Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Wednesday, January 30, 1861

A pleasant cold day, freezing in the shade, Streets muddy. Another Company of Flying Artillery arrived last night — 90 men & four “pieces.” They are quartered in the old W^m Wirt House where Mrs Smith had her Young Ladies Select School or “Institute,” something of a change on those premises. The southerners here are greatly offended and pretend innocence. But in truth these preparations thwart their plans for seizing the City. No news of importance today, but some compromise seems more likely to be made now than heretofore. Did not go down to the Av^e tonight.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C. , image 13.