Thursday, April 30, 1863

We all went to the village to attend the meeting held in consequence of the National Fast today.  The Presbyterians & Methodists uniting we had an interesting time, several members of Presbytery being present took part.  Mr. Merwin, Mr. Curtis, & Mr. Hart and Mr. Lewis the Methodist preacher all spoke well.  May our fasting & humiliation be accepted of God.  -- --  Annie Dean, Polly, Sarah & I walked out on the old farm.

Peggy's comments:

Here is Abraham Lincoln's proclamation for a national day of prayer and fast:

Proclamation 97 - Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer   March 30, 1863

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation; and

Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord;

And, insomuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do by this my proclamation designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the divine teachings that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 30th day of March, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State .

Wednesday, April 29, 1863

This morning William went down to the village to attend Presbytery & started home in the afternoon, expecting to start tomorrow to Baltimore with Wilson to arrange with Pres. Jarret about the bridge over the Ohio at Parkersburg.

Tuesday, April 28, 1863

This morning started to Amesville on the cars with William & little Sarah.  At New England, Mr. G. Dean met us with his wagon & took us with the Rev. C. D. Curtis who was going to Presbytery to Amesville.  We arrived at Mr. Dean’s to a late dinner & a cordial welcome.  William spent the afternoon looking over his farm.

Monday, April 27, 1863

Took a walk on the hill with William & the little girls, got quite a quantity of “forget-me-nots” to plant in our garden.

Sunday, April 26, 1863

Mr. Curtis preached. Home Mission cause presented--gave [unreadable amount].

Peggy's comments:
On this day in 1863, Rufus Dawes (Julia's nephew) again wrote to Mary B. Gates.  She had agreed to correspond with him, believed him to be sincere, and he tried to express his hope that she might some time in the future find him worthy.  Here is part of his letter:

I will tell you once when I thought of you.  It would sound very silly to any one else and may to you.

Shortly after the battle opened at Antietam our colonel was shot.  I succeeded to the command, becoming with my life and honor responsible for the good conduct of my regiment.  You have heard the story how we were broken to pieces and driven back in confusion, more than half of our numbers  bleeding or dying on the field.  Orders, exhortations, entreaties were in vain to rally my men, overcome with a terrible fear of Death.

I took the Wisconsin state flag in my hand and swinging it over my head, and calling every man from Wisconsin to follow me, I turned back into the open field.  When I took that color in my hand I gave up all hope of life.  It did not occur to me as possible that I could carry that flag into the deadly storm and live.  Four men had fallen under it.  I felt all the burning throng of thoughts and emotions that always come with the presence of death.  I had no right to think of you then.  I would have died with your name on my lips.  

Notwithstanding what you have said I shall look anxiously for an answer to this letter.  . . . .

                                                           R. R. D.

P. S.  I write this on a soldier's desk, a drum head.  I am on duty as field officer of the Picket. 

Saturday, April 25, 1863

Mrs. Lucy Browning here to spend the afternoon.  Lucy came on the evening train to remain over the Sabbath.  Lizzie & the children came home this evening.

Friday, April 24, 1863

Rainy this morning but pleasant in the afternoon.  Lizzie & the children went to Mr. Burgess’s--the first time she has been out since she was sick.

Mrs. Lucy Browning & Mrs. W. D. Bailey spent the evening here.

Thursday, April 23, 1863

We were surprised this morning by a visit from Dr. Edwin P. Bailey who has been the last two years in Ste. Genevieve Missouri.  Heard today of the death of Mrs. Pipes formerly Elizabeth C. McClure, an old friend.  She died April 16^th at her home in New London Henry Co. Iowa.

Wednesday, April 22, 1863

A rainy day.  National salute fired at Parkersburg this afternoon in consequence of the President’s Proclamation of the New State of West Virginia.  Parkersburg hopes to be the Capital.  A dispatch states that seven of our gun boats and three transports ran by the rebel batteries at Vicksburg & recaptured the “Queen of the West” and took 90 prisoners.

Tuesday, April 21, 1863

William went to Athens & back today.  Nancy to Marietta.  The body of Col. Hildebrand of the 77^th Ohio came to Marietta on the train today.  He died at Alton, Ill. where his regiment guarded rebel prisoners.  A kind hearted, loyal man.  Emeline and Mrs. Lizzie McClure took tea here.  Wrote Annie Dean that we would be there on 28^th.

Monday, April 20, 1863

One year ago Kate & I started to Pana Illinois.  This spring is later than the last.

The peach trees are now in full bloom.  Mrs. Fanny Bailey called.  She sent Lizzie some honey.  Mr. Blackinton brought a bottle of sweet cider.

Peggy's comments:

Julia and her niece Kate had gone to Pana to visit with Julia's sister, Clara Walton.

Sunday, April 19, 1863

No Entry.

Saturday, April 18, 1863

Kate went to town & Lucy came back with her to spend the sabbath here.

Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. A. S. Bailey, Mr. & Mrs. Greenwood called.  They have encouraging news from Julia, whose condition is hopeful.

Peggy's comment:
Julia Greenwood had had a mental breakdown  and had been sent to an institution.

Friday, April 17, 1863

In the garden nearly all day.

Mrs. Charles Dickey called.

A box from the propagating garden in Washington came today with roses, gladiolas, cannas & evergreens.  They will make a pleasant addition to our garden.

Thursday, April 16, 1863

Circle at Charles Cone’s, could not go.  Mrs. D. P. Slocomb died yesterday of billious pleurisey.  she was wife of Silas Slocomb of Marietta & daughter of Timothy Cone of this place.

The Naval attack on Charleston S. C. appears to be a failure.

Wednesday, April 15, 1863

Mrs. Dawes & Lucy returned to Marietta on morning train.  Maggie here to dinner.  Mrs. Terril ironed.

Lizzie walks from room to room but gains strength very slowly.


Peggy's comments:
Lizzie is still recovering from the premature birth of twins.  

On this day, Rufus Dawes, who had received a negative response to his request to begin a correspondence with Mary Gates, wrote again to her, acknowledging he had received her letter in which she had politely declined to begin a correspondence.

He wrote:

Tomorrow under our present orders we are to commence our active campaign and I may not soon have another opportunity, so I have at last, at imminent peril of placing myself in a character most galling to my pride, concluded to tell you plainly why I asked you to correspond with me.  It was because I love you . . . . 

Tuesday, April 14, 1863

Kate went to Marietta with Lucy.  Mrs. Dawes spending the day here. She called with me at W. D. Baileys on Mrs. Lucy Browning, an old acquaintance, & an intelligent lady.  She is however, unable to adapt herself to her present circumstances which are not so pleasant as might be desired -- “Contentment with Godliness is great gain.”

Monday, April 13, 1863

A naval battle is going on at Charleston S. Carolina.  The Cunninghams left Warren today.  They lost all their household stuff & clothing by the Indian outbreak in Minnesota.  Our family & Mr. Burgess gave them in money & clothing &c fifty dollars.  Mrs. Dawes & Lucy came this evening.

Peggy's comments:
On April 7, 1863, nine ironclad Union vessels attacked near Charleston, S.C.  Led by Admiral DuPont, the hope was that the attack would bring a much-needed victory for the Union.

Sunday, April 12, 1863

Mr. Campbell of Parkersburg, a Presbyterian Minister, preached for us today.

Saturday, April 11, 1863

Friday, April 10, 1863

Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham, Mr. & Mrs. Burgess, Mrs. W. D. Bailey & little Jennie Simon spent the day here.

Thursday, April 9, 1863

Old Mr. Coll has heard of the death of his son David Coll.  He enlisted in the 92^d Regiment last summer and died in camp at March 18.

Peggy's comments:
Julia's entries in her journal have been brief, with very little information about the war.  Not only had there been a bit of a lull in the fighting, but Julia, along with many others, seem weary of the war.

On a side note, Julia's nephew Rufus Dawes, who had recently been on leave in Marietta, had spent some of his time calling on Miss Mary Gates.  He returned to camp near Belle Plaine, Virginia, and on March 24, 1863 he wrote to Mary and asked her to correspond with him.  She sent him a letter declining his offer to correspond.  

Wednesday, April 8, 1863

Tuesday, April 7, 1863

This is the anniversary of the first settlement of Ohio at Marietta.  The day is celebrated at Columbus but not at Marietta.

Monday, April 6, 1863

William went to Chillicothe today to attend to railroad matters.

Sunday, April 5, 1863

Lizzie began to sit up a little today.  Mr. Cunningham addressed the Sabbath School.  Mr. Curtis here to tea.  Mr. Cunningham spoke at monthly concert.

Saturday, April 4, 1863

Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham of the Dacotah Mission with Jennie, a little Indian girl, came this morning to Mrs. Burgess’s & Mrs. Cunningham came down in the afternoon to see Lizzie.

Friday, April 3, 1863

I received a letter from Annie L. Dean today.

Peggy's notes:
Technically, Julia Cutler was Annie Dean's "half aunt".  (Annie's mother was Julia's half sister).

Thursday, April 2, 1863

Gardening.  Circle at Mrs. Blackinton’s.  Kate & Annie went.

Wednesday, April 1, 1863

George W. Cutter who has lived in our family four years left to-day -- He is going to Cincinnati & to Alton to see William his twin Brother who is in the 77”.

Letter from Jane S. Shedd.

Mrs. Terril ironed.

Peggy's comments:
According to the 1860 census, George Cutter was born in Germany and would have been 25 in 1863.  In 1860, his brother William was working and living with the Burgess family.  
Jane Shedd was Julia's niece (the daughter of Sarah Cutler Dawes and Henry Dawes, sister to Rufus, Ephraim, Kate and Lucy).  Jane was the wife of a missionary and lived in Persia.