Dec. 3, 1862—Start to Raleigh, about ninety miles, taking wife, three children and a nurse. Rain all day. Spend night with Bro. Sykes.
Dec. 4—Pass Fayetteville. Spend night with J. H. Hawley, one of the best men I ever knew.
Dec. 5—Rain all day. Spend night with Allen Betts, my brother.
Dec. 6—Clear and cold. Ride to Alvin Betts, my brother.
Dec. 7—Hear Bishop Early preach in Raleigh.
Dec. 8—Day in Conference. A letter from Uncle Foster Utley, Chapel Hill, leads me to send my family to that place.
Dec. 9—Send family on cars to Chapel Hill, while I turn my face towards Bladen alone. After four days of lonely riding I reach my wife’s boarding place and pack books and clothes, and take Steamer Hurt for Fayetteville. Pay Jo. Russ ten dollars to take my carriage to Fayetteville.
Dec. 13—Meet James Marley Smith, and go with him to his farm.
Sunday, Dec. 14—Hear Bro. J. D. Buie preach at Fayetteville. Night at hotel. I have had fever for last three days.
Dec. 16—Take cars to Egypt. Find no horse there for me. Walk about ten miles, and ride on a mule-cart about the same distance and reach Pittsboro. Sup with John Womach. He sends me to Chapel Hill, eighteen miles, on a mule-cart Get there at 7 a. m.
Dec. 17—Chill at night.
Dec. 18—Chill in the afternoon. In bed till 22d.
Sunday, Dec. 28—Preach in M. E. Church.