Friday, May 25th, 1866

To day I worked at the warehouse during the forenoon. In the evening I remained at home and painted another shutter to the little room. Mrs. Buckley and Johnny Wrigley arrived on the cars from Houston. Capt. John W. Redmond still here. At night I attended a party given at the Court house and remained there until late at night or rather early in the morning. Weather variable and warm with occasional showers of rain.

Monday, July 17th, 1865

To day the Yankees reduced this point (Liberty) into possession and established head quarters at the Court house. they also opened a Provost Marshal's office to enforce the amnesty oath down the throats of the Southern people. Mr. Perkins came over from Houston on the train. I drove up town in my buggy to see the grand display of the infernal yankee troops. Weather variable and hot with a shower of rain. Ther: 92°.

Friday, January 15th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work on the stables. In the evening while Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I were running the mills a file of soldiers rode up and arrested us and forthwith shut up my mills and marched us off to Crockett like common felons. when we reached Crockett we were imprisoned in the Court house and a guard mounted over us. We were not allowed any fire or food, neither were we permitted to converse with any person. So we were kept without any charge against us but upon mere suspicion that we were liable to conscription. So much for our boasted rights as Southern gentlemen and for the causes which led us to sever our connection with the old government. Had I been thus treated by the Yankees I could have borne it all without complaint for I could not have expected any thing else, but coming from those who ought to be our guardians instead of our oppressors comes exceedingly hard, and not well calculated to make good and true soldiers to the Confederacy. I predict that it is but the beginning of the reign of Military despotism and will brake down our once happy land of freedom. I was again discharged late in the night but how long before I am again arrested God only knows. Sam however was kept in close confinement all night. Weather clear & cold.

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

Monday, December 15th, 1862

To day I am busy preparing for a party to be given at the residence of Dr. Stanwood in honor of his daughter Sarah Eugenia having attained her full age of majority. The dinner given on the occasion was magnificent for the times, and passed off to the entire satisfaction of the guests and reflected great credit upon those who got it up. At night the guests assembled at the Court house where we had a first rate dancing party and as usual I had to act as Master of Ceremonies on the occasion. towards the small hours of morn the party closed, every thing passing off quite pleasantly. weather changeable. The wind having hauled around to the North made it quite cold.

Monday, November 24th, 1862

To day I am busy writing. Mr. & Mrs. Parkins came over on the cars from Houston. At night the ladies of Liberty gave a grand tableau representation at the Court house, the proceeds of which are to be disbursed for the benefit of the soldiers in the Southern Army. At the exhibition I had to act as scene manager, Master of Ceremonies, take my part in the various tableaux and in fact was a perfect Major Domo of the affair. The house although very large was crowded, there not being less than three hundred persons present. The receipts being about one hundred and sixty-five dollars. The Tableaux were received with great eclat and every thing passing off to the entire satisfaction of the audience as well as all the parties concerned. weather clear & rather cool.

Monday, November 17th, 1862

To day Sam Sharp with the little wagon and mules and Masoline riding my horse Rat left Liberty after bidding us all good bye in route for the mill, to which point I am now moving my furniture with a view of settling up the Country permanently [i.e., Houston County]. I attended a mass meeting at the Court house for the purpose of furnishing labor to obstruct the navigation of the river and against the advance of the enemy's gun boats, but I regret to say that no definite action was taken and the Government steamer Col. Stell was compelled to leave without the hands for which she came, thus making two grand failures to arouse the people to a sense of their danger. weather cloudy, warm and occasional showers of rain.

Friday, May 17th, 1861

To day but little doing. at night I went to the Court house and put the K.G.C.'s through the manual of arms, and returned home very sick. I spent a very sick and disabreeable night. weather changable & warm with every prospect of rain.