Tuesday, May 23rd, 1865

To day I am still at Booths. The steamer Orizaba arrived from Galveston, with Spaight's Regiment on board. The soldiers of this command upon coming ashore immediately proceeded to sack Col. Wrigley's warehouse, stealing every species of property they could find, both public and private. some one of the party stold my fine double barrel shot gun, saddle, bridle and blanket out of the ware house. May my eternal curse rest upon the scoundrel who done it. The reign of terror is now complete in the land. our own soldiers are doing worse than the enemy could under any circumstances could do. The Steamers Ruthven & Orizaba left in order to seek a place of safety from the soldiers. At night Col. Wrigley arrived from Houston perfectly disgusted with the opperation of our soldiers, and the disgusting lawlessness of our citizens. Weather clear & hot.

Tuesday, March 28th, 1865

To day Mrs. Byrd came down & spent the day and I cut out for her 2 sets of bridle fittings. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and children came home from Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. The mill done no grinding in consequence of the high water. The Elkhart creek is looming full and still rising. Weather variable & pleasant but there was a very hard rain at night.

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

Monday, February 13th, 1865

To day John is at work on the levee. I am engaged making a bridle. James Roberts, Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] are still here. we all went out to the pidgeon roost and succeeded in killing 42 of them. Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Burt and Toby are half siblings to her husband (Sam Sharp) as well as to JMH.

Saturday, February 11th, 1865

To day early in the morning I went out to the Pidgeon roost, having found it the evening before, and succeeded in killing 30 of them. The boys are still at work on the mill levee and got it repaired sufficiently to raise a small head of water, when Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. I washed and put out to dry 8 bushels of wheat, and then made myself a good bridle. Weather clear and cold.

Monday, October 24th, 1864

To day the boys finished sowing barley. Mr. and Mrs. Keen came over and spent the day. The old lady warped and beamed a piece of jeans for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. I finished my bridle. Hicks ground 2 bushels of corn. Weather changeable & warm.

Saturday, October 22nd, 1864

To day the boys are at work sowing barley. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and brought Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] home with her. I am at work making a bridle. Hicks ground 2 bushels of corn. Weather cloudy & warm.

Thursday, October 20th, 1864

To day Bill is at work plowing the little field. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up and spent the day. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode home with her but did not remain long. I am better and work on a bridle. John had another chill and fever. Hicks ground one bushel of corn. Weather changeable and cold.

Monday, October 3rd, 1864

To day the boys are at work hauling seed cotton from Mrs. Beazley's and made two loads. I made Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] a bridle & then rode up to the War tax Assessor & rendered a list of my property. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children came home in the evening from Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Burt came up with her. Hicks ground 9½ bushels of corn. Mr. Ezell who stopped with me last night left early in the morning. Weather changeable & rather cool.

Friday, May 22nd, 1863

To day Bill is still at work plowing the corn in the lower field. Hicks & John are still at work getting every thing ready for their trip to Liberty. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and back after my bridle, but did not succeed in getting it. I am at work repairing my buggy harness for my trip to Liberty. Frank Stewart left for the army to join Capt. Smith's company of Burnett's Regiment in Genl. Walker's division. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 17 bushels of corn. weather cloudy & rather cool with occasional showers of rain.

Thursday, September 18th, 1862

To day I remained at Fathers, mending up all the old bridles & martingals. The hands finished gathering corn out of the Red (?) land field. weather clear & hot.

Monday, October 28th, 1861

To day I sent Charley Lund to Galveston on the Steamer Ruthven with the bridles & saddles we had made up for the Confederate States Army. I also sent Capt. Wrigley some supplies for the Guards. Business rather dull. The workmen raised a part of the frame of my house. The sick at home are all well again. weather cloudy & very warm. I was taken very sick in the evening and passed a very unpleasant night.