Wednesday Nov. 30, 1864

Rose early thinking we were near Marietta, but were probably thirty miles above.  Eat breakfast with our bonnets & shawls on, arrived at Marietta between 8 and 9 o’clock A.M. Glad to be on ‘terra firma’ again.  Soon after our arrival at Mrs. Dawes’s little Sarah came bounding in very glad to see me, said her father & mother were in town.  Ephe went with us to the cars and all went home together where we arrived in time for dinner.  W. D. & Andrew J. M^cClure dined with us.  Andrew has just returned from the West where he has been for several years.  He is a fine looking young man.  Lucy came down on the evening train.  James Carlin came from Parkersburg.  He has sprained his knee badly & it pains him severely.

Tuesday Nov. 29” 1864

We left West Alexander at nine o’clock on the Hempfield road.  We have not seen the place under sunny skies, the weather being unpleasant ever since we came.  I think in summer it may be very much more beautiful.  There are hills all around and the place is on a hill of considerable altitude.  Kate went with us to the depot, & the Misses Pollock were there too -- they introduced us to Mr. Bell who very politely took us under his care to Wheeling routing up two reluctant gentlemen from their seats to accommodate us, and securing an omnibus to drive us to the wharf in time for the Parkersburg Packet, but finding the Wild Wagoner in port we concluded to go on her.

This is one of the finest boats on the River.

Monday Nov. 28”, 1864

Helped sweep the house, and do some little matters preparatory to going home.  This afternoon by especial invitation Mr. & Mrs. M^cLean, Lucy and I took tea at Mr. Ely’s --  Had a very nice supper and a very pleasant time.  Miss Mary Pollock, sister of Mrs. Ely is now at home on a visit.  She is one of Miss Dix’s hospital nurses, she is at Judiciary Square Washington D. C. -- Miss Pollock is an interesting lady, well educated, a good talker, and told many things about hospital life.

Sabbath. Nov. 27. 1864

Mr. M^cLean preached today, altho’ still an invalid, a very good sermon.  The Free Church have a good frame meeting house, with a pleasant yard around it, the congregation appears to be an intelligent one.  They have a sabbath school in which Kate teaches an interesting class of young ladies.  I noticed a number of contrabands receiving instruction.  One named Oscar that Mrs. Dr. Davidson was teaching near where I sat, seemed to be making good progress.

Dr. Davidson in again to see Mr. Thomas M^cLean who fancied himself worse, but the Dr. pronounced him doing well.  Little Jennie Bell is really a sick child and takes most of Marias time & care.

Saturday Nov. 26. 1864

Called with Kate at Mrs. Ely’s, saw her sister, Miss Mary Pollock, who has been nearly three years with Miss Dix as a hospital nurse.  She is an interesting lady.  We helped Kate arrange her furniture and fix her house for winter.

Mrs. Scheller called.  Maria’s child is very unwell.  Kate sent for the Dr. To come & see it.  Dr. Davidson is a skillful, well read physician -- but very odd.

Friday, Nov. 25. 1864

We proposed to keep house today & let Kate go to Wheeling to buy a cooking stove, which she needed, Lucy giving her the money where with to buy it.  She accordingly went on the nine o’clock train, bought her stove & made some other purchases & got back about sunset.  Mr. M^cLean is better--sits up a good deal and walks out.  Several calls--Miss Pollock Mr. Patterson &c.    Lucy re-arranged the pictures in the parlor &c.

Nov. 24. 1864 Thursday

This is the Day of National Thanksgiving. Snow still on the ground.  Miss Pollock called for us to go to church at the old school Presbyterian Church, just across the street.  A good brick edifice capable of seating a thousand persons.  Well grown evergreens in the yard which is surrounded by an ornamental iron fence.  Mr. Lester pastor of the church preached from the text “Watchman what of the night,” &c, &c.  It was more like a fast-day than a thanksgiving sermon, he dwelt much upon the great expense of the war, and drew sad pictures of the desolations it occasioned (and rather complimented the Democratic party on its good behavior since the Presidential election.  He ventured to say that “between the North & South Slavery would be ground to powder and let all the people say Amen” --  He is I suppose really a Union man, but having a majority of copperheads in his congregation he trims his sails accordingly.

Kate who had to stay at home to take care of Thomas with Maria’s help got up a nice dinner, turkey with cranberry sauce, vegetables, cake, cheese, and canned quinces &c --  Maria is a contraband who escaped from Bortetout Co. Va. At the time of Hunters Raid, she is a good cook, but slow in her movements.  She has a child 2 years old named Jennie Bell.  She has been helping Kate two or three weeks.

Mr. M^cLean though quite unwell went to his own church.  After noon two of his elders Mr. M^cCleery and Mr. Patterson called, both appeared to be intelligent men.

Peggy's note:

Here is a link to President Lincoln's Proclamation of Thanksgiving:

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln8/1:134?rgn=div1;view=fulltext

Wednesday Nov. 23. 1864

Last evening we arrived at the station of West Alexander and inquired for the residence of Mr. M^cLean, before our question was answered a little boy presented himself and told us eagerly that he had a carriage for us and would take us to Mr. M^cLean’s      we soon found that this was Harte, the youngest of the family.  Arrived at the village we found Kate in the door awaiting us and glad to see us.  Mr. M^cLean who has been sick for six weeks, was suffering from a re-lapse, and unable to leave his bed.  Thomas the eldest son, is sick upstairs and Kate has her hands full.  Two of  Mr. M^cLean’s daughters who are teaching school at Middleton have been here for three weeks helping nurse but went back to their schools yesterday, thinking that their friends here were getting well.  The very cold weather of yesterday & today has acted unfavorably upon the disease, which is erysipelas fever which Mr. M^cLean caught at Martinsburg, where he went to labor among the sick and wounded of Sheridan’s army, as a member of the United States Christian Commission --

Mrs. Ely, Miss Jan Pollock, Mrs. Dr. Davidson, Dr. Davidson and Dr M^cKeehan called.  The latter is an old gentleman of 88 years, who was in Marietta about the year ’98 & wanted to talk about old times and early settlers of Ohio.  He is quite eccentric and rather hard of hearing.

Tuesday Nov. 22 1864

We rose early, cabin cold, soon after day light got a cab and went to the M^cClure House, porter 25 cents, Cafe 65 cents.  Got breakfast and dinner, sat in the reception room, & parlor, --  Snowy cold, disagreeable day.  Could not go out into the city.  Went to the Hempfield depot at three o’clock in the cab.  Railroad not very good, slow progress, arrived at West Alexander 16 miles     about sunset.

Monday Nov 21 1864

Rose early, eat breakfast, and Lucy and I waited for the omnibus which was late, we bearly reached the upper landing at Marietta in time to get aboard of the Leonore, a stern wheel steamer chartered to run in place of the Express now laid up for repairs -- dirty boat -- cross chamber maid --  Among the passengers was a Mrs. Walton of Paris Ill. very social -- A German woman dressed in grey silk who fancied she saw in me an old acquaintance & gave me a cordial greeting  -- A Mrs. Jennie Randolph of Woodsfield cousin of Cochran’s, Mr. Cadwallader of Marietta &c  -----  Weather cold and disagreeable dark before we got to Sunfish where Mrs. Walton & her husband left the boat.  Not much opportunity to notice the scenery, some fine views of river & hills.  Oil men on board were getting off at the different landings.  At Bull creek saw the oil floating on the river, many barrels piled up on the bank, with apparatus for digging &c.     Arrived at Wheeling about 2 o’clock Tuesday morning remained on board till morning--  Fare on boat $3.00.

Sabbath Nov. 20. 1864

Did not go to Church.  But Mrs Dawes, the Major, & J. P. Walton did.

Saturday Nov. 19 1864

Mrs Dawes & Katy Andrews came last night and will go back on the three o’clock train.  I shall go with them expecting to go with Lucy next Monday to visit Kate at West Alexander Penn.    

---------I went as expected with Mrs. S. C. Dawes & the Major & Katy Andrews to town by the afternoon train.  Went in the omnibus from Harmar depot to Mrs Dawes’ -- fare 25 cents.

Friday Nov. 18 1864

A cloudy, drizzling day.  Raked off the leaves from the front yard.  Had the palpitation of the heart -- -- Last night about 11 o’clock the cannon at Fort Boreman began to boom, and continued firing until midnight -- Probably unionists rejoicing over Lincoln’s re-election -- Rained all last night.

Peggy's note:  Fort Boreman was across the river in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Thursday Nov. 17. 1864

Cloudy & some what rainy.  Prepared the roses in Kate’s gardens for winter by putting chip manure & sand about the roots -- did not quite finish but was very tired.

William went to day to Chillicothe.

Wednesday Nov. 16 1864

George Cutter here last night -- Mrs Cutler & Sarah at Mr. Burgess’s -- Sarah spends the night there.

Tuesday Nov. 15. 1864

James Carlin was here to dinner, he is going with his sisters Eliza & Hannah to visit friends in Morgan Co.  He walks pretty well now without a cane --  Recieved a letter from Kate.

Monday Nov. 14. 1864

James Walton went back to School this morning.

Sabbath Nov. 13. 1864

I went to Sabbath school and Church found that the congregation were expecting to hear Dr. Addison Kingsbury of Putnam, who was formerly fourteen years pastor of this church.  Several came over from West Virginia hoping to hear him.  Mr. Curtis stated that Dr. Kingsbury was prevented from coming by the death of Benjamin Buckingham -- a prominent member of his church.

Saturday Nov. 12. 1864

I went to Mr Burgess’ to dinner -- Lucy Dawes, Mrs. Col. Dawes, Miss Frances Bosworth, Bettie Gates, came down on the train & went to Mr. Burgess’s & Mrs Cutler & Sarah went up from here.  John Means was also there.

Friday. Nov. 11. 1864.

Mr. Lewis here to breakfast.  Mrs. Cutler and Maggie Voris went in the carriage to Mr. Briggs’ intending to take dinner there and got home about three o’clock--

Nancy went to her Aunt Carlins’ this afternoon to engage down feathers for Mrs. Cutler but did not succeed in getting any.

James Walton came on the evening train to spend the Sabbath.

Thursday Nov. 10. 1864

Mr. Linscott paid 254 dollars & after breakfast he and the other young men departed --

William is absent at Cincinnati -- Mrs. Cutler & Sarah are spending the day at Mr. Burgess’s.  Mr. W. D. McClure was here to dinner.  In the afternoon he brought in & introduced Mr. Lewis of Jeffersonville Indiana, to whom he has sold a lot of grindstones.  Mr. Lewis was here to supper & will spend the night.

Wednesday Nov. 9. 1864

William started to Cincinnati this morning and Ephe went to Marietta & returned on the 11’ o’clock train and gave us the election news as far as recieved, it indicates that Lincoln is handsomely re-elected -- God be praised -- now may slavery fall to rise no more -- “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” --

Ephe went back to town at three o’clock and is going to Portsmouth tomorrow and thence to Cincinnati to see the Dentist who has some alterations to make in the gate plate which supplies the place of his lower jaw.

After the evening train went down, three men came here, they were strangers to us, but after a while we found them to be a Mr. Linscott of Amesville, who bought 100 acres of land from William and came to make a payment.  The others were young men from Barlow named Hoffman & Moore who wanted situations on the Railroad we got them supper & they staid all night --

Martha Colville went to Mr. B. C. Bailey’s to sew the rest of the week.

Tuesday Nov. 8. 1864

This is the day for Presidential Election.  President Lincoln is the candidate of the Union party and Gen. M^cClellan that of the Copperheads.  We confidently hope for success and dare scarcely think what the consequence of defeat would be.  May God who holds the hearts of all men in his hand give us the Victory.  Great frauds in the votes of New York Soldiers’ home have been discovered, the State Agents were rascals who changed the votes from Lincoln to M^cClellan -- A rainy day --

William went & voted and in the afternoon went to Marietta.  Ephraim came home with him.

Monday Nov. 7. 1864.

I expected to go home this morning but could not get my arrangements made so as to do so --  Mrs. Luther Barker of M^cConnelsville here to dinner.  I used to know her twenty five years ago.  She told me I reminded her very much of my mother, whom she remembered to have seen soon after her marriage with my father.

In the after noon I helped Mrs Dawes about some writing and just as I was preparing to start home Nancy came in, having come up on the afternoon train.  James P. Walton went down as far as Scotts Landing where brother William makes a speech to-night.  Col. Barker, Capt Henry Fearing, David Putnam, Stephen Newton and several other gentlemen & ladies were on the cars and got off to hear the Speech -- As I was getting on to the Cincinnati train, I met Ephe going to the Marietta train, he looked pale -- He came up to vote -- Martha sat up nearly all night sewing.

Sabbath Nov. 6. 1864

Mrs. Dawes still continues to suffer from her headache, but got so much better that Lucy & I ventured to go to church, we went to the Episcopal Church, but did not hear Mr. Boyd, it being communion Sabbath there was no sermon, coming home we dropped into the Baptist Church we blundered into the negro seats, but sat still through the concluding services.  The singing here is very good.

In the evening Lucy and I went to the Congregational Church and heard a good sermon from Mr. Wickes --

Saturday Nov 5. 1864

Lucy came down in the forenoon & insisted that I should go up and spend the sabbath with her mother who is not well, I went with her on the three o’clock train.  Lucy went in the evening with Mr. & Mrs. Giles to call on Rev. Mr. Holland and his lady.  He is a second cousin of Lucy’s.  He preaches to the Unitarian Church in Marietta--

Mrs. Jane C. Russel called at Mrs. Dawes with Mrs. Pinkerton of M^cConnellsville--they spent the evening --

Sabbath Dec 4” 1864

Went to Sabbath school & meeting.

Friday Nov. 4. 1864

William did not come home last night but went to town intending to take a steamboat and go to Matamoras where he is to speak to-day --

There is to be a Copperhead demonstration at Veto to day -- the weather how ever is very unfavorable for out-door meeting.  A cold rain has prevailed nearly all day--

Fearing that it might freeze to night, I took up gladiolas, daily lilies, tube roses, &c.  Lizzie had the last of the Catawba's gathered  --       No Gazette to night--

Peggy's comment:

Matamoras and Veto are towns in Ohio.  

Thursday Nov. 3. 1864

Union Mass Meeting at Vincent’s Station.  William has gone out there, and John & Nancy also--

The accommodation train was an hour late and Mrs. Cutler and Sarah got home just in time to sit down to dinner with us.

John and Nancy came home “on evening train”, George Cutter & Eliza Carlin with them.  They have had a pleasant day, tho’ it is raining this evening.  A great crowd.  Barlow took the flag for the greatest number present.

Wednesday Nov. 2. 1864

Saw something that troubled and disgusted me this morning -- May God have mercy upon us, and avert evil.  

Mrs. Cutler and Sarah went to town to spend the day  -- and did not come home, not reaching the station in time owing to the tardiness of the omnibus driver.  Martha Colville came home from town on the 11’ o’clock train.

Tuesday Nov. 1. 1864

This is the fifteenth anniversary of the marriage of William P. Cutler & his wife Lizzie.  They have gone to take dinner at Mr. Burgess’s also little Sarah who alone is left to them of all their children. --

William went to town to attend to oil matters in the afternoon.

I wrote to Kate.        We have heard that the second operation upon Ephe’s face has been performed, and was very painful.  

Sarah began yesterday to study again, her lessons have been much interrupted during the summer & fall.  I hope now to attend to her regularly.

Lizzie Voris Cutler

William P. Cutler