Saturday Dec. 7

Maggie expected a party from town to spend the day.  They disappointed her.  Kate and Lucy and little Annie there to dinner.  Mr. Wakefield came with William on the cars.  He will preach tomorrow.  Lucy and Maggie went up on the evening train.


Peggy's comments:
Maggie is Lizzie Cutler's sister who lived with their mother, Mrs. Burgess.  Maggie was 26 years old in 1861.

Friday Dec. 6

Another fine day.  Maggie and Mrs. Burgess called before breakfast.  William and Lizzie with the children have gone to take dinner with Mrs. Burgess.  Lucy came down on the evening train. Today's paper says Parson Brownlow with 3000 Union troops has gained a victory in east Tennessee.

Thursday Dec. 5

A pleasant day, finished the quilt.  Kate and Lizzie called on Mrs. Lyman Hart and Mrs. G. W. Bailey.  William returned from Chillicothe this evening.  Letters from Ephraim and Rufus.  Ephe is busy on his final report, which must be sent to Adjutant Gen. Buckingham on the 12" Dec.  Rufus is well and describes "Thanksgiving in Camp".

Wednesday Dec. 4, 1861

We quilted busily all day.  Very cold.  Cousin Temple Cutler, who has been preaching the last two years at Skowhegan, Maine, has been elected chaplain of the ninth Maine regiment now at Hilton Head.  His church say that if he goes he will find a place there when he returns.  He will probably go.   Our great grandfather, the Rev. Thomas Balch, was appointed Chaplain by the "Committee of War" to the Expedition sent to Cape Breton in 1744, in which service he spent sixteen months.  Grandfather was also Chaplain to Col. Francis and also to Gen. Titcomb's regiments in the Revolution.

Tuesday Dec. 3

Kate and Lizzie went to Marietta, a cold day.  They made purchase of materials for Christmas presents.  They saw Gen. Rosecrans who stopped a few hours in town.  He was on his way to Wheeling which place will be headquarters for the winter.  The battery at Fort Haskins fired a salute of eleven guns and Col. Craig had the men in Camps Putnam and Tupper turn out to escort him through town, 2000 or more in number.  The regimental band attended him to the boat, the "Prima Donna".

Monday Dec. 2

It is said that this is the anniversary of the day upon which John Brown of Harpers Ferry fame was hung.  Who can say how much that event had to do with the present state of our country.  Mr. Hollister here again working on the foundation of father's monument.  William went to Chillicothe this morning.  Kate put a quilt on the frames.

Sabbath Dec. 1, 1861

This has been a rainy unpleasant day.  We were ready to go to meeting but were prevented by the storm.  It was proposed to have the Sabbath School at ten o'clock today and hereafter, instead of after service as formerly, and to have in connection with it a Bible class which Mr. Scott is to teach.