rebel loss not known, the Victory decisive. No news today from Comd Foot, only that he was bombarding Island No 10. Julia is selling tickets for the Church Festival, Pres[byteria]n 4th (Doct Smiths). [...]

Monday March 17th 1862 Nothing new has transpired today that we know of. The Telegraph announces that a Battle is in progress on the Miss. Com Foote is Bombarding the Rebels at Island No 10 with his gun boats. Troops are embarking on the Steam Boats to go down the River. The long trains of [...]

Sunday March 16th 1862 Has not rained today. A Regt passed this morning with Band playing &c just as people were going to church. Col Dutton had his horse sent down and he left for the Camp (as he said) cured. Col Durkee left early this morning. Col Dutton had an ambrotype of his family, [...]

Saturday March 15th The River is full of Steam Boats for transporting troops down the River, probably to “Old Point”. It has rained incessantly and this evening it pours. Col D. is well (he says). We went down to “Browns,” saw Maj Williams, Maj Fletcher & other officers. Col Durkee came in about 8 o’clock [...]

Friday March 14th Col Dutton is better today. Lieut Col Durkee and nearly all the officers of the Regt have been here to see the Col. The Regt has rcd marching orders and the Col is very uneasy. Mr Short called on me today. He is going down to Fortress Monroe, an attack is to [...]

Thursday March 13th There is no particular news today in the papers. Col Dutton concluded to come down and stay with us until he gets better. Doct David came with him. He appears better tonight, but Doct D stays with him all night. It has been a little wet this evening and there seems to [...]

Tuesday March 11, 1862 The “Stars & Stripes” are floating over Centreville & Mannasses, the Rebels having ran away. McClellan is there with over two hundred thousand men. News this morning of a desperate battle in Arkansas betwen our forces under Genl Curtis & Price, McCullochs army. The Rebels were totally routed with great loss. [...]

Monday March 10th 1862 This has been an exciting day. The troops commenced moving last night about midnight and have been going over the River nearly all the time since. It is said that not less than fifty thousand have crossed into Virginia today. It is confirmed that the Rebels are running from Manasses & [...]

Saturday March 8th The weather is now fine & the roads are drying up. Troops are coming into the City and crossing over the River. Rumors afloat of fighting today near Mt Vernon. Nothing is published and little is known publicly of War operations. The prospect now is that there will be a desperate Battle [...]

Friday March 7th 1862 A beautiful clear day but rather cool out, in the office as usual. Nothing new in the city that I hear of tonight. I have been down to Charleys. He has been doing some writing for me, my work in the Land office. Troops are coming into the City and moveing [...]

Thursday March 6th 1862 The event of the day has been the Funeral of the gallant Genl Lander. It took place at the Epiphany church, starting from the Residence of Sec’y Chase. The family (ours) all went. Mrs Doct Barnes & Julia were at the office. I went up into the Hospital with them. They [...]

Monday March 3d 1862 It has rained all day. Snow all gone and mud again much to the disappointment of all. We heard this morning of the death of the gallant Genl Lander. He was one of the bravest of the Brave and we could have spared almost any of our Brigadiers better than him. [...]

Sunday March 2nd/62 Pleasant morning but the ground is covered with snow tonight. Snowed very hard the middle of the day. It has thawed all the time. Went to church with family. Chaplin Marks of the Pa. 42nd Regt held forth, quite an interesting man. The military on both sides of the River are under [...]