I have allowed a huge gap to occur in this Diary, for which I can offer a poor excuse. I have been sick with head-ache for about three weeks...

PORT HUDSON. We arrived in port yesterday, having made the run without incident worthy of note. Colonel Brand has taken a list of our names,...

We have had no fight here yet, but from the indications it can't be deferred much longer. We have drawn one hundred rounds of ammunition...

About sundown the shelling ceased, and nearly all of us returned to camp to endeavor to sleep, as we had been up all the night preceding unl...

The gun-boats and steamers are still below the bend, where they have been since Monday. They come up every day and throw shells at our batte...

[ST. LOUIS, MO.] My visit South was in every sense agreeable. My old friends in Alexandria did all they could to make us welcome, and I wa...

General Banks has received the nomination for Congress from the Middlesex district, made vacant by the resignation of Gooch, appointed Naval...

Another truly fine spring day. The ominous silence on the Rapidan and Rappabannock continues still. The two armies seem to be measuring ea...

A letter from Major-Gen. Hoke, dated Plymouth, April 25th, and asking the appointment of Lieut.-Col. Dearing to a brigadiership, says his pr...

Federal papers now admit that Gen. Banks has been disastrously beaten in Louisiana. They also admit their calamity at Plymouth, N. C. Thus i...

Cloudy——rained in the afternoon. This is the anniversary of the first gun of the war, fired at Fort Sumter. It is still said and believe...

Last night I was at a party at Mr. Chase's, or his daughter Mrs. Sprague’s, and late in the evening he spoke to me of the great abuses ...

A late dispatch on Saturday night from Cairo informs me that a dam at Alexandria has been constructed and our fleet is passing the falls. L...

We had yesterday great feelings, deep interest, but little news, — little in the way of detail, though great in importance. Nothing came fr...

Sent a letter to Naval Committee in favor of an iron navy yard, transmitting former communications. Action is required and should have been...

(Private) New Orleans , Nov. 14th, 1862. Dear Sir: Four days ago, General Butler showed me the letter he had just received from you,...

JOHN W. McLAUGHLIN , farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 30, Decatur Township, was born in Marion County, Ohio, April 24, 1840, he b...

. . . . The President came loafing in as it grew late and talked about the reception which his Hodges letter had met with. He seemed rather...

Rapid and heavy firing in the rear across the bayou so the First Louisiana marched back toward the landing, and found the whole army crossi...

Relieved in morning and returned to camp. First Louisiana crossed the bayou again and camped all night. Built a bridge by anchoring steam b...