8 May
The boat has gone off to Town, and carried our numerous things and some of the servants and Elizabeth, Ella, & Lotty go off on Thursday and we the next day, Lewis takes them down and returns the next day to remain up here until Monday. He is now to be ordered on Coast duty. Bing Smith hopes to be Col. of the Regiment, and Lewis to be Captain, these young men have been all the winter in a state of great expectation and generally disappointed.—I wish they may get something to do, and feel more quiet. The war is arranging its self in and about Washington.
Virginia has Gen. Lee in charge of her forces. There is not a great desire to fly to her aid, in fact we are all to be subjugated and must first secure our honors. Every thing progresses slowly, but after the success of Sumpter, I hope successfully. The points now to be attacked are all in Virginia except Fort Pickens, in Florida.—
This is the 3 winter we have passed in this very comfortable establishment and I am I hope sensible of the very great advantage of this for we formerly lived in a rickity old house; still there was a great deal of happiness there, shewing that being all together & loving each other, secures happiness, independent of wealth.—
We are to dine at Papa’s to day , a last meeting for this season. Papa’s case seems to progress in the most uncomfortable manner. He had a conversation with Simons at the Agricultural dinner, which he wished Lewis to witness about, and as L. is friendly with Simonds it was not very pleasant. In this talk Papa spoke in a very irritated way to Simons and in consequence of it he had forbidden any negro to pass through the canal, if they do so, he will punish them.—I think if he had been kept at the North his case would have progressed much better, he does not understand about business, and in not conciliating in his manners.—