SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1861.
Another most exciting day. Rumours of fighting on the other side of the river were rife all over the City the middle of the day but were without foundation. The Funeral of Col Ellsworth took place from the Prests House. His remains were in the East room where thousands passed through and saw them, among the rest myself, wife, Julia, and the two elder boys. Genl Scott was there in Uniform. (Willie will not be tempted to go into a crowd for anything). During the middle of the day soldiers were seen running with muskets in hand to join their companies, many being ordered out today.
The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.