Tuesday, April 12th, 1864

To day I was compelled to stop the boys from planting corn and put them to work on the levee. I succeeded in getting the leak stopped, when I ground 11 bushels of wheat & 3 bushels of corn. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up and I vaccinated Pet [Florence Mahala Hall], also the negro children. Three soldiers stopped for the night. Weather changeable & cool.

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

Monday, April 11th, 1864

To day the boys are at work planting the lower field anew, the last frost having entirely destroyed the growing corn, thus losing the labor heretofore bestowed in planting as well as the seed corn planted. Hicks assisted me at the mill. we ground 5 bushels of wheat. In the evening a hole broke in the levee and carried away about one third of the same, in consequence of which I lost my entire head of water. Weather changeable & rather cool.

Sunday, April 10th, 1864

To day I remained at home writing letters. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up in my buggy. they did not remain long, but rode my horse Hawk back to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Mr. Cundiff came out with a wagon load of wheat, which he left at the mill and returned home in the evening. Weather clear & rather cool.

*This 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. 

Saturday, April 9th, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling fire wood. Hicks attending the mill and ground 11 bushels of corn. I loaded the two Government wagons that Mr. Bowman came down with on yesterday with eighty bushels of shelled corn, after which he left for Palestine. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove down home in my buggy. Nellie remained there all night. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is her daughter-in-law, and is my 2nd great-grandma.

Friday, April 8th, 1864

To day I made the boys work in the garden. Hicks ground 23½ bushels of corn. I drove my horse and buggy down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and brought her up to see the little woman [Margaret* Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Bowman came down from Parker's bluff with his Government wagons after corn. He bought me a demijohn containing 3 gallons of whiskey. Weather variable & rather cool.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. JMH is married to her daughter, Margaret, and is also Mahala's stepson.

Thursday, April 7th, 1864

To day the boys succeeded in driving up two cows and calves. Hicks ground 2½ bushels of corn. I assisted the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] in the garden. Weather cloudy & rather cold with a hard rain at night.

Wednesday, April 6th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in hunting up some cows & calves, but without success. Hicks ground 9½ bushels of corn. I assisted the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] in the garden. we planted Pepper, Corn, Eschalots, Okra, beans, etc. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up in the evening but did not stay long. Weather cloudy & rather cold with indications of rain.