Sunday February 1—Preach in camp. Visit our regiment on picket about three miles away. Rain at night.
February 2—Seven years ago! My first son, Henry Watson, was born in Mrs. Meade’s Hotel, Martinsville, Va. That morning I knelt silently upon the floor in my wife’s room and prayed and wept when I first felt parental responsibility. God bless my boy today! Seven years old! May he spend many useful, happy years on earth and get safe to Heaven! God bless the mother today, and Willie and Mamie. My dear sainted Eddie! Safe in Heaven! Your father hopes to embrace you by-and-by in your angel home. Wrote to wife and Mrs. Meade.
Feb. 3—Exceedingly cold.
Feb. 4—Still very cold. Freezes my ink.
Feb. 5—Snow begins falling early and falls steadily.
Feb. 6—Ride four miles in rain, hunting a cabin for Jack Faircloth, Co. A., who is very sick and weak. He will die.
Feb. 7—Send to Gen. Rodes for brigade to be allowed to go to church on Sunday.
Feb. 8—Bright day. Preach to a large, attentive congregation in Baptist church. Bros. Power and Thigpen assist in communion. Precious season! Hear from wife and Bro. Hunt.
Feb. 9—Much indisposed.
Feb. 10—Visit Brigade Hospital established yesterday. Pray with patients and Dr. Guffy. Poor Faircloth says he loves Jesus because He loved him. I, this morning, finished my fifth annual reading through the Bible. On Sampson Circuit, 1857, I went the first time regularly through this Holy Book. I hope to read it carefully through every year of my future life. Jack Faircloth dies at night. Bad night with my cough.
Feb. 11—Rainy. Bury Faircloth. Finish Matthew in Greek.
Feb. 12—Right unwell. Visit Hospital.
Feb. 13—Indisposed. A. Crisp, Co. F., dies at midnight.
Feb. 14—Bury Crisp. A. Mitchel, Co. A., dies at 3 p. m.
Feb. 15—Rainy. Ed Register, Co. A., dies at Brigade Hospital.
Feb. 16—Ride to Medical Board with some sick men. Get them off to hospital. Bury Ed Register.
Feb. 17—Ground covered with snow and still it comes. Saw enemy’s balloon yesterday. Not today.
Feb. 18—Rains gently all day. I walk to new camp through rain and mud.
Feb. 19—Pray with regiment.
Feb. 20—Regiment goes on picket just below Fredericksburg. Ride to Fredericksburg. Call at store house of Arthur Bernard. Sad destruction of his property. He has not been seen since the enemy took him in Dec. Fine paintings in one room, “Hope and Memory,” “Cleopatra,” etc. Call on Bro. Owen, Chaplain 17th Mississippi Regiment. Meet Rev. Dr. Stiles at sister Fitzgerald’s. Night in camp.
Feb. 22—Rise at six, and find snow a foot deep. Snows nearly all day. Sit in my tent and read and write. Hear many heavy guns just at 12. Washington’s Birthday.
Feb. 24—Regiment, relieved from picket, comes into camp.
Feb. 26—Prayer meeting in Co. I. Chill and fever at night.
Feb. 27—In bed.
Feb. 28—Bro. Owen, 17 Mississippi Regiment, calls on me. Dr. Stiles and he still blessed in Fredericksburg with revival power.