Tuesday, March 7th, 1865

To day John is at work around the house. Mrs. Lacy & Mrs. Wortham came out and spent the day. I let Mrs. Wortham have 10 lbs of flour at 6$ which she paid. James Roberts and his brother William left for the camp. Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] had a fever. Hicks ground 10 bushels of wheat & 2½ bushels of corn. A soldier stopped all night. Weather variable, with a light shower of rain.

Tuesday, January 31st, 1865

To day James Roberts left for camp. Mr. Cameron from Jasper County came to see Fanny. it appears that he has possession of Fanny's brother, and in my judgment is a very shabby fellow. The boys done nothing in consequence of the rain. It rained all day and all night. The weather was very cold. Thus I close my notes for the month of January.

Thursday, October 27th, 1864

To day the whole crowd stated in yesterday's notes commenced gathering pecans & succeeded in picking up about 5 bushels. No remarks on the days work. we again camped for the night on the bank of the river. Weather clear, but it turned off rather cold for comfort. 

Saturday, September 10th, 1864

To day we left our camp at Nelson's creek and drove to Huntsville, where I exchanged at the Penitentiary my four bales of cotton which weighed 1958 lbs for 198½ yards of osnaburgs and 144 yards of cotton Jeans after which we left Huntsville in route for Home with the wagons and drove 8 miles where the wagons camped at Nelson's creek for the night. I however rode to the river 13 miles and stopped with Mrs. Wyser for the night for which I paid her 10$. Mr. White and myself having parted company at Huntsville. Weather changeable & hot. Ther: 94°.

Thursday, July 16th, 1863

To day the boys are at work pulling fodder in the little field in front of the house. John returned home from Corley's gin with another load of Cotton 5 bales. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick. I ground 8 bushels of corn. In the evening Billy Stewart, John Miller and Wm. Wingfield came out from Crockett on a fishing excursion and camped on the bank of the creek. weather changeable & hot. Ther: 82°.

Wednesday, March 4th, 1863

To day Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp], Hicks & I are at work in relining & fixing up the mill fore bay & in putting up a new bridge tree head. The other boys are at work plowing up the little field in front of the house to plant corn. Sam ground 6½ bushels of corn. In the evening I took Bill, the little wagon & mules & drove down to Halls bluff after some of my articles, which I found on the bank of the river where they had been landed by the Alamo. I was compelled to camp out at night & sleep what little I got on the bank of the river, which was exceedingly disagreeable. weather changeable & very cold.

*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.

Friday, October 17th, 1862

To day we left our camp at Partlows and drove 15 miles and arrived at Liberty where I found all my friends and acquaintances well, but business perfectly dead. The Yankees in possession of Galveston and Capt. Black's Cavalry Company stationed at Liberty to guard and protect the Rail Road bridge over the Trinity River. expenses of the day $1.50. weather clear & cool.

Thursday, October 16th, 1862

To day we left our camp at the cross roads and drove 29 miles and camped at Partlows, having stopped at Smithfield and purchased from Mr. Carr 50 lbs. bacon for which I paid 10$. we also stoped at Grand Cane, where I purchased some fodder from Mr. Smith and paid him 50 cts. for it. weather clear & cool.

Wednesday, October 15th, 1862

To day we left our camp at Marsh's & drove 26 miles and camped for the night at the crossroads, having passed through the town of Livingston. No incidents by the road side to record. Expenses 75 cts. weather clear & rather cool.

Tuesday, October 14th, 1862

To day we left our camp at white rock and drove 29 miles and camped at Marsh's, having passed through the town of Sumpter, where I found the District Court in session. I also met Geo. F. Moore with whom I had a full understanding in relation to some lands held in common between us. weather clear & very cool.

Monday, October 13th, 1862

To day I left Fathers on hawk, with Bill, the mules & little wagon in route for Liberty. after bidding my little woman and babies good bye also the rest of the family, we traveled to Crockett, where I was detained some time and from thence to the white rock creek where we camped for the night, having traveled 23½ miles in all. expenses of the day $8. weather clear but rather cool.

Sunday, August 31st, 1862

To day we left our camp at Smith's and drove 18 miles and camped at Wm. Hallmarks. The roads were wretchedly bad. no incidents by the road side. weather cloudy & drizzling rain all day with a very hard rain at night. expenses 75 cts. Ther: 88°. Thus closes the notes for the month of August and as it also closes the summer I shall not keep notes of the stages of the Thermometer until next summer should God spare me to live so long.

Saturday, August 30th, 1862

To day we left Huntsville and drove 12 miles and crossed the Trinity River at Tuscaloosa. Thence 6 miles further and camped for the night at Smith's. no incidents on the road to note. weather cloudy & showery with a very hard rain at night. expenses $2.75. Ther: 86°.

Friday, August 29th, 1862

To day we left the camp at Davis' and drove 27 miles to Huntsville, where I stoped at Sims Hotel for the night. On the road I met Mr. Swilley and purchased from him a rash of flour to be left at my house in Liberty. At Huntsville I met W.H. Cundiff & learned all the particulars from old Houston County. weather cloudy & rainy all day. Expenses 75 cts. Ther: 84°.

Thursday, August 28th, 1862

To day we left camp and drove 27 miles and camped for the night at Mr. Davis' place, having passed through Cold Spring. No insidents along the road to note. expenses $1.15. weather cloudy with every prospect of rain. Ther: standing at 84°.

Tuesday, May 6th, 1862

To day I procured three recruits for Capt. Wrigley's co. Capt. Pickett's company arrived at Liberty in route for the seat of war, but pitched their camp here and doubtless will remain here for several days. [Trinity] River still rising. The boys are at work on my fence. weather clear & warm.