Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft.

Washington June 8^th 1864

Fighting almost every day now before Richmond. Gen^l Grant is loosing a great many men but is also getting re-inforcements enough (perhaps) to make up for his losses. The Rebels loose probably more than we do as much of the fighting has been where they have been the attacking party. I do not think Grant has made much progress for a week towards Richmond, but has repelled all attacks and gained some favorable positions. It is said that twenty or thirty heavy Siege guns have been sent down to Grant this week. The Battles of the Army of the Potomac for the past two weeks have been no “skirmishes” from all I can learn from the “official” and other reports. Grant has lost in killed and wounded & prisoners within that time near twenty thousand men. The Hospitals are about full but I am told that orders have been sent up from the army to make room for twelve thousand more wounded immediately. I have spent considerable time in Hospitals this week, have visited a number of them. The same sad scenes of a year ago are witnessed in all. I spent a couple of hours in the “Stanton” this evening after dinner. It is realy hard to leave the poor fellows, some of whom cannot help themselves. They love so to be faned which keeps off the flies, and makes them comfortable comparatively speaking for the flies are extremely anoying this warm weather. Some that I sat by and faned on Sunday last were not there tonight – gone. A Lieut (Buel) from an Ohio Reg^t cannot last till tomorrow morning. He was insensible. A Sergeant from Penn^a will die in a day or two, I judge from the change since Sunday. He is a victim of bad surgery on the field. I have felt much interested in a badly wounded boy (Gilbert Smith) of Romulusville NY (Seneca Co) shot through the body. I think he may recover but, very doubtful. Mr Lincoln was unanimously re-nominated today by the Union National Convention at Baltimore. The “race” for the Presidency as it now looks will be betwen Lincoln and Gen^l Fremont, who was nominated the other day at Cleveland Ohio by a section of the Republican Party. From his letter of Acceptance published in the Washington Chronicle today I have no doubt but the Democratic Convention which meets soon at Chicago will nominate him also. This movement may combine strength enough to make Mr Lincolns election not a very easy matter especialy if our armies should be unsuccessful in the field this summer. Should we put down the rebels or virtualy close the war before election there will be no doubt of Mr L^s success in the contest, perhaps there is none anyway, but.