FRIDAY 8
Mercury down to 8 this morning, the coldest so far. It is 18 tonight, but no snow on the ground. The wind last night was terrific. It did much damage. Quite a fire occured on 7th St. (Incendiary). Went down to the Ave, bot Paleys Philosophy for twenty five cts, the New York papers. Heard no particular news and came home, found our next door neighbor Mr Bartlett, he staid an hour or two. He is in the State Dept and a Virginian. Col. Hayne of S.C. (Commr) has got his reply from the Govt to his demand for surrender of Ft Sumpter. An attack on it is now Expected.
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.