Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft.

Washington May 20^th 1864

We do not get much direct news from the army today but there has been some fighting at the Front. All the news that is reported from there is always “a Victory” or a “great success,” “The Rebels defeated” &c. Such was the news with which we were regaled day by day a week or two ago, but notwithstanding the numerous “retreats” and “defeats” of Lee and our Victory^s and “pursuing,” the Rebel Army is still in our front strong and defiant. Those terrible Battles are to be fought over again. It does seem as though the rebels do intend to die rather than yield, but the Leaders are fighting with halters about their necks. They are desperate and will fight to the last. The great struggle is now in Virginia and this season or year must virtualy end the war if we are successful now. We shall be, we must be successful in this War. The great question is now to be forever Settled. Whether this is to be a great, Free, and Glorious Union bidding defiance to the rest of the World in arms against us. Or, whether we are to be classed with the other petty powers of this Continent, disturbed by constant broils and annual revolutions &c. No. If the War takes twice the men and twice the money it has already cost to prosecute it to a successful result, the sacrifice must be made before we can think of “Peace” upon any other terms. Gen^l Grants army is now stronger than it was when he crossed the Rapidan three weeks ago, and it is the intention of the Gov^t to keep his forces up to the present number and settle the question now. I wrote to Julia today, sent her a pair of riding gloves (“ladies gauntletts”) by mail. Sent her also a letter from her cousin Will Taft (from Cincinnati Ohio) dated Fort M^cHenry Baltimore. He came out with one of the Ohio Reg^ts “100 day men.” He supposed that Julia was here. He is a son of D^r J Taft of Cin. The weather has been most delightful today. There has been no wind, but the atmosphere seemed to be moveing imperceptably. Every leaf was in motion. Everything was vibrating and every blossom was sending out its perfume. Everything in Nature is beautiful now. The squares of the City and the public Grounds are perfect “Illysiums.” The air is loaded with the perfume of flowers and the birds are carroling undisturbed in the trees. But O this horrid war, it is here, everywhere.