WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1861. This has been a delightful day and one full of excitement and interest. The Ave has been thronged all day with soldiers. Small squads of them have been strolling into the City and all had their story of hair breadth escapes to tell surrounded by an eager crowd of listeners. Most [...]
TUESDAY 23 Yesterday was a rainy day and the poor Soldiers were coming in all day wet and cold. We had our house full of members of our Lyons Co. to tea, and made them as comfortable as we could. Today I have taken down to the camp for them two pairs of pantaloons, bot [...]
MONDAY 22 Yesterday proved a disastrous day to our troops. They were compelled to retreat and remnants of Regts and squads of soldiers have been pouring into the City all day. Most of the Regts which I saw pass the long Bridge a week ago have returned badly cut up. The two RI, the NH [...]
SUNDAY, JULY 21, 1861. This has been the most exciting day yet. We have heard the guns all day from the battle which has been raging at or near Mannasses Junction. There is no news that can be relied on public tonight, only that a terrible fight has been going on all day. Reinforcements have [...]
SATURDAY 20 I have been about the office writing letters &c most of the day. Saw Doct Smith this morning. He insists that I shall be re-instated. The excitement in the City is great as the two Armies are now near each other and a decisive battle must take place — in a day or [...]
FRIDAY 19 A day of great excitement in the City, all looking for news from the Army. A thousand reports flying about, but nothing to be relied on when I left Willards at 9 o’clock tonight. I shall make an effort today to be re-instated in office as the Times are not at all promising [...]
THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1861. Rather too warm today for comfort but a good air stirring. It is supposed that a great Battle has taken place at Mannasses junction — as our troops were near there this morning. On account of the diminished business of the Patent office a number of the Examiners were removed today, [...]
WEDNESDAY 17 All the Union or 27th Regt did not go yesterday, about a hundred men were left until today. They left this afternoon. Elder Buck (the Chaplin) (from Lyons) and Lieut Gould of Rochester took breakfast with us. Some of the men of the Lyons Co took dinner with us and my wife sent [...]
TUESDAY 16 This has been quite an exciting day as the military has been moveing all day over the River. The RI Regts with Gov Sprague at the head left their camp and passed through the City and over the long Bridge about 2 o’clock. The 71st and the 2nd N.H.V. followed. The [Union?] Regt [...]
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, [...]