August, Thursday 25, 1864
After my failure to remodel Lou’s hat on yesterday, Mrs. Johnson kindly offered to assist me, so she spent the morning making the crown. I then took it, finished puting it together, and trimed it, after finishing it looked quite nice—and Lou did not make so much sport over her milliner’s misfortunes. I finished Maj. Young’s socks, with Lou’s assistance, we played backgammon, and altogether had a very pleasant day. Mary Poullaim and I improved very much in our swimming. Col. Young got back today from his Plantation, and is quite sick tonight from fatigue.
Bad news from Va. and Mobile, Fort Morgan surrendered and we have been defeated at Fredericksburg. God grant the days may brighten for our poor bleeding Confederacy. No news from home yet—