THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1861.
It has rained almost incessantly today and I have done but little but stay in the house. Mr Brownson and myself went down to the Pat office and found that the “knapsack” had passed. Mr B. left for home on the 21/2 train. I went to the Depot with him. The 18th 19th 20th & 21st Regts from Mass were arriving, all expected before tomorrow morning. Capt McCormick, who resides cor[ner] 40th St & 8th Ave NY, and Lieut Martin 12th Regt called today. A battle is expected soon over the River. Skirmishing yesterday and the guns heard by us nearly all day.
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The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.