Sunday Feb 22nd 1863.
Another severe Snow Storm. All day long has it fell and tonight it is deeper than it has been before this winter and it is cold and freezing. Bitter weather for the poor soldiers in the field, as well as for the poor horses in the service. I have not been to church nor hardly out of the house today, have been reading and writing most of the day. Capt Thornett has spent an hour or so in my room, he has given me a little of his history. He is a man near forty and has been a long time in the British Army. Served in India and through the Crimean War. His Father was a Naval officer, his Mother is still living in “Kent,” spends half the year in France with a daughter. At the age of 16 she was in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo and was at the Celebrated Ball described by Byron, “There was a sound of revelry at night.” I obtained the Sunday morning Chronicle but there is no news. We are waiting, waiting. We must have Victories. I shall be much disappointed and pained if we do not. It seems now as tho a defeat would be ruin to us. Vicksburg, Savannah, Charleston & Wilmington are all invested by our troops. Rosecrans has 100,000 men in Tenn. and Hooker must have near that number near Fredericksburgh V.A. O for pleasant dry weather, and good roads.