Tuesday Dec. 31

Kate and little Annie went to town to spend New Years.  Ephe came down on the evening train to tell us goodby.  He goes on Thursday back to camp, expects in a few days to be removed to Camp Dennison.  This ends the most eventful year, 1861.  God grant the succeeding year may have a more triumphant and happy close.

End of 1861.

Monday Dec. 30

William started to Chillicothe this morning.  Maggie here to dinner.  Papers give account of the capture of 15,000 rebels by Gen. Pope of Missouri, with 1000 stand of arms, &c.


Peggy's comments:
Here is a letter sent to Major General Halleck from General Pope on Dec. 20, and General Halleck's reply:

SEDALIA, MO., December 20, 1861.

Major-General HALLECK:

Just arrived here. Troops much embarrassed with nearly 2,000 prisoners and great quantity of captured property. Unless otherwise directed, to-day I will directed the troops to reoccupy their position at La Mine.

JNO. POPE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, Mo., December 20, 1861.

Brigadier General JOHN POPE, Sedalia, Mo.:

I congratulate you and your command on the brilliant success of your expedition. I hope it will prove the forerunner of still greater success.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General.

Source:

ehistory at the Ohio State University, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. VIII, p. 452, http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/sources/recordView.cfm?Content=008/0452, cited Dec. 29, 2011.


And this from the NY Times:

The Prisoners Taken By Gen. Pope.  

(NY Times, Dec. 24, 1861)

OTTERVILLE, Mo., Monday, Dec. 23. Part of the prisoners captured by Gen. Pope at Black Water last Thursday, passed down last night on a special train. Among those sent down are Col. MAGOFFIN, brother of Gov. MAGOFFIN, of Kentucky; Col. ROBINSON, who had command of the rebel force at Black Water, and who was in the battles of Dug Springs, Wilson's Creek, and Lexington; Col. ALEXANDER, who says he fought in all the battles; Lieut.Col. ROBINSON, Major HAINS, Dr. SMITH, one of the wealthiest men and largest slaveholders in Missouri, who has done everything in his power to give aid and comfort to the enemy; MCKEON, Sheriff of Benton County, who, it is said, by misrepresentation, gained admittance into one of our camps, made a diagram of it, and left that night -- (the rebels made an attack and killed sixteen or seventeen of our men;) Dr. MOORE, of Syracuse, is among the prisoners also, and many others who have gained notoriety by their zeal and labors in the secession army. Many of the prisoners wore a kind of uniform, and have served with Gen. PRICE for several months. They all say they have been well treated by the Nationals, and seem to think they will soon be released by Gen. PRICE. The wagons, horses and mules were turned over to the Quartermaster at Sedalia. The troops are again in position at Loraine. We were absent on this expedition just five days. In this time we marched about two days in a direct line from this place, and scoured the country through which we passed for a distance of forty or fifty miles on each side of the route, taking about 1,500 prisoners, 1,000 horses and mules, 1,000 stand of arms, 100 wagons, and a quantity of stores, supplies and clothing. Gen. POPE has received the following dispatch from Gen. HALLECK: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Dec. 20, 1861. To Gen. John Pope: I congratulate your command on the brilliant success of your expedition. I hope it will be the fore runner of still greater successes. (Signed) H.W. HALLECK, Maj.-Gen. Com'g. This prompt appreciation of their labors and frank acknowledgment of their services, by Gen. HALLECK, has completed the happiness of the officers and men of this command, and they will move off with alacrity whenever they are ordered out on another expedition, and will do everything in their power to deserve the commendations of the General commanding.

Sabbath Dec. 29

Mr. William Condit preached, full congregation.  Prof. E. P. Walker died at Athens yesterday.  He was a young man of fine talents, has been about a year professor in Marietta College.  He died of consumption.


Peggy's comments:
E. P. Walker was a young man who  had come from Ames township in Ohio.  He graduated from Marietta College in 1856 at the top of his class.  He impressed one of his teachers as a young man of "unusual self-reliance."

Saturday Dec. 28

Lucy, Ephe and William went to town this morning.  Miss Nye went yesterday.
Mason and Slidell have been given up to British protection.  In this our time of bitter trial when we are called to cope with one of the most gigantic rebellions and to settle the question about accursed slavery, haughty England, false to all her professions, sides with the south and seeks to humiliate and embarrass us.  I think we shall remember the insult.  England feels strong -- and insolent.  Her time of trouble may come.


Peggy's comments:
Julia never waivers in her absolute commitment and devotion to the Union, but I'm somewhat surprised by the bitterness in her comments about "haughty England'.

Friday Dec. 27

Lucy has painted a very pretty card rack.  William says there will be no war with England.  He hopes that Rufus may be at home on a furlough.  His Colonel has given him leave for fifteen days.  If consent of Headquarters can be obtained he will be at home in a day or two.  He told William that if a battle was expected soon he could not get a furlough nor did he wish to be absent in that case.  Ephe came on the evening train.  William sent him word to come.


Peggy's comments:
Family visits were definitely impacted by the Civil War.  Rufus and Ephraim Dawes, Julia's nephews, were serving in separate regiments.  Rufus was with the 6th Wisconsin which was part of the Army of the Potomac.  He had been camped for some months near Washington, DC, and was about to receive 10 days leave. Ephraim was with the 53rd Ohio and was with his unit in Ohio.

Julia's brother William Cutler was home from Washington, as Congress was in recess.

Thursday Dec. 26

Sarah and Marion went home this morning.  Miss Nye spends another day with us. This evening William came home from Washington.  There is a recess of two weeks in the House of Representatives.  He brought Lizzie and the children some very pretty specimens of the bead work of the Tuscarora Indians.

Wednesday Dec. 25 Christmas Day 1861

Sarah and myself were invited to dine at W. D. Bailey's, where we met Mrs. Emerson and Miss Sarah Emerson.  Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Hollister, Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Bailey, Mrs. Maria B. Shipman and Miss Betsey Bailey,--a very fine dinner and a pleasant time.  In the evening at home we had a Christmas tree, the first I ever saw.  Lucy arranged the Christmas gifts upon a cedar tree firmly secured in a piece of plank and placed upon a table in the center of the parlor.  The plank was covered with green moss and the tree lighted with wax tapers.  Those presents which were too large for the branches were arranged under the tree on the table.
Maggie and Lizzie, Mrs. Emerson, Miss Emerson, Mrs. W. D. Bailey and the little Baileys were here.  When all was ready the door was opened and the surprise complete.  Our own children did not know till they saw what the evening's entertainment was to be, and were perfectly jubilant over it.  We had apples and popped corn and music and a merry Christmas.  All said it was the best they ever had, only "too short" the children affirmed.


Peggy's comments;
Julia describes the Christmas merriment so well!  And with such pleasure to write of their first Christmas tree.  Merry Christmas!