Monday, November 30th, 1863

To day I kept the boys at home and put them to work on the mill levee, which had a small rent caused by the high water. John is engaged hauling boards. I ground 42 bushels of corn and Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 6 bushels of wheat. Fawn's [Florence Mahala Hall] arm is still improving. Weather clear and cold with a hard freeze at night. Thus closes the jottings for the month of November of incidents connected with me & in which I have any interest.

Saturday, November 28th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is still at work running tar. In the morning early the ground was covered with sleet and when I went down to the stables I found my horse Gladiator had seriously hurt himself some time during last night. he died about 10 o'clock a.m. from the injury, thus perished the finest horse that was in the County, and one that I had refused twelve hundred dollars for. Poor old horse let him die and he has now ended his labors on earth. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving with her arm. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 10 bushels of wheat and 1½ bushels of corn. I had the skin taken off of Gladiator, and intend keeping the same to remind me of him. I am at work painting Mr. Cox's sign. Weather clear and bitter cold, with a hard freeze at night the ice forming ½ in. thick in all the vessels that had water in them.

Friday, November 27th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work trying to run tar but with rather poor success. I rode up to the school house and while there paid my war tax of $1213. and Sam's tax of $9.⁵⁰. I loaned J.H. Leaverton 200$. I borrowed from Dr. Murchison 25$. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 8 bushels of corn. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still improving with her arm. Weather cloudy and cold with a hard rain and freeze at night.

Thursday, November 26th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John lost the entire day hunting his oxen. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of wheat. Dr. Murchison remained until after dinner in consequence of which I done no work on Mr. Cox's sign. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up to see Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] who is doing pretty well with her arm. he did not remain long. Weather cloudy and cold.

Wednesday, November 25th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John went up to Mrs. Bird's to haul in and house her potatoes. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 4 bushels of wheat. I am still at work painting Mr. Cox's sign. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode up to Mrs. Birds and while she was absent my daughter Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] fell from the house gallery and dislocated the Radius bone of the right fore arm at the elbow joint. I sent for Dr. Murchison who came to see her and remained all night. Weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

Tuesday, November 24th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5 bushels of wheat. I am engaged painting another sign for Mr. Cox. Weather cloudy and cold. at night it cleared off and there was a hard frost and freeze.

Monday, November 23rd, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling wood. Mr. Cox's wagon left with one of the signs. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 24 bushels of corn. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove Rob and the buggy down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and there spent the day. Mother sent me by Nellie a new pair of pants for which I am thankful. Sam killed two nice ducks. I marked and branded eleven calves, the mark being a crop and two splits in the right ear and a swallow fork in the left ear, and branded them Æ A&E united. weather cloudy and cold, with indications of rain.

Saturday, November 21st, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling boards and made two loads. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children drove down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and there spent the day. I am busy at work lettering Mr. Cox's signs. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 34 bushels of corn. Weather changeable and cold, with a frost at night.

Friday, November 20th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling fire wood. Mr. Cox came out to see about his signs and when I could get them painted. He remained until after dinner & then left for Crockett. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 7 bushels of wheat. I went out hunting and killed a duck the likes of which I have never before seen. it was perfectly white with a black back and black top knot tinged with purple. rather an odd fowl to me. weather changeable & cold with a hard frost at night.

Thursday, November 19th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is still hauling boards and made two loads. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came by to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] as she returned from Mrs. Birds. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground for Mother 104 lbs of flour, also two bushels of wheat for Mrs. Pridgen. Weather clear & pleasant until late in the evening when it clouded up and the wind came out of the north very severe, making it very cold at night. it rained exceedingly hard with a perfect tornado blowing.

Wednesday, November 18th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John commenced hauling boards and made two loads. Father [Joshua James Hall], Judge Eagan, Mr. Allen and Strain came up to see but did not remain long. I ground 5 bushels of corn and then worked on Mr. Cox's signs giving them the second coat of paint. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] went hunting but without success. Weather changeable and warm for the season.

Tuesday, November 17th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John drove the wagon over to Mr. Keens to have some smith work done upon it. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the afternoon. I ground 12 bushels of corn. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] made a frame for one of Mr. Cox's signs, which got broken in taking it down. Weather clear and warm.

Monday, November 16th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work in the new ground. I ground 17½ bushels of corn. Mr. Cox sent two signs out from Crockett for me to paint. Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] came up with letters for Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] from her Mother [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring]. Weather clear and pleasant, but a hard frost and freeze at night.

Saturday, November 14th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. Hicks is at work making a sand bolster for the wagon. I ground 24 bushels of corn. Major Wortham came to see me and remained until after dinner when he left for home. Late in the evening Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] returned home from her visit to Hall's bluff. weather clear & cold with hard frost at night.

Friday, November 13th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work putting up a kiln to run some tar. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] drove my horse (Rob) and buggy down to Hall's bluff to see Mrs. Stubblefield who is very sick and remained there all night. John Williams came to see me and stopped all night. I ground 6½ bushels of corn. Weather cloudy and warm for the season.

Thursday, November 12th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is still at work in the new ground. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] & I drove to Crockett and back in the buggy. while in Crockett I collected from L.E. Downes $387 on account of a claim I held against the estate of John B. Odell. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and took care of Jim [James Wrigley Hall] while we were gone. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 8 bushels of corn. weather cloudy & very cool.

Wednesday, November 11th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work in the new ground. Mrs. Bird came down and spent the day and while at the house made a small hat or cap for Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall]. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I went hunting and killed 3 ducks. we also ground 6½ bushels of corn and 3 bushels of wheat. weather clear and cool.

Tuesday, November 10th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work in the new ground chopping wood. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day. I ground 5 bushels of corn and 1 bushel of wheat. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I went hunting and killed 3 ducks. Weather clear and cool with a hard frost and freeze at night.

Monday, November 9th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is at work hauling fire wood. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's to have some work done. I ground 10½ bushels of corn and 1½ bushels of wheat. I then went hunting and killed one duck. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mothers [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & back after some walnuts. weather clear & cold with a hard frost at night.

Saturday, November 7th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the woods splitting boards. John is still at work in the garden. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall], Jim [James Wrigley Hall] and the little Major [James Hall Sharp] are all sick with a fever. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day with us. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 5½ bushels of wheat. weather changeable and warm until night when the wind hauled around to the north, making it very cold with a hard shower of rain.