Wednesday, September 28th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged picking peas. John is still up at Mr. Keen's with the wagon. Father [Joshua James Hall] & Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] who is still sick with the fever. Three soldiers of Brown's Regiment stopped for dinner and three of the same command stopped for the night. I am at work weaving a pair of suspenders for myself. Weather variable & hot. Ther: 90°.

Wednesday, September 14th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged in picking peas. I am at work soldering some old tin vessels for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Weather cloudy and rainy with a hard wind blowing which prostiated the garden fence in many places. it also blew one of the house doors too and in its passage struck little Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] in the head inflicting a severe bruise. It rained nearly all night. Ther: before the rain 88°.

Monday, September 12th, 1864

To day the boys are engaged picking peas. I rode down with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] after some muscadines and succeeded in getting a basket full. John arrived with the wagon from Huntsville all safe and sound. Mr. Morgan's wagon arrived when he left in route for the saline. I sent by him 20$ specie to purchase some wool if possible for the little woman. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Thursday, September 8th, 1864

To day the boys are still at work on the house to save peas in. I let Mr. Keen have ½ bushel of meal. After dinner I left home on my horse Rob in route for Huntsville and rode 25 miles and stopped with Mr. Brown for the night and for which I paid him 20$. Weather clear & hot. Ther: 90°.

Wednesday, September 7th, 1864

To day John left for Huntsville, with the wagon, three yoke of oxen and five bales of cotton. The boys are at work putting up a house to save some peas in. In the evening the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] and I drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and spent the evening. Hicks ground 1 bushel of corn. Weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain. Ther: 80°. At night Lieut. Allen and his comrad stopped with me.

Friday, July 29th, 1864

To day Bill is at work plowing out the peas in the little field. John is still quite sick and unable to do anything. Florence [Florence Mahala Hall] fell from the top of the fence and again fractured her right arm, in consequence of which I sent for Dr. Murchison & Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] both of whom came & remained all night. Weather cloudy with showers of rain throughout the entire day. Ther: 80°.

Tuesday, June 14th, 1864

To day the boys are at work in the little field in front of the house planting it in peas. Hicks assisted me in the mill. we ground 5½ bushels of wheat & 3 bushels of corn. Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and carried Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] home. Roberta [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] came up and remained all night. Weather changeable and warm. Ther: 84°.

Monday, June 13th, 1864

To day John is hauling wood. Bill is planting peas. Hicks assisted me in the mill. after pecking the rocks we ground 4½ bushels of wheat & 2 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] rode down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] & back. Toby Horace Oscar Hall] is still here. Weather cloudy & warm. Ther: 84°.

Saturday, August 29th, 1863

To day the boys are at work in building the tar kiln and in picking peas. I drove my horse and buggy up to Mr. Keen's to have my saddle fixed up and carried Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] up with me, but as the old gentleman was absent from home I did not succeed in my mission. In consequence of the continued low water in the pond, the mill done no grinding. weather changeable & hot. Ther: 92°.

Thursday, August 20th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field pulling hay. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode my horse Rob to Crockett and remained there for the night. I am engaged thrashing peas. Bill is recovering from his sickness. Jemima was taken with fever and so it goes as soon as one is well another is taken down. In consequence of the low stage of water the mill could not grind. weather changeable and warm with indications of rain. Ther: 88°.

Wednesday, August 19th, 1863

To day the boys are at work in the bottom field pulling hay. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] in the buggy and there spent the day. I ground 5½ bushels of corn and 6 bushels of Rye. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] & I thrashed out two bushels of peas. Nellie's [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] thumb is about well. Bill is still sick. weather clear & hot. Ther: 88°. Mr. Joseph Richardson of Liberty stopped for the night at my house on his way to Magnolia.

Tuesday, August 18th, 1863

To day the boys are still at work pulling fodder in the bottom field. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children drove down to Mother's [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode over to Mr. Keen's and remained there until late in the evening. Nellie's [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] thumb is still improving. Bill is still sick. I ground 4 bushels of corn and then picked some peas. weather changeable and warm with light showers of rain. Ther: 90°.

Tuesday, August 11th, 1863

To day the boys finished pulling fodder in the lower field and commenced pulling in the bottom field. I sent John out to hunt up his oxen. Billy and Robert Stewart came out and stopped with me for the night. I ground 5 bushels of corn, and then picked some peas in the garden. weather changeable and hot. in the evening it clouded up and then the rain poured down in perfect torrents. Ther: 94°.

Saturday, July 18th, 1863

To day the boys are at work picking peas. Sam [Samuel Houston Sharp] rode my horse Gladiator up to Mr. Dailey's and back. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], Nellie [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] and I went fishing with pretty fair success. Capt. Stufflefield came up and also went fishing. Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] is still sick but I think slightly improving. I ground 3 bushels of corn. weather clear & warm. Ther: 88°.

Saturday, April 25th, 1863

To day the boys are at work planting peas and in hoeing corn. John is still at work hauling rails. I worked the entire day in the garden. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 14 bushels of corn. weather changeable & warm with a hard shower of rain at night.

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

Saturday, March 28th, 1863

To day the boys finished the fence around the lower field sufficiently high to plant under. Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] & Margaret Hall [his daughter?] drove my horse & buggy down to see Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], who is still quite sick and confined to her bed. I rode down to the field & thence to see Mother. The little woman [Margaret Sharp Stewart nee Hall] is at work in the garden planting peas, beans & other vegetables. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 45 bushels of corn. weather cloudy with occasional showers of rain & very cold for the time of year.

*Nellie and Sam 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 14th, 1863

To day I rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] to see my pet babe Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall]. The boys are at work splitting rails to fix up the fence around the lower field. My wagon is still hauling the Moreland cotton. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 20 bushels of corn. I finished sticking the peas. I also contracted with Mr. Dailey for about 80 Bales of cotton. weather changeable & pleasant, but rather windy.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa, and is Mahala's eldest living son.

Friday, March 13th, 1863

To day I rode my horse Gladiator home from Mr. Williams' and found Joseph Wright waiting to see me. I signed a note as security which note was executed by Joseph A. Wright, his wife, Janie Hail and myself for the sum of 3000$ Confederate Treasury Note and payable to James Collins. I also found my pet babe Fawn [Florence Mahala Hall] had gone down to her Grand Mothers [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. My wagon is still hauling cotton from Moreland's to McElroy's gin. The other boys are still at work in the lower field. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 10 bushels of corn. In the evening I went to work sticking the peas. weather clear & pleasant.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Sam is a 2nd great-grandpa, and is Mahala's eldest son.

Wednesday, March 11th, 1863

To day the boys are engaged in clearing up the lower field. I am at work sticking peas, and in fitting up the house. Sam* Sharp ground 18 bushels of corn. weather clear and cold with a hard north wind blowing. at night it subsided and there was a hard frost.

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

Tuesday, March 3rd, 1863

To day the boys finished the cow pen. I commenced to stake the peas which are growing finely. Negro woman Louisa was taken quite sick. Sam* [Samuel Houston Sharp] ground 30 bushels of corn. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] went down to see her Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. The Steamer Lone Star left Hall's bluff for Liberty. at night the Steamer Alamo arrived at Hall's bluff from Liberty with most of my house hold furniture on board. weather clear & rather cool.

*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.