Dec 4th 1864 (Sunday)
The weather has been warm and pleasant for some ten days past, it has been “Indian Summer” with a soft balmy air and smokey atmosphere, the pleasantest days of the year. Today it has been delightful. I went to the 4½ Street Church, the 1st Pres[byterian] (Doct Sunderlands) to hear the Rev Jonas King the Missionary from Athens Greece for the past Thirty six years. He gave quite an interesting account of his labors and trials while there. He was educated at Williams College and taught School there while in College about 1814 or 15. I think he was the first School Master I ever went to. I spoke to him after church this morning and walked with him to his lodgings at the “Avenue House” conversing about people in Wmstow[n] and the changes which had taken place in the Country since he left. He is what may be called an enthusiastic American. He must be over Seventy but does not show his age much. Toward evening I went up to Camp Stoneman, or rather Martindale Barracks, now near the “Circle” on the Avenue and took tea with Capt White & Lady. He is in command of a Veteran Reserve Com’y doing guard duty in the City. Mrs White is the daughter of John Layton of Lyons. I returned about dark and called at Charleys who is now keeping house on F St opposite the Patent office. Mr Woodward & family & Mr Lieb & lady live with him. They pay $120 pr month for the House furnished for six months. Eight rooms only all told, and two of them in the Basement. Mr W. is a boarder and pays the rent. Mr Lieb pays $65 pr month. Little Charley Jr is growing and improving finaly, he is thirteen months old and very inteligent for a child so young. I returned to my room, “Shaw Settlement” as we call it, before 9 o’clk. My room is 16 by 21 feet and ceiling 10 feet high with two large front windows. There does not appear to be any very important “War news” today. Nothing from Sherman of a definite character. The Richmond papers admit that they have no force that can stop his progress to the coast. We shall hear from him soon. It is said that Sheridans Army is moving from the Valley and going down the River probably to re-inforce Grant. I suppose the Rebels have left the “Valley” if that is true. But I presume that troops enough are left to guard the important places up there. Congress meets tomorrow and the Hotels are quite full. Old faces are met with which appear here periodicaly. Old hangers on, old [“Bosess,”?] old gamblers, besides the faces of Members of congress. Many of them may be called old Sharpers, for I do believe that they get Elected to Congress more to make money than anything else. The opportunities are not wanting for any member who will sacrifice his honor to favor or oppose a measure for money.