Monday, November 30, 1863

Mr. James H. Scott moved his family to Clermont Co. where he has bought a farm.  They went on the Ohio.  A cold day--I am troubled with rheumatism.

Sunday, November 29, 1863

Small Congregation.  William, Mr. Glazier, Nancy & I went to meeting.  Annie sick with influenza.

Saturday, November 28, 1863

William came home to night and Mr. Charles Glazier of Amesville with him.  He wishes to rent the Old Place.

Friday, November 27, 1863

Another pleasant day.  Took my hyacinths from the dark into the sunlight.  I have [unreadable] in a pot--hope they will bloom in February.  Kate has two in glasses.  Lucy came down & spent last night.  Dr. Cotton has telegraphed that Capt. Beale Whittlesey was killed at Chattanooga.  Lt. Col. Douglas Putnam of the 96” wounded also Lieut. Putnam, Turner Selby, &c.

Thursday, November 26, 1863

National Thanksgiving--A fine day.

This day is set apart by President Lincoln & Gov. Todd as a day of Thanksgiving.  Dispatches came saying a great battle has been fought at or near Chattanooga and a great victory achieved.  30 guns taken--and we have possession of the enemy’s fortifications.  William telegraphs that the name of Major Dawes does not appear in the partial lists of killed & wounded--we are very anxious to hear more.  The Burgess’ family alone here to dine.  No sermon.

Peggy's comments:

In the fall of 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared the fourth Thursday of November to be an official day of Thanksgiving.  Here is his proclamation:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony 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 third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday, November 25, 1863

Sarah returned to Marietta.  Mrs. Cutler to her mothers to dinner taking little Sarah with her.  Annie is sick with influenza.  Nancy & I took care of the lard of six hogs & prepared sausage meat.  Rosa Roberts staid all night here.  A. S. Bailey sent us a fine Turkey for Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 24, 1863

Rainey.  Mrs. Dawes spent the day here.  Another letter from Jane S. Shedd.  She has been very sick but is now better.  She is at Salmus near Oroomiah.  Marion Hunter also writes from Minnesota her little baby has been sick.

Peggy's notes:

Jane Shedd was Rufus Dawes'  sister and the niece of Julia Cutler.  She and her husband, the Rev. John Shedd, had been missionaries in Persia since 1859.

Monday, November 23, 1863

William goes to Cincinnati.  Lucy, Mary Gates, & Rufus went back to Marietta this morning.
Mr. Burgess came down & proposed that we get a box of canned fruit ready for Rufus to take back with him.  Mrs. Burgess sent down four cans & Lizzie put in an equal number.  John put the box on train as Rufus passed down.  Mrs. Dawes came this far with him.

Peggy's comments:

Rufus Dawes later wrote about his visit to Marietta:

This short visit is remembered as an oasis in the desert of my military life.  The weather was delightful, and that dreamy haze, called Indian summer, was upon the hills and valleys of Southern Ohio.  For four days, a young couple, oblivious to all others, wandered over the hills or drove on the beautiful roads.  Owing to the exigencies of the military service, this four days was all the opportunity we had for meeting until our wedding.

Sunday, November 22, 1863

We all went to meeting except W^m who is still not well & Miss Mary Gates who staid at home with Kate.  Mr. Curtis preached a good practical sermon urging immediate repentance & submission to God.

W. D. Bailey & Mrs. Bailey came in to see Rufus.

Saturday, November 21, 1863

We were very pleasantly surprised this morning to see Rufus -- he came on the cars with Lucy, Mary Gates, and Annie.  He was on the cars yesterday when Sarah went up.  He has but seven days furlough and starts back Monday night.  He has been and has been through “Fitz Hughes Crossing” “Chancellorsville” & “Gettysburg” since we saw him.  Rufus took tea at Mr. Burgess’s.  A. S. Bailey called.

Peggy's comments:

Since his engagement to Mary Gates, Rufus Dawes, Julia's nephew, had applied several times for a leave to return to Marietta to see her.  Rufus later recalls this event in his book, Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers:

In making a third effort to secure a leave of absence, I went in person to corps headquarters.  My application had the usual "urgent" endorsements which plaintively appealed that I should be granted the favor.  General John Newton, now best known as the man who blew up Hell Gate, looked my paper over and I saw no hope in his eye.  "Colonel," said he, "you give no reason for this application!"   "What's the use of giving a reason! " said I, "sickness or death in the family, or business complications are rejected as reasons in the orders."  "Yes," said the General.  "Have you any other reason?"  "I have," said I, "I want very much to see my girl."   "All right, Colonel, you have stated a reason not forbidden in the orders, and I will endorse that you have 'a good and sufficient reason.'"  I got all I asked, ten days leave of absence to visit Ohio.  General Newton made two friends by this level-headed, official action.

Friday, November 20, 1863

Sarah returned to town this morning taking Annie with her.  It is the last day of this term of Lucy’s school - a rainy day.

Thursday, November 19, 1863

Dr. Rucker (whose family have been in Marietta nearly a year - refugees from Virginia) has lately escaped from an imprisonment of 18 months in the South and on whose account all exchange of surgeons had ceased is now safe within the Union lines.

Peggy's comments:

On this day, Abraham Lincoln made his famous Gettysburg Address, dedicating the cemetery at Gettysburg.  After noted orator Edward Everett spoke for two hours from memory, Abraham Lincoln took out a piece of paper and spoke for about three minutes to 10,000 people.  

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Wednesday, November 18, 1863

Kate has had a very sick day.  She suffers a great deal of pain.  We fear that she will have a settled fever.

Maggie Voris, Mrs. Joel Deming, Mrs. Hart and Betsey & Thomas Bailey called.

I filled Mrs. Harts & Miss Baileys buggy with shrubs & plants from the garden.

Lucy came this evening bringing letters from Ephe about whom we were becoming very anxious.  He was at Decherd Tenn. and had marched from Waterloo 250 miles and was still “moving on.”

Tuesday, November 17, 1863

Nancy washed & did house work most of the day.

Monday, November 16, 1863

B. C. Bailey, Mr. Briggs, A. S. Bailey & Mr. Burgess here before breakfast.  Mr. B. C. Bailey has invented a contrivance for dumping dirt cars, quite ingenious.  William went to Cincinnati--will be gone all the week.

Nancy came back today.

Sunday, November 15, 1863

Little Sarah quite sick to-day--a good deal of fever--gave blue pills.

Saturday, November 14, 1863

Mr. Thomas shipped his apples on the S. Clair for Pittsburg.  Rained hard.  Mrs. Nancy T. Bradley and little Charley Bradley here to spend the day.  John took them to Mrs. M^cTaggerts in the evening.  They are from Pana, Ill.

William lay all the afternoon on the sofa with fever & severe headache.  Kate quite unwell not able to sit up all day.  Conductors brought dispatches requiring W^m to go to Cincinnati Monday.

Friday, November 13, 1863

Thursday, November 12, 1863

Sarah had a high fever all night but better this morning.  We wrapped her in a hot wet sheet which prevented croup & [an erased and unreadable portion of the journal]   He is a copperhead [several unreadable words] in our social life a difference between loyal people & traitors.

Deacon Francis Stone of Belpre died to-day of paralysis with which he was seized on Monday last.

Wednesday, November 11, 1863

Little Sarah had a sick night.  William & Lizzie went to town to do some business & Lizzie went and took her new piece of princess cloth to Mrs. Deeble to be made.  Mrs. Terril here, cleaned the sitting room & ironed. 

Sarah sick all day, cannot speak loud and coughs with sore throat.

Rev. Mr. Merwin came and spends the night on Presbyterial business. 

Tuesday, November 10, 1863

The ground froze hard last night and the air is wintry today.  A. S. Bailey called & Col. Moore took dinner.  Wrote to M. A. Carter enclosing 50 dollars from W^m to her mother.

Peggy’s comment:

Martha Ann Carter was the daughter of Nancy Cutler Carter who was William’s and Julia's half-sister.

Monday, November 9, 1863

Lucy & Carrie Wickes left this morning.  A little sprinkling of snow fell last night, the first of the season and to-day a snow storm has made the earth white.  Mrs. Terril and Rosa Roberts here helping us.  Mrs. Dawes came to spend the night and to bring Kate some medicine.  There was a battle on the Rappahannock between Meades army & Lee’s on Saturday last, Nov. 7”.  Victory for us--we took 1,800 prisoners.

Peggy's comment:

More information at the battle at Rappahannock Station here.

Sunday, November 8, 1863

Kate, William & Lizzie all too unwell to go to meeting.  There are many complaining with influenza.  They are very sick a few days & cough hard.

Saturday, November 7, 1863

We have taken up the last of our roots & bulbs to day canna, dahlias, ...roses, gladiolas, &c--to keep through the winter.  

Kate is very unwell with a severe cold.  Carrie Wickes & the children are having a fine play.

Kate took them in the buggy as far as Mr. Blues.  Nancy Carlin has gone home to spend a week.  (unreadable name) Linscott from Amesville here.

Friday, November 6, 1863

Peggy's comment:

Julia did not make an entry in her journal on this day, however her nephew, Rufus R. Dawes, did write a letter to his fiancé, Mary Gates:

We had an interesting visitor in camp to-day.  He was an old school Virginia gentleman, of one of their patrician families.  The old gentleman was a pattern of method and precision in his manners, and there was the urbanity and consideration for others of the true gentlemen of the real old stock.  He said that he had been an officer in the 'War of 1812'--that he had General Washington's own pistols.  He was well acquainted with President Madison and President Monroe, and edified us with anecdotes and illustrations of the men of his day and generation.  His visit was much enjoyed by all.  The old gentleman was carried away by talking, and he said:  "I am eighty years of age.  My grandfather was a Virginia gentleman; my great grandfather was a Frenchman, and, begging your indulgence to an old man, I thank God that to-day I stand as they would in this struggle."  Said I:  "My dear Sir, your enthusiasm is worthy of imitation by us who are younger, but your cause is no older in your family than ours is in mine.  My ancestors came to New England when yours came to Virginia, and they flourished in Massachusetts, and I thank God I live in the day to fight for their principles."  Said the old gentleman:  "I always did admire a full blown Yankee."

Thursday, November 5, 1863

Circle met at Mrs. Harts.

Wednesday, November 4, 1863

Tuesday, November 3, 1863

I wrote to Clara.  William,who started to Cincinnati this morning where his business will keep him until Saturday, gave me a check for 50 dollars to send Clara.  It will be very acceptable to her I know.

Monday, November 2, 1863

Pleasant.  Late letters from Ephraim--he is at Iuka. (sp) He sends his mother more money.

Sunday, November 1, 1863

Rev. Francis Bartlett supplied the pulpit for Mr. Curtis.

The leaves have nearly all come down, and the earth has a bleak look--the grass however is still green, chrisanthemums, roses and other flowers are still blooming in the garden.