Monday, July 7th, 1862

In the forenoon I am busy in the office. In the afternoon I am engaged at the ware house, having the 44 bales of cotton which arrived yesterday hauled to and stored on the cars. I also had 5 bales of cotton ferried over the river which detained the hands all day. weather clear & hot. Ther: 98°.

Sunday, July 6th, 1862

To day the steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston with 44 bales of Cotton on board and reported seven sail of vessels off the Island preparing to bombard the City. I remained in my room writing. weather changeable with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 92°.

Saturday, July 5th, 1862

To day I remained at the river, and went to see Mr. John Brodhead dive in his diving suit in order to try and raise the Steamer Alice, which has been sunk in the river over one year. Bill is still busy in making an axle tree for my little wagon. The other boys are engaged in resetting potatoe slips. Charley Lund still at work on the books, and Sam engaged in assessing & collecting. weather changeable with hard showers of rain throughout the entire day. Ther. 94°.

Friday, July 4th, 1862

To day I am busy in the office. Charley Lund commenced to post up our commercial books. Bill is engaged in making an axle tree for my little wagon, which was broken down on yesterday. Jack McKim is busy with his wagon in hauling the lumber from the cars to the wharf under my contract. The Steamer Ruthven arrived from and departed for Galveston having brought no freight. weather cloudy with occasional showers & a pretty good rain at night. Ther: 98°.

Wednesday, July 3rd, 1862

To day I look to myself in order to take a little more active exercise. In the morning I went out hunting and killed 2 squirrels. In the evening Frank Hitchcock and I went up the river in a bateaux as far as Rodger's place, where we purchased some eggs, and then returned. Bill & Mazaline commenced with my little wagon to haul lumber from the cars to the wharf, and in hauling the 4th load broke my wagon down. So it goes! and so passed my days amusement. weather changeable with a north wind blowing, but still very hot. Ther: at 97°.

Wednesday, July 2nd, 1862

To day I am still busy at the office working on the war tax rolls for Charly Lund and succeeded in finishing them, thus completing all the work in the tax collector's office until after the 1st Monday in August next at which time his sales of non rendered lands comes off. Bill is at work on the garden fence. weather clear & hot. Ther. at 98°.

Tuesday, July 1st, 1862

To day I am busy in the office making out war tax roles for Charley Lund. The boys are engaged in hauling the jail timber from the swamp to the jail building. The other boys (i.e., Bob & Charley) are busy working out the potatoes. weather clear & hot. Ther: at 98°.