Monday, July 14th, 1862

To day I am engaged in the office. Sam* Sharp left on Hawk for Tarkington's prairie on an electioneering tour. Frank Hitchcock and family left on the Steamer Ruthven for Galveston, leaving me a batchelor's establishment to keep. The boys are engaged in hauling Mr. Hitchcock's furniture down to the boat and in hauling my pughes up home. Bob is at work for Charley Lund. This being the third anniversary of my marriage with the little woman* [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], I celebrated it in a becoming style, and hoping that our future life together may be spent as pleasantly as the past three years for I can truly say that the last three years has been an oasis in my life. weather clear & hot. Ther: 98°.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. The little woman is Sam's sister.

Sunday, July 13th, 1862

To day the steamer Ruthven arrived from Galveston with a few passengers but no freight. I purchased 280 Pughes from Jim Rodger's negro man Charley. I took dinner with Grand Ma, and in the evening am engaged in writing. weather clear & very hot. Ther. 98°.

Saturday, July 12th, 1862

To day I am tolerably sick from my dissipation on yesterday, but am able to be up and about the office. The boys are at work on the fence in the forenoon. weather clear & hot. Ther: 96°.

Friday, July 11th, 1862

To day Lieut. Cook and his party arrived from Houston and attempted to press my mules into the service as a military necessity, which put me on a high horse & uncomfortably tight. The boys are still at work on the jail. weather clear and hot. Ther: 96°.

Thursday, July 10th, 1862

To day I am engaged in the office. In the evening I sampled some cotton at the ware house. The boys are at work on the jail for the County. Lieut. E.L. Jones arrived from Camp Waul, looking in fine health and good spirits. weather changeable and hot, with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 94°.

Wednesday, July 9th, 1862

To day I am engaged in the office. Jack McKim is much better. Bill finished repairing my little wagon, and then worked on the fence. I expected to see a serious difficulty between Drs. Stanwood & Coleman, in consequence of each having posted the other by large hand bills denouncing each other as liars, scoundrels, cowards, etc. but the whole affair passed off in gas. weather changeable & hot. Ther: 99°.

Tuesday, July 8th, 1862

To day I am very busy at the ware house with all hands in storing away F. Hithcock's freight, and in getting 29 bales of Cotton off the lower wharf which the steam boat hands broke out and did not remove. Jack McKim is quite sick and has been so for a few days. weather clear & hot. Ther: 95°.