Monday, August 31st, 1863

To day Hicks is engaged attending to the tar kiln. The other boys are at work hauling logs to build a cotton house. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 1636 lbs. of lint cotton. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Father [Joshua James Hall], Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] went down to Hall's bluff to attend the funeral of Capt. Stubblefield's child. Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up and spent the day. Roberta came home with the little woman at night, bringing Fawn who had a fever upon her. Thus I close my jottings of events around me for the month of August, and as it closes the summer, so I shall close noting the stage of the Thermometer until next summer, should I be spared until then to keep a record of the same as well as the jottings of the passing events that take place around me. weather clear and hot. Ther: 84°.

Sunday, August 30th, 1863

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Hicks fired the tar kiln. My friend Capt. Stubblefield's only male child named James departed this life about 12 o'clock M. aged about 9 months old. Ellen carried Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] where she remained all night. weather clear & hot. Ther: 83°.

Saturday, August 29th, 1863

To day the boys are at work in building the tar kiln and in picking peas. I drove my horse and buggy up to Mr. Keen's to have my saddle fixed up and carried Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] up with me, but as the old gentleman was absent from home I did not succeed in my mission. In consequence of the continued low water in the pond, the mill done no grinding. weather changeable & hot. Ther: 92°.

Friday, August 28th, 1863

To day the boys went with the wagon to get a load of pine to run some tar. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 1385 lbs of lint cotton. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground two bushels of corn. I went fishing but had no success. Rachael came by on her way from Crockett with her cart broken down. I had to loan her my horse Hawk to ride home upon. weather changeable and warm. Ther: 91°.

Thursday, August 27th, 1863

To day the boys was compelled to quit chopping logs in order to work on the mill levee in consequence of a small rend made in it last night. John succeeded in finding his oxen. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode Hawk down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back. Mr. T.R. Dailey delivered 3590 lbs of lint cotton. In consequence of the low water in the pond, the mill could not grind. weather very changeable. at 7 o'clock A.M. the Ther. stood at 60°, and at 3 o'clock P.M. it stood at 92°.

Wednesday, August 26th, 1863

To day the boys commenced getting logs to build a cotton house. John lost the entire day hunting his oxen. The little Major [James Hall Sharp] is still sick. I ground 19 bushels of corn. weather changeable & cool. Ther: 81°.

Tuesday, August 25th, 1863

To day the boys finished hauling and stacking the fodder and hay from the bottom field. The amount of fodder saved from the bottom field was 2450 lbs and the amount of hay saved was 2490 lbs. The little Major [James Hall Sharp] had a chill and fever. I ground 6 bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went hunting but without success. weather cloudy & rather cool for the season, with showers of rain. Ther: 76°.