TUESDAY 3
Bright day. Firing heard over the river nearly all day, supposed to be fighting going on. collisions betwen the pickets occur every day. A Battle cannot be far off. Death of Jeff Davis reported in the papers. Doct Barnes, Lieut Swan and Qr M Hamilton called upon us today. Tried my combined door fastener, it works to a charm. Called at Doct Smiths this morning, have spent the evening at home. Wife went to meeting.
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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.