THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1861.
This has been a cool pleasant day, just comfortable with a fire all day. My health and spirits are good. I feel better than usual at this time of year. I take a little cherry whiskey every morning, about half a wine glass full. Took a walk after dinner with Mr Peale of the Patent office. Was an hour at the National. Called at “Browns” upon Mr Henry Howson of Phila., droped into Willards, got the NY papers and came home and read them. No particular News. 1/2 past 11 o’clock.
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.