Monday, January 18th, 1864

To day the boys are at work on the stables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode my horse Ratler to Crockett and was conscripted and put into the army of the Confederacy Sans Serimonia. I let Sam have 100$ before he left for Crockett. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and the children [Roberta and Toby] left for home. In the evening Mr. Thomas Sharp arrived from the wheat region with two loads of wheat which he left at the mill. He and Mr. Anderson remained with me for the night. I ground 51 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a hard freeze at night.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother, and is step-mother as well as mother-in-law to JMH.

Sunday, January 17th, 1864

To day Father [Joshua James Hall], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] and Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up to see Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] who is something better. They spent the day and remained all night except Father who returned home. Dr. Murchison left for home in the morning. Weather changeable and cool, with a hard frost at night.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Saturday, January 16th, 1864

To day I am still in Crockett and Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] is still in confinement and as I said in yesterday's notes on no charge but mere suspicion that he is liable to conscription. 

The reign of Military despotism is now complete, and a man not in the army dares not say that his life is his own or that he owns one dollar's worth of property. 

I left Crockett late in the evening after having failed to obtain Sam's release. upon my arrival at home I found as I had previously expected that Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] had miscarried. this catastrophy was hastened by the cruel and brutal arrest of her husband. 

If the agents of the Government think this is the proper way to make good soldiers for its armies by dragging husbands from wives who are almost at the point of death, I must humbly beg leave to differ with them. 

Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] were in attendance upon Nellie. At night Sam came home to see his wife having been released upon his parole to return on Monday next. Dr. Murchison & Mother remained all night. Weather changeable & cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is Sam's mother.

Friday, January 15th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. In the evening while Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I were running the mills a file of soldiers rode up and arrested us and forthwith shut up my mills and marched us off to Crockett like common felons. when we reached Crockett we were imprisoned in the Court house and a guard mounted over us. We were not allowed any fire or food, neither were we permitted to converse with any person. So we were kept without any charge against us but upon mere suspicion that we were liable to conscription. So much for our boasted rights as Southern gentlemen and for the causes which led us to sever our connection with the old government. Had I been thus treated by the Yankees I could have borne it all without complaint for I could not have expected any thing else, but coming from those who ought to be our guardians instead of our oppressors comes exceedingly hard, and not well calculated to make good and true soldiers to the Confederacy. I predict that it is but the beginning of the reign of Military despotism and will brake down our once happy land of freedom. I was again discharged late in the night but how long before I am again arrested God only knows. Sam however was kept in close confinement all night. Weather clear & cold.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Thursday, January 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work covering in the stables. I rode my horse Rob to Crockett and while there was again arrested by the conscript officer. when they will get through conscripting me God only knows for one set of officers pulls down as fast as the others set up. I however after much difficulty attained another discharge, but how long it will last I cannot say. 

When I returned home I found Dr. Murchison and Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in attendance upon Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] whose symptoms are more aggravating. Weather changeable and rather cold.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is pregnant, and is married to Mahala's son, Sam.

Wednesday, January 13th, 1864

To day the boys cut up and salted down the hogs that Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] killed yesterday that is one half of the 3 that was cleaned down at Father's [Joshua James Hall] they weighed 205 lbs. Sam is at work making a pair of shoes. I ground 7 bushels of corn and 1 bushel of wheat. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] was taken very sick, with threatening symptoms of miscarriage. Weather clear & rather warm on the pork salted down.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Tuesday, January 12th, 1864

To day the boys are at work cutting up and salting down the pork killed yesterday. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode out to hunt hogs and succeeded in finding 3 which belonged to Father [Joshua James Hall] and which were carried down there to be cleaned. Sam is to get one half for his trouble in hunting and killing them. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] called in as she returned from a visit to see Mrs. Bird. I ground 21½ bushels of corn. Weather clear and cool but moderating fast, the ice is disappearing rapidly and growing beautifully less.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is his mother.