Tuesday Jan 31st [1865]

Mr. [Joshua] Peterkin spent
the eve -- with us -- Aunty bought
3 lbs butter $15. per lb.

Mon Jan 30th [1865]

Spent the day with
Elvira Nimmo. Mrs Cottrell & Mrs [Loring?] [Lowry?]
Called while I was away -- Mr & Mrs L[oyd]
and Minnie spent the eve. Got our
shoes that were sent to be mended.
Weather delightful

Sunday 29th Jan. [1865]

It was too windy
this morning to walk to Church --
Mr. Thompson & I. Overby spent the eve'

Saturday [January 28, 1865]

The Thermometer at 10°
said to be the coldest weather here
since 1857 Mr Conner arrived --
Mr. Evins -- came a little before 9 o'clock
to spend the eve'. It is reported the
other peace commissioners have been sent to W-

The three commissioners were Confederate Vice-President Stephens, President pro tem of the Senate Robert M.T. Hunter, and Assistant Secretary of War John A. Campbell, a former U.S. Supreme Court justice.

Friday [January] 27th [1865]

Mr. S. spent last eve' at
Mr Morriss' did not get home until
2 o'clock this morn! Last night was
the coldest we have had this winter
the water froze in the pitchers for
the first time this Winter -- Mr S -
sent home 1/2 a beef & bushel Meal
I breakfasted at 12 o'clock this morn.

Thursday Jan 26th [1865]

Very cold --
Walked down to Rees's Daguere^'r'ean
Galery sat for my photograph
Called on Mrs. James but did not
find her at home -- Paid my
first visit to Mrs Mitchel & Mrs
Dr. Harrison -- Mrs M. was quite sick
Called on Mrs Davis she was out
as usual -- Sent Margarette to
Hills with my hat -- will not be able
to get it until next Friday a week.

Charles R. Rees had a photographic gallery at 145 Main Street. Noted for photographs of Belle Isle and Libby Prison. www.mdgorman.com Civil War Richmond website

Varina Howells Davis (Mrs. Jefferson Davis?)

Wednesday [January] 25th [1865]

Clear but very cold
Mr. Crouch dined with us. Mr Shafer
Charlie & I went in the eve. to Centenary
church to see Lieut. Wersiger and
Emma Tyler united in the
holy bonds of Matrimony --

possibly William H. Weisiger (1840-1896) , an artillery lieutenant, whose wife was an Emma Tyler (1843-)

Tuesday [January] 24th [1865]

Weather delightful
but the walking very bad.
Bought 2 gals. Eclactic [sic] oil $90 pr gal
4 chimneys for lamps $12-a piece
Mrs Lloyd dined with us --
Mr. S. & I went to Mr L's in the eve
Mr S intending to call on Gen. [Richard] Ewell
but found the Gen & his lady there
was much pleased with him -- he
has a noble head -- fine eyes -- rather
sharp features -- wears a moustache
is very affable & amusing in con-
versation -- the loss of his limb is not
atall perceptible until he attempts
to walk -- Gold $45 for $1.

Eclectric Oil was a well known patent medicine. Originally marketed by a Dr. S. N. Thomas of Phelps, N. Y., it contained spirits of turpentine, camphor, oil of tar, red thyme and fish oil and was sold as a cure-all for toothaches, earaches and deafness. It continued to be marketed until the late 1940s. Empty bottles are still sold on e-Bay. See "Dumpdiggers" website.

Monday Jan 23rd [1865]

Rained nearly
all day -- Mr Crouch came home
from the army. Sent shoes to be
mended. Made a straw hat for
myself. Finished ^'the' 3 ^'rd' pr socks for Soldiers

Sunday Jan 22nd [1865]

Weather still very
bad, the trees all ready to break
with their weight of icicles --
present a very beautiful appearance

Saturday [January] 21st [1865]

Weather terrible
raining & freezing as fast as it falls
Gold fallen to $50 for $1. 2 lbs. Sugar
bought on trial $16. per lb.

Friday [January] 20th [1865]

Bought 1 cd. wood $120.

Thursday [January] 19th [1865]

Cut Charlie's hair,
Went to see Mrs. W. had a visit
From Mrs. F. & H. also Mrs Ewell
Mr S & I went to Mrs L[loyd?]'s in the eve'

Mrs. Ewell may be Lizinka Campbell Brown Ewell (1820-1872) the wife of General Richard Ewell who was in charge of the defense of Richmond.

Wednesday [January] 18th [1865]

Bought a pr. morocco
shoes at $175. Mrs. Lloyd & Minnie
came in the evg'.

Tuesday [January] 17th [1865]

Flour $800. for a barrel!
meal $100 per bushel. Bought 1 bu.
turnips -- 2 bu. Meal. Opened box of
Soap. Cloudy -- & snowing a little now
and then. Mr. S & I went to the
Evins' in the eve' --

Monday Jan 16th [1865]

The news received of the
fall of Ft. Fisher -- a very serious and
unexpected loss -- to the Confeder^'a'cy --
Gold selling for $70. for $1. Sister & T.
left for Craighton -- Had four barrels
flour brought down from the Kitchen

Fort Fisher was taken on January 15 by a combined Union Army and Navy assault under the command of Major General Alfred Terry and Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter who received the "Thanks of Congress" for his action.

Sunday Jan 15th [1865]

Aunty Mr. S and
Self went to Church -- Mr. [Joshua] Peterkin
preached from 2nd V 2nd chp 1st Cor.
Found Sister & Temple at home when
we returned

Saturday [January] 14th [1865]

Wilmington attacked by
the Yankee fleet -- the second time!
Very cold and cloudy.

Fort Fisher on Cape Fear protected the port at Wilmington, N.C. It had successfully resisted a Federal assault on December 24th

Friday 13th [1865]

Wrote to William. Millie
went to walk -- Weather delightful
The government was borrowing flour
today ^'from the citizens of Rd' to feed the Army!

Thursday [January] 12th [1865]

Commenced knitting for the
Soldiers -- Opened a barrel of flour.
Our old neighbor Mr. Overly & Son
dined with us -- Louisa sick in bed

Wednesday [January] 11th [1865]

Heard from William -- He sailed from
N.Y. for Germany -- Dec. 17th 1864.
A visit in eve' from Mrs. Fourqureau
& Mrs. Evins --

Tuesday Jan 10th [1865]

Rained all day
A visit in the eve' from Mr Holmes
who gives a very gloomy account of
"the times" in the country -- thinks the
Confederacy nearly at an end -- gives it
four months longer. The evacuation of
R___d - & the emancipation question
form the chief topics of conversation.
Commenced giving Milly cod liver Oil.

Monday Jan 9th [1865]

Killed the calf.
Mr. Angerer started for S.C.--

[Sunday] Jan 8th. [1865]

clear but very cold -- Mr S.
Ma and I went to church, heard an
excellent sermon from dear Mr
P. on the 9th V. 39th Psalm -- In the
eve. walked to Hollywood [Cemetery?]
Milly came down stairs to-day
the first time since Christmas eve.

The Rev. Joshua Peterkin of St. James's Episcopal Church, known for officiating at the funeral of J.E.B. Stuart.

[Saturday] Jan 7th [1865]

Weather very fitful -- the
early morning -- pleasant as apring -- but
before noon it rained quite heavily
then snowed a little & at sunset
all was clear again -- Spent the day
at Mrs L's -- Took no German Lesson.

[Friday] Jan 6th [1865]

Rained nearly all day

[Thursday] Jan 5th [1865]

Took no German lesson.
Charlie commenced school with Aunty
Mr. S. & Charlie spent the eve. at
Capt. W.'s.

[Wednesday] Jan. 4th [1865]

Rode into the city with Charlie
The streets were so slippery that the
old Grey fell on his nose once &
was in constant danger of repeating
the act, all the way down & back. --
Mrs [?] died this morning --

[Tuesday] Jan 3rd [1865]

Snowed nearly all day. Took no
German lesson -- Ma resigned the house-keeping
Mr. S. wrote to William.

[Monday] Jan 2nd [1865]

Clear but very cold -- Sister & Temple
left for Craighton -- commenced my German
lessons again.

[Sunday] Jan 1st, 1865

Among the great resolutions formed
to-day for the "New Year" is one to
keep a "daily account of events".
Thinking it may prove useful, pleasant
& improving, I hope I may find myself
possessed of sufficient perseverance for
the task -- (doubtful)
This time last week our little Millie
was very ill -- commenced Christmas eve!
to spit blood & continued to do so for three
days & nights -- but to-day she is bright &
apparently quite well, but confined
to bed for fear of a relapse.
Tuesday last ^'Dec 27th' Sister & Temple came up
to spend the remainder of the holidays
Thursday eve' Maj. Page took tea with
us -- Yesterday (Saturday) it snowed
nearly all day -- this morning it is
clear but very cold -- & the walking such
as to prevent our attending Church.