The Days of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1864

July 16, 1864

Washington July 16th 1864

Very little has been heard of the rebels in this vicinity for the last three or four days. They seem to have departed with their plunder (some eight thousand horses and two or three thousand head of cattle). No information has as yet been published that we have succeeded in recapturing a horse or cow or a rebel since they crossed the Potomac on their return. If this rebel �raid� does not prove the ruin of this Administration, it will be Owing to successes in other quarters. More stupidity could not well be manifested than it has been shown in this matter, with Washington in a defenceless condition and inviting the invader. No body was on the alert, and all were in stupid ignorance until an army of Twenty or Thirty Thousand were found knocking at our gates. If they did not come in it was their own fault. They might have done it during three or four days.  I have my baggage all packed up ready to start for the North and home the forepart of the next week. My health needs recruiting and my family expect me about this time. I should have gone a week ago but could not get through. I do not expect to be absent more than two or three weeks, but I realy do not care much if I never come back here to stay. A �place� in the Gover[n]ment Departments is not worth much now with the old Salaries which were fixed when gold was paid but are now paid in �paper� worth about forty cents on the dollar. Gold is quoted today at 2.50, it has been 3.35. The expense of living has increased to at leas[t] double the former rates. Flour is held at $18.00, coal $13.00, oak wood $11.00, pine $8.00 pr cord, cotton sheeting 60 cents pr yard, Hams 35 cts pr lb, Beef D[itt]o.

July 13, 1864

Washington July 13th 1864

Another day and the reports and the general belief is tonight That the rebels have left or are leaving Maryland and crossing the River back into Virginia. Efforts are being made to intercept them which may prove partialy successful. They have undoubtedly a large amount of plunder, Cattle, Horses, &c. I was told tonight by one who says he knows that the rebels numbered 22,000 men only. It has been a great �scare� for the Country amounting to a great foraging expedition if this is the last of it, and I am inclined to think it is. I went up to Sec’y Sewards this morning and saw Col Seward of the 9th and got what information I could in reference to my nephew Col E P Taft (reported killed) and wrote his Father again. It is possible that he is only wounded and a prisoner.

July 12, 1864

Washington July 12th 1864

Well, the day has passed away and no serious attack has been made upon the City. But there has been constant skirmishing along the line of work north of the City and today the rebels have cut and destroyed the Rail Road for some miles betwen here and Baltimore, Burning the Bridge at Laurel &c. It is said that they occupy Bladensburgh tonight. It is also reported that a rebel force has appeared on the Virginia side of the Potomac not many miles south of the City. I have heard considerable heavy firing this evening about sundown and for two hours from that direction. The reports might have been from from [sic] some of our Forts getting the range by practice. The Militia of the District has been called out and the Clerks in the Departments are prepareing for duty. We had reports of fighting today near Tennallytown, Fort Reno &c. I went up to Georgetown and took the Stage and went to Tennallytown (three miles from Georgetown) this afternoon. In the hope of seeing something of the fight, a Shell burst &c, but was not gratified because there was no fighting going on nearby, and consequently no Shells flying, and more than that I was not allowed to remain but a few minutes, all civilians being ordered presumptorily to leave forthwith. As I did not expect to stay any longer than the Stage did the order did not disappoint me much. To the East from a half a mile to two miles I could hear the constant report of musketry and see the puffs of smoke. I returned to G[eorge].town about 5 o’clock. After my return to this City I went on top of the Patent office with a good glass but could see nothing.

July 11, 1864

Washington July 11th 1864. Monday.

Yesterday we thought the rebels were at or near Baltimore, today we find them in large force within from four to six miles of this City. Considerable skirmishing has been going on just outside of the line of Fortifications north of the City. But as yet there has been no general engagement. It is expected that there will be an attack upon the City tomorrow. It seems that they abandoned the idea of taking Baltimore and have turned their attention to Washington. But I think they have waited too long and have allowed troops to concentrate here in sufficient numbers within the past three or four days to defeat them in any attempt to take the City. It was reported in the papers this morning that my nephew Lieut Col E P Taft was killed on Saturday in the Battle at Monocacy Junction near Frederick, M.D. I wrote his Father today, should have sent a Telegraphic dispatch, but the wires were out. The Rail Road is also out betwen Baltimore and Phila so that a letter may be a long time reaching any point far north. I went to the State Department at once after seeing the report to see Mr Seward knowing that his son went to Baltimore yesterday with the intention of reaching his Brother Col Seward, who was reported wounded in the same Battle. But the son could not get beyond Baltimore and Mr S. could give me no further information in reference to the report of the Death of Col E. P. but thought the report was true. It will be sad intelligence to his family and friends in Lyons. He leaves an amiable wife and three small children. May God �Temper the wind to the shorn lambs� in this sad case. Capt Lyman Rogers died last evening at the Armory Square Hospital.  I am soon going to bed but rather expect to be disturbed by the report of Cannon before my usual hour for rising – 6 o’clock. If the rebels make an attack on the Forts at all, I think that it will be by tomorrow morning. It is said today that they are Forty thousand strong now in Maryland and threatening the City. Should they make an attack it will be a bloody fight. If they do not attack tomorrow I think it will be because their object is not so much Washington or Baltimore as to obtain Horses, Cattle, and provisions and then they will attempt to slide off over the Potomac into Virginia and escape. We shall know soon. Should they succeed in taking any of the Forts we may be treated to a few Shells from our own Cannon. The City has been in great excitement all day. I have worked in my office as usual.  I never saw such a crowd of people on P.a. Ave as on this afternoon. Excited crowds were listening to some new comer from the northern Forts, or surrounding a soldier or swallowing the most absurd stories from some sober faced wag. Troops were marching up from the River and hurrying through the City to the Forts north. The whole of the 6th Corps have come up now from the Army of the Potomac and many other troops have arrived. Mr Lincoln and Sec’y Stanton passed in a carriage thinking (perhaps) that it was necessary to show the people that they were not frightened. I mentaly wondered why or how a rebel Army of Thirty or forty thousand could leave Richmond, and get across the Potomac, and be almost knocking at the gates of the City and they know nothing about it, or at least think it only a �raid� of a few hundred Troopers!!

July 10, 1864

Washington Sunday July 10th 1864

I went this morning over to Georgetown Heights, �Clifton� (the late Col Ellet place), and have spent the day with Chas and family very quietly. I could hear the Drums beating most of the day in Washington and on my return tonight about eight o’clock in the �Cars� the street was nearly full of people and soldiers. We met five Regiments going west or through Georgetown and it was quite an impressive sight to see so many bright bayonets gleaming in the dim gaslight and to listen to the measured tread upon the pavement. An �Extra� appeared about four o’clock this afternoon stating that the Rebels were within fifteen miles of Baltimore. There will be a fight tomorrow and they will be defeated or Baltimore captured, it is said that the rebels are at least 20,000 strong. They must be greatly outnumbered by our troops, but they are mostly raw troops.  Another Extra was �out� about seven o’clock this evening which stated that the rebels were marching on Washington. This is making the matter more interesting still. It promises lively times here tomorrow, and may account for the movement of troops which I saw this evening. I suppose our wise men here know what they are about and have taken sufficient precautions to ensure the safty of the City. This demonstration on the part of the Rebels is just what might have been expected if it was possible for them to make it and should have been provided for if it has not been. I have expected it ever since Grant crossed the James River and refered to it at the time he crossed in these pages as quite probable. I have no idea how many men there are in the fortifications around the City. But there should never have been less than thirty or forty thousand in and around the City, at any time.

July 9, 1864

Washington Saturday July 9th 1864

A week ago I intended to be at home now but I cannot well leave the office at present as there is now something of a press of business with the Examining Board. More than that I would not like to leave the City while the Rebels are threatening it. There is very �exciting times� just now up in Maryland and in Pennsylvania. A large force of rebels have crossed the Potomac within two or three days and tonight it is reported that they occupy the City of Frederick, M.D. The rebel force is estimated at all numbers from five thousand to thirty thousand. It is supposed that they will make an attempt upon this City or Baltimore next. Some squads of rebel Cavalry have been within fifteen miles of this City within two or three days on this side of the Potomac. This rebel �raid� is supposed to be intended to draw Grant away from Richmond to Defend Washington. But that �ruse� will not do. I think that will be done without Grant.

July 4, 1864

July 4th 1864 (Monday)

No organized Celebration of the Day has taken place here, but all seem to [have] celebrated more or less on their �own hook.� There were orations delivered by gentlemen residing here at some of the Hospitals and the inmates had extra fare &c. I met Capt Sebastian Holmes of Lyons in the morning and we went together to the Capitol. Congress was still in session but adjourned at half past twelve today. I was at the Carver Hospital yesterday. Saw a Wayne Co boy there badly wounded by the name of Page. He is a brave and plucky fellow but will probably die, his mother is with him. I was at the Stanton and Douglass Hospitals today. The cases in all the Hospitals here now are very bad ones, all those able to travel having been sent north. I think that at least one third now in Hospital here will die. The hot weather is very unfavorable, from fifty to seventy deaths are reported pr day.  No important army movements have taken place. A large force of Cavalry under Genl Wilson have succeeded in destroying Thirty or forty miles of the Danville & Richmond R Road, but got roughly treated on their return by the rebels looseing a good many men and some eight or ten �guns� besides their train. There has been no serious fighting before Petersburgh very recently. Genl Grant has probably concluded to cut off the supplies from Richmond and conquer the City in that way. He is posted now with his whole Army in the vicinity of the James River, his lines extending to the southern R. Road south of Petersburgh. He has Batteries planted which throw Shells into the City daily, one in every ten minutes. The soldiers call it the �Petersburgh Express� which runs regularly to the City. I heard from Maj (now Lieut Col) E P Taft the other day. He was on duty at the �front.�

June 18, 1864

Washington June 18th 1864

In looking back through the past ten days I can fix upon no very striking event that has taken place. Army operations of great importance have been undoubtedly going on, but no decisive Battles have been fought, if we except the victory of Genl Hunter in Western Virginia near Staunton. In ordinary wars it would be considered of great importance to defeat the enemy and kill wound and capture three or four thousand men. Now, so much attention is absorbed by the greater armies of Genl Grant an[d] Sherman that but little is said of the �little affair at Staunton.� Grant has during the present week �changed his Base� again and is now with his whole army on the South side of the James River. Petersburgh was captured on Thursday last. We may look for hot times now near Richmond. The defences are supposed to be weaker on that side of the City than anywhere else. If Fort Darling (Drewrys Bluff) is taken our �Iron Clads� may go up and shell the City. It is supposed that Grant intends to cut all the R Roads and stop supplies to the City & not fight before the entrenchments.  There seems to be less excitement in the City than usual when such important Army movements are going on. I think it quite possible that we may be �waked up� here before long. Washington is now in a more defenceless condition than it has been for the past two years. Genl Lee might well swap Richmond for Washington and nothing but means of transportation will hinder him from coming here if he finds that he cannot hold Richmond. I have no doubt but an army of fifteen or twenty thousand determined men could take this City. Nearly all the old troops have been sent to Grant and the Defences are now maned by raw troops from the West, mostly. A few thousand of the Invalid Corps and Veteran Reserves are still here. There is now no obstruction in the shape of an army betwen here and Richmond, and I think it quite possible that we may have a visit from the �rebs� yet.  Congress is still in session, but it does not seem to be doing much. The Tax Bill is now the most important, and the the most important feature of that Bill seems to be whiskey, for what Tax to put upon it, has occasioned more discussion than all the rest of it. The two �Houses� remain in session late at night frequently. The light through the tops of the small Domes over each Hall shows plainly at my room and I can lie in my bed and tell when either House adjourns at night (if I only keep awake). The Drums are beating off towards the Depot, and more troops are coming in I suppose. Possibly some of the old Regts are going home for they are going almost every day. Those whose time has expired which is the case with most of the early three years Regiments. But more or less of the men from all of them have re-inlisted for the war. Sherman is near Atlanta G.a. and means to take it and probably will. It is a very important point to the Rebels