Friday, March 25th, 1864

To day the boys are at work plowing the new ground. Sam* Sharp left for Crockett to join his company and before he left I let him have $100. Hicks ground 22 bushels of corn. Weather changeable & rather cool.

*This Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. He is also the brother-in-law as well as the step-brother of JMH.

Thursday, March 24th, 1864

To day the boys are at work breaking up the new ground. Mr. Fitzsimmons left after dinner for Magnolia. Sam* Sharp came out in the evening having attained a short leave of absence. Weather variable & cold.

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

Tuesday, March 22nd, 1864

To day Bill is at work putting troughs in all the stalls in the stable. John is at work hauling fire wood. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] left for Crockett to join his company. I ground 7½ bushels of wheat & 2 bushels of corn. Billy Stewart and Mr. Fitzsimmons are still with me. In the evening I rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in company with Billy Stewart. we found her much improved in health. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

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

Tuesday, March 15th, 1864

To day the boys commenced planting corn in the bottom field. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode up from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] where they left all sick. After dinner Sam left for his company in Crockett and Nellie returned to Mother's to wait upon the sick. Four soldiers stopped with us for the night. Weather variable & cold with a hard freeze at night.

*This Sam and Nellie are 2nd great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Sam's mother.

Saturday, March 12th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work in the new ground. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children rode down to Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and remained there all night. Hicks ground 27½ bushels of corn. Mr. Driskell & Mr. Allen who are members of Capt. Nunn's Company stopped for the night. Weather changeable.

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

Wednesday, March 9th, 1864

To day I took Father's [Joshua James Hall] and my own hands and opened a new road to his residence from the mill, the rain having rendered the old road impassable. Hicks ground 1½ bushels of corn. After dinner Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] left to join his Company which is now stationed for a short time in Crockett. Father went to Crockett with him. Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & Roberta [Berta Downes Halyard nee Hall] left for home. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down with them, but did not remain long. Weather cloudy & warm with occasional showers of rain.

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

Saturday, February 27th, 1864

To day the boys finished planting corn in the lower field. I ground 15 bushels of corn. Sam* Sharp arrived home on a furlough from the army. He is a member of Capt. Nunn's Company of Cavalry. Weather cloudy & warm.

*This Sam aka Samuel Houston Sharp is a 2nd great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog. The few mentions in this journal of his military experience are the ONLY record we have found of his confederate service.