Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Saturday, March 1, 1862

This has been another fine dry and bright day. The roads are geting quite good. The dust is thick on Pa. Av^e today. There has probably been no fighting over the River as yet but the next week is expected to be an important time in the history of the War. M^cClellan has got a “good ready” and is now about to act. Nothing is now allowed to be published in reference to the troops or the War, consequently the papers are quite uninteresting. I have been in the office today as usual, have been at home all the evening, reading &c.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Sunday, March 2, 1862

Pleasant morning but the ground is covered with snow tonight. Snowed very hard the middle of the day. It has thawed all the time. Went to church with family. Chaplin Marks of the Pa. 42^nd Reg^t held forth, quite an interesting man. The military on both sides of the River are under marching orders and all ready to move. Doct Barnes of the 27^th came over yesterday & brought his wife. The 27^th is all packed up and ready, stirring times looked for now. The Sick in the camps have been placed in Hospitals. Artillery has been moveing for two or three days past. There is an abundance of it on the Potomac. M^cClellan depends much upon that arm. There is much excitement in the City and much satisfaction expressed now that the immense army here is to move at last. The force must be crushing to “Secesh.” There cannot be less than 250 thousand men on & near the Potomac in the Union Armies under Genl M^cClellan.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Monday, March 3, 1862

It has rained all day. Snow all gone and mud again much to the disappointment of all. We heard this morning of the death of the gallant Genl Lander. He was one of the bravest of the Brave and we could have spared almost any of our Brigadiers better than him. He died of wounds rc^d at the fight at “Edwards Ferry,” up the river, last fall. The Evacuation of Collumbus K.Y. is officialy anounced. It was the last rebel Strong Hold in K.Y. The papers say nothing about army movements, they are not allowed to. I have been at home all the evening and the boys have staid in the house all day studying their lessons some and amusing themselves drawing &c. “Bud” shows quite a talent for drawing & painting in water colors, but his practice is confined to Houses, Steamboats, Soldiers &c.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Tuesday, March 4, 1862

This is Julias Birth day. I must try and make her some little present. There is talk about town the the [sic] Illumination “goes off” tonight but I think it will not. It has been dry today but the Weather does not appear to be settled yet. No news that I have heard of.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Thursday, March 6, 1862

The event of the day has been the Funeral of the gallant Genl Lander. It took place at the Epiphany church, starting from the Residence of Sec'y Chase. The family (ours) all went. Mrs Doct Barnes & Julia were at the office. I went up into the Hospital with them. They were out to see the procession pass. Mrs O Knight called this evening. Prof Sparks was here an hour. Ed^wd Dickerson called and he and Julia went to the great Gotschalk concert at Willards Hall, returned about 10½ o'clock. It has been dry but quite Cool today. The roads are getting better. No news from over the River and no advance as yet.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Friday, March 7, 1862

A beautiful clear day but rather cool out, in the office as usual. Nothing new in the city that I hear of tonight. I have been down to Charleys. He has been doing some writing for me, my work in the Land office. Troops are coming into the City and moveing about a good deal. We may expect lively times soon over the River. All seems to be quiet now.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Saturday, March 8, 1862

The weather is now fine & the roads are drying up. Troops are coming into the City and crossing over the River. Rumors afloat of fighting today near Mt Vernon. Nothing is published and little is known publicly of War operations. The prospect now is that there will be a desperate Battle near here soon. The Rebels will try to retrieve their recent losses, and will fight with desperation. M^cClellan is well prepared and has an immense army near here all ready and anxious for a fight. Went up to Franklin Square with wife & the boys after dinner. Wife & myself continued our walk to Lafayette Square pass [sic] Genl M^cClellans home. He was standing at the Window. I did not go down to the Av^e tonight, got a “Tribune” of the news boy & read Carl Shurze Speech at the Cooper Institute NY.

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.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Saturday, March 15, 1862

The River is full of Steam Boats for transporting troops down the River, probably to “Old Point”. It has rained incessantly and this evening it pours. Col D. is well (he says). We went down to “Browns,” saw Maj Williams, Maj Fletcher & other officers. Col Durkee came in about 8 o'clock and is to stay all night. Our House for the time being seems to be the Head Quarters. Col Dutton is acting Brigadier Genl.

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.

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Tuesday, May 1, 1862

[Quincy, Illinois.] Very pretty day, but somewhat cool     Was a little frost this morning At work in office Emma commenced French with Miss Fougeu to day

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Wednesday, May 2, 1862

Bright, warm day—At work in office

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Thursday, May 3, 1862

Warm & bright-Yellow, cinnamon & Scotch roses in bloom, also the locust trees—At work in office

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Friday, May 4, 1862

Still warm & dry—Water all gone from cisterns—At work in office

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Saturday, May 5, 1862

Very warm. At work in office. Stanleys & Allens with us to tea

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Sunday, May 6, 1862

Quincy     Very warm day. At Church A. M. & P. M. and at Episcopal at Sunday School exhibition in the afternoon.

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Monday, May 7, 1862

Very warm & cloudy—threatning rain—Dr & Mrs Warren with us to dinner. At work in office

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 404

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Tuesday, May 8, 1862

Warm and cloudy. At work in office in forenoon. At 5½ P M started to Decatur to attend Republican State Convention in company with quite a number of other delegates—Cars crowded—Very windy day, threatning rain, but giving none—turned quite cool towards night—Reached Decatur at 2 Oclock at night, and stopped at Macon House where Gilpin and I got a small, hard, bed together, and slept a little

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, pp. 404-5

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Wednesday, May 9, 1862

Decatur     Convention met about 11 Oclock Α. Μ. Between 600 & 700 delegates in attendance. Every County in the State except one¹ represented. Jno. Palmer temporary chairman for organization—Jo. Gillespie permanent President. Contest for Governor² between Judd, Yates & Swett³—Dick Yates nominated after several ballotings—Hoffman, a German, nominated for Lieutenant Governor—Appointed Committees & adjourned till 9 A. M. tomorrow I dined at Dick Ogilsby's,⁴ and am at his house to night—All the gentlemen went out after tea but myself I remained to prepare resolutions for tomorrow⁵—Has been pleasant day, but somewhat cool—Had heavy rain here yesterday

_______________

¹ The only county not sending a regular delegate was Pulaski. This Decatur convention was a much more fully organized meeting than that which met at Bloomington in 1856.

² Concerning this contest for the governorship, Gustave Koerner wrote: "To my surprise Judd, candidate for the nomineeship for Governor, was defeated, probably by an intrigue of Mr. Swett, and Richard Yates was nominated." Memoirs of Gustave Koerner, 2: 83.

³ Leonard Swett, 1825-1889. Born in Maine; came to Bloomington, Illinois, after serving in the Mexican War; active Republican from 1856; National Republican in 1872. A prominent Illinois lawyer and a close friend of Lincoln and Browning.

⁴ Richard J. Oglesby, 1824-1899. Born in Kentucky; came to Decatur, Illinois, 1836; admitted to bar and began practice of law at Sullivan, 1845; served in Mexican War; went to California with the Forty-Niners, returning in 1851; served in the Civil War rising to the rank of major general; elected governor, 1864, 1872, 1884; United States senator, 1873-1879.

⁵ In this convention, besides serving on the resolutions committee, Browning was named presidential elector, and was chosen one of the delegates-at-large to the national convention soon to meet at Chicago. In addition to naming Yates as governor and Francis H. Hoffman, a German-American, as lieutenant governor, the most important act of this convention was to instruct the delegation to the national convention to give its support to Lincoln for president. It appears that Lincoln was consulted in the selection of the delegates. Cole, The Era of the Civil War (Centennial History of Illinois, 3), 190-191; Green B. Raum, History of Illinois Republicanism, 64.

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 405

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Thursday, May 10, 1862

Decatur     Cold morning, but pleasant day. Convention met at 9 A. Μ. Dubois nominated for Auditor, Butler for Treasurer—Hatch for Secy of State, and Bateman for Superintendent of Instruction.

At 2 P. M. I, as Chairman of the Committee of resolutions reported—all adopted without opposition, and convention adjourned. I was then loudly and persistently called upon for a speech, but had too much discretion to make one. I spoke about 10 minutes, and we then dispersed. I went to Ogilsbys to tea, where I have been staying—then went to the depot and remained till after midnight, waiting for the train going West

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 405-6

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Friday, May 11, 1862

Quincy     At 12 A. M. took the cars on my way home and arrived at 9 to 10 A. M.—Bright, warm day.

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 406

Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Saturday, May 12, 1862

Continues warm & dry

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 406