FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1861.
Rather cooler today and windy this evening. Col Mirrick has been in bed all day and complains of his head very much. I think it originates from a billious stomach, it may be congestion. A fire last night destroyed some Govt Stables and burned up some 150 230 horses. Genl Scott has arrived at N York from France, will be here tomorrow. Nothing new from the army but news expected all the time. The game now seems to be with the Govt troops and they have only to move to meet with Success, as our soldiers are now up to the fighting pitch. They have made up their minds that the War is no holiday affair, and that it is necessary that “somebody” should be “hurt.”
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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.