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 [...]
THURSDAY 2 Cold today, fire comfortable. M. down to 40. A fine flag was raised on the Pat office today at noon. The RI Regt paraded with Gov Sprague at the head on 7th St. The 7 NY Regt went into camp up 14th St. near Collumbia College. Regiments are now drilling and parading in [...]
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1861. A cold windy day with some rain, as unpleasant a “May day” as could well be. Have been in the office all day as usual surrounded by a crowd of soldiers when out of my room. Have a new 2nd Assistant, have today been “breaking him in.” His name is C [...]
TUESDAY 30 Prest Lincoln was at the Pat office today to see the troops in their quarters. Gov Seward was with him. Julia presented a fine Boquet of flowers to Gov Sprague at his quarters in the Pat office. The office is a greater novelty now than ever before but the soldiers are very orderly [...]
MONDAY 29 This has been a pleasant day and quite an exciting one on account of the movements of the Military. The bal. of the RI Regt came today and the whole were reviewed by the Prest, Genl Scott, and the Cabinet officers. Myself and wife, Julia and Willie, were in the East Room. The [...]
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1861. Rainy all the forepart of the day. Attended church with wife and the boys. Went and returned in the rain. Mr [Haws?] of Lyons [Iowa?] returned with us and dined with us. Chas also dined with us. Did not go out again till evening. Went down to Willards with Willie for [...]
SATURDAY 27 Another fine day, rather warm. Troops from the North are pouring fast now. There is now here about eighteen thousand men under arms. All the Public Buildings are swarming like Beehives with soldiers, in fact the City is like a great camp, and not half are here yet. Got letter from Frank dated [...]
FRIDAY 26 This has been a fine day and one of much excitement in the City. I was at the Pat office as usual when I heard Martial Music and immediately the Rhode Island Regiment with Gov Sprague at their head marched in at the East Wing and up into the large Hall as their [...]
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1861. The 7th Regt is at last here, came at 12 o’clock and created much enthusiasm. We breathe a little free now. Self and wife attended the funeral of Mr Danl Douglass at 4 o’clock and then went to the Ave and took an Onibus and went to the Capitol. The Mass [...]
WEDNESDAY 24 Another warm day with some rain in the afternoon. The day has passed off much as yesterday. No troops from the North. No mails since Friday, and in fact no news at all from the North. It is thought that there are troops enough here now for the safety of the City, as [...]
TUESDAY 23 This has been a warm day. M. 83 in shade. Some 800 Marines were landed about noon at the Navy Yard. Nothing can be learned of the northern troops yet. Some say they are coming by water and some that they are fighting their way from Anapolis. Went with Julia to the Capitol [...]
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1861. Another delightful day, but no troops yet. We are in a beleaguered City with enimies on every side and and [sic] at our doors. The ratling of musquetry and the booming of cannon may startle us any moment. Many have left the City, but all communication with the North is now [...]
SUNDAY 21 This has been a pleasant but anxious day. We seem to be surrounded by enimies, and enimies in our midst. No troop have yet arrived since the Mass. Regt. How anxiously have we looked for the 7th Regt of NY today. I left the National tonight at 11 o’clock but could get no [...]
SATURDAY 20 A fine pleasant day. No troops today, all stoped beyond Balt. Bridges destroyed, track torn up and the Steam Ferry Boat over the Susquehannah scuttled and sunk. Balt in the hands of the mob. A critical time for Washington. A large body of Rebels at Alexandria and an attack upon the City may [...]
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1861. Another cool pleasant day but one of great excitement. Reports from various quarters indicate that danger is iminent of an attack upon the City. Harpers Ferry Armory and arsenal was destroyed this morning by Govt troops. The Steam Boats on the River have also been seized by Govt order. I went [...]
THURSDAY 18 Cool pleasant day, fire comfortable. Business in the office goes on as usual and is increasing this month. Business there does not seem to be much affected by the excitement in the City. The rumor today that Virginia had “seceded” and seized Govt property at Norfolk & Harpers Ferry caused intense excitement. There [...]
WEDNESDAY 17 Cold and windy day, fire in the office and as much in the house as on a winters day. Soldiers are now met with at every turn and the drum and bugle are heard almost all the time from some quarter of the City. Went down to the Hotels after dinner (Chas dined [...]
TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1861. Another rainy day, a continuation of the Easterly Storm. The public buildings are all strongly guarded, from 150 to 300 men being quartered in each. There are now about three thousand men under arms in the City, all in the service of the U.S. Some thousands more from the North will [...]