July 4, Thursday

Julia's nephew, Rufus R. Dawes

I thought today of the living and the dead absent from us.  Of Rufus, who is today twenty three years old.  He would have graduated at Marietta in the class of 1860, but his father took him to Wisconsin a few weeks before the close of his college course.  The faculty conferred his degree upon him at the last Commencement.  He is Captain of the Lemonweir Minute men.  He and his company have been received into the sixth Wisconsin Regiment under Col. Cutler.  Rufus has talent and principle.  He is not tall but firmly built and very athletic.  He has a very bright intelligent countenance and I think will be popular with his men.  He always makes warm friends.  May our father's God "bless the lad".

Julia's brother, William P. Cutler

I thought of my dear brother called to the exercise of a new class of duties, in unwonted circumstances, obliged to leave his family here on the border not without some anxiety as to what may befall us; and himself going to Washington, the direct route through Virginia impracticable.  Although Harpers Ferry has been evacuated by the rebels, the bridges have been destroyed on the Baltimore & Ohio R.R.   So he must needs go through Pennsylvania and Maryland to the Capitol near which 70,000 loyal troops are encamped.  There, among strangers, he begins his Congressional life.  May it be an honorable and useful one.  God shield and guide him.  

Henry Manasseh Dawes,
Julia's nephew who died in August 1860
at the age of 28

 My thoughts, too, have been today with the dear departed ones, Henry, bold, ardent, patriotic, what part would he have taken in these stirring times? 

Ephraim Cutler, Julia's father

And Father -- how would his heart have burned within him, indignant at southern treason, jubilant over northern loyalty and valor. 

How does the National holiday find us today!  Our land seems like one great encampment, the sound of war is everywhere.  In the Federal army and the Rebel there are half a million men under arms.  

I spent the morning making bouquets.  I had a large basket filled with them.  Lucy and Kate went early and when I arrived had the table all set.  Several ladies were busy carving chickens & ham, prepapring bread andd butter, cutting cheese, cakes and pies.  There was an abundance of good things and every thing seemed excellent of its kind.  Some of the State Fencibles, Scott Guard and Dayton Zouaves were there.  And the Eggleston Guards with their officers, Capt. & Lieut. Carter, &c.  The Zouaves and Eggleston Guards went through their drill for the benefit of the ladies.  After refreshements were served several short speeches were made by soldiers, Stewart of Fencibles, Bell of the Zouaves, Wright and Baird of the Eggleston guards.  Baskets of provisions were sent to those who were left on guard.  Several patriotic pieces were sung.  On the whole it was a very satisfactory picnic, about two hundred and twenty present.

Charlie Gates spent the night with us.