Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft.

Wednesday Dec^r 30^th 1863

Today the weather has been warm and pleasant, almost too warm for comfort in the Sun. I went down to the Bank to get a Draft to send home today and found it more pleasant to seek the shady side of the street. All are anticipating a pleasant New Year and seem much better prepared to enjoy one now than for the last three or four years. There does not seem to be any movement of the armies now going on. I suppose they are all in Winter quarters with the exception of some Cavalry which are occasionaly making “raids” into the enemys country and following up and scattering bands of “guerrillas.” These bands consist generaly of bad and desperate men who live in or near the scene of their operations, peaceable Farmers (apparently) by day living not far from our lines, and not unfrequently within them, they assemble at night. Join some organized Band which is prowling in the vicinity and cut off any Train or Sutlers wagons which may be undefended. By daylight perhaps they are no where to be found, one half of them are back to their Homes and peaceable Farmers again. The ba^l seek the bye roads and bye places, or scatter if hotly pursued understanding where to meet again. Washington and Alexandria and in fact the whole country within our lines (and the “Lines” extend perhaps fifty miles back into Virginia at the present time) are full of rebel “sympathisers” who give information as to the starting of Trains of wagons in any direction, how they are guarded, how strongly &c. If the guerrillas consider themselves strong enough they pounce upon the train in some unexpected place, or in the darkness of the night. If they fear immediate pursuit they take the Horses and what they can carry, burn the wagons and are off. After the Battle of Gettysburgh a long rebel train which was fleeing towards the Potomac was captured by our Cavalry. The train was guarded by soldiers at intervilles [sic] and was said to be four miles long. Our Cavalry dashed along by the Side of the train killing the guards when they resisted and puting the train into the utmost confusion by putting a revolver at the ear of a mule in each team and shooting him down in his harness.