WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1861.
I have not been out today but kept close in the house feeling quite miserable and coughing about half the time. We have had “calls” very frequent. Mr [Vanlbickel?] and Mr Blackburn from Lyons were here sometime, Dr Barnes of the 27th, and a good many Ladies. The Door bell has been ringing half the time. I have taken pills and castor oil, have not had so much fever today as I did yesterday, think I will get well soon.
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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.