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December 1862

Saturday 20th

Wind N Clear & excessively cold. Got Wood Raked & hauled Pine litter to Farm Pen. I went to Ct House. Our victory at Fredericksburg was a glorious one. Burnside has recrossed the Rapk. River with the remainder of his forces & no one knows where he has god to. His loss was by reliable estimates between [Eighteen and Twenty Thousand][underlined]. Ours by Genl Lees official report since the opperations began around Frederickby. about [Eighteen hundred][underlined].

Sunday 21

Wind SW Clear & moderated but still very cold. I rode to Sister Anns & Mr Sinclairs in mg.

Monday 22

Wind W & SW Clear. Killed a Beef & a Mutton Got Wood. Repaired Water fences. I went over the River to get some salt for Ned Casy & Old Mr Pointer and came very near being caught by a Yankee Gun Boat returning.

Tuesday 23

Wind SW Clear. Getting Wood. Raking Pine litter A Yankee Steamer lying off Cucus Bay all day. She Took Tom Ransone’s & Jessee Thomass Canves when going to Mill and set the hands ashore on Turtle creek. I went to Wilsons Creek.

[Pg2]

December 1862

Wednesday 24th

Wind E Cloudy & cool. Getting wood for Holidays. I went to Mr Hogg’s school for Richard & retuned by way

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of Ct House. Sent 2 Quarters Beef & ^ Mutton to EB Cary T Taliafino Mr. Marchant &c. There are reports that Seaward had resigned the Secty of Stateship in Lincoln’s Cabinet, & that Burnside had been superseded in Command of the Army of Potomac, his loss at Fredsbg was [very heavy][underlined] probably as high as 25 Thousand. The Yankee Government & People in a great state of excitement in consequence of the loss of a great Battle and so many Troops.

Thursday 25

Christmas day. We staid at home. Wind SW Clear & mild. A Yankee Gun Boat lying off the Mouth of Severn River all day

Firday 26

Wind SW Cloudy. I staid at home. Maria and the children spend the day at Wilsons Creek. Mary Booth Fanny & Barney returned with them. A steamer “The Crusader” lying off my house all the Evening. A part of the crew landed & got some sand. They disturbed nothing.

Saturday 27

Wind SE & W Rained all day. I went to the Ct house. No news of importance except that the whole of Yankeedom is in a great state of excitement and consternation in consequence of their terrible defeat and the great slaughter of their men at Fredsbg Their Cabinet is dissolved and every thing in confusion.