Tuesday, April 5th, 1864

To day after breakfast I left Parker's bluff and drove ? miles over a very bad rode and arrived home in the middle of the afternoon where I found all well. The boys are engaged hunting up some cows & calves but with very poor success. Hicks ground 5½ bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with high winds.

Monday, April 4th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the new ground. I drove my horse Rob & buggy to Magnolia & Parker's bluff a distance of 27 miles in order to procure some cotton cards but dismally failed. I stopped for the night with Mr. Ward. Weather variable and very cold with high winds.

Sunday, April 3rd, 1864

To day I drove my horse & buggy down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] with the children. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down on Hawk. We all spent the day there. Mr. Butler passed on his way home from Magnolia. Bill caught a fine mess of fish. Weather clear and cool, with a high boisterous wind all day.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma, and is married to Mahala's son, Samuel Houston Sharp.

Saturday, April 2nd, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the new ground. Mr. Keen came over and spent the day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and I worked in the garden. Hicks attended the mill and ground 25 bushels of corn. Weather variable and rather cool with a high boisterous wind blowing from the west which is not a gentle zephyr.

Friday, April 1st, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the new ground planting corn. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up and remained for dinner. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Hicks ground 9 bushels of corn. Weather variable and cold, with a high boistrous wind blowing from the South.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog.

Thursday, March 31st, 1864

To day the boys are at work planting corn in the new ground. Hicks assisted me at the mill. we ground 5 bushels of wheat & 6 bushels of corn. I let Mr. Leatherman have calf skin & sole leather enough to make five pairs of shoes. He took the measure of the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & myself and promised to have the shoes back in six weeks. I paid him 25$ for making them or 5$ per pair. He then left for home. Weather clear & cool. So closes my notes for the month of March.

*Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Nellie's mother-in-law. Mahala is also the mother of the little woman, as well as being the step-mother of JMH.

Wednesday, March 30th, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the new ground. Hicks assisted me in the mill. we ground 11 bushels of wheat. Mr. Leatherman came out and stopped at the house. Father [Joshua James Hall], Judge Vontress & John Connelly came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. after dinner they left for Crockett. Mr. Fitzsimmons left in route for his home in Liberty. weather variable & cool.