Monday March 10th 1862
This has been an exciting day. The troops commenced moving last night about midnight and have been going over the River nearly all the time since. It is said that not less than fifty thousand have crossed into Virginia today. It is confirmed that the Rebels are running from Manasses & Centreville, so our troops will have no fight there. The exploits of the Rebel Iron clad Steamer Merimac yesterday at Hampton Roads destroying the frigates Cumberland & Congress created a good deal of excitement in the City. But the exploits of the little Iron Boat Monitor (Erricksons Boat) eclipsed all as she fairly drove the Merrimac back to Norfolk. The son of our next door neighbor, Comodore Smith, commanded the Cumberland congress and was killed. They are in great grief. I was down to Willards tonight, two Regts of Regulars passed on their way over the River. Wrote today to Brother C.R. Taft & to Col Mirrick, home tonight 1/2 past 9.
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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.