Saturday, August 5th, 1865

To day the Steamer Lone Star arrived from Galveston with 3 companies of Federal soldiers on board. The infernal rascals as soon as they landed commenced plundering through the premises of all the citizens who lived in their route ? &c. They were very ? and rude. I drove up town in company with ? in hopes of seeing the Federals leave. one company left on ? others came in their place. The Lone Star left in the evening for Galveston and thank God one of the companies named above left on her. Fannie & ? were again taken sick with fever. Weather variable and hot with a light shower of rain. Ther: 84°.

Saturday, June 3rd, 1865

To day an extra train came over from Houston and brought a part of Hoods' old Texas brigade. I am still in Liberty and at John Booth's. I have not as yet heard from home and my patience is pretty well worn out. Weather clear and hot. Ther: 90°.

Saturday, May 27th, 1865

To day I am still at Booths. Capt. Harrison and I went out squirrel hunting with pretty fair success. The excitement produced in the community by the lawless acts of the soldiers is now subsiding a little. Nothing as yet from home. Weather clear and very hot.

Friday, May 26th, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. Col. Wrigley & a large party of old Confederate soldiers left on the train for Houston. No news from home. I am becoming quite weary awaiting the arrival of the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & children. Weather clear & hot. 

Thursday, May 25th, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. Today another large party of soldiers after stealing all they could find around in the County left for Beaumont on the cars. Capt. Harrison, Lt. Edwards, Mr. Felkins & I went down to Mr. Cole's and found him gone to parts unknown. Weather clear & very hot.

Wednesday, May 24th, 1865

To day I am still at Booth's. The soldiers who destroyed and carried away all the property they could find left on the cars for Beaumont in order to sack that place. Be it remembered that Genl. E.K. Smith surrendered to Genl. Canby the Trans-Mississippi department which finally winds up the war ingloriously to the South. Weather clear and very hot.

 

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.

Wednesday, May 15th, 1865

To day I am still in Galveston. The "Ruthven" run down to battery "Scurry" and over to Pelican spit, and brought over to Galveston 150 soldiers and 120 negroes. I went over on the excursion. Weather cloudy and warm.

Saturday, May 13th, 1865

To day the Steamer Ruthven arrived at Galveston. I found our troops mutinous and determined to give up the ship. I saw my old friend Jim Wrigley who has no idea of surrendering if it can be avoided. Weather clear & pleasant.

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.

Friday, March 3rd, 1865

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & John worked in the garden. Mr. Boon & Mr. Grammar are still here. James Roberts and his Bro. William came down from their command at Magnolia & stopped for the night. Hicks ground Mr. Boon's wheat & 4 bushels of corn. I finished Jimmy's shoes. Tubbs run away from the boat yard and came home. Weather cloudy and cold with occasional showers of rain.

Thursday, March 2nd, 1865

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] & John worked in the garden. Hicks ground 8 bushels of wheat & 3 bushels of corn. I commenced a pair of shoes for Jimmy. Mr. Boon, a soldier belonging to Lieut. Wharten's head quarters came out to the mill with 10 bushels of wheat to be ground. I let Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] have 16 lbs of cotton and Mrs. Goodwin have 22½ lbs of cotton. Weather cloudy & cool with occasional showers of rain & a hard rain at night.

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

Tuesday, February 28th, 1865

To day John is engaged hauling wood. Hicks ground 4 bushels of corn & 6 bushels of wheat. The little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] is at work weaving. Col. Billy Stewart left for Crockett. Two soldiers belonging to Brown's Regt. stopped for the night. Weather cloudy & cool. Thus closes my notes for the month of February.

Thursday, February 16th, 1865

To day John is at work on the levee. James Roberts, Mother [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts], & Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire] came up and Roberts left for Crockett. Col. John Smith & 3 soldiers stopped for dinner. Mother & Nellie left for home. Hicks ground 11 bushels of wheat & 10 bushels of corn. Weather clear & rather warm for the season.

*This Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma, and is Mahala's daughter-in-law.

Wednesday, February 15th, 1865

To day John is engaged hauling wood. I finished repairing my saddle. James Roberts, Nellie* [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire], Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] & Toby [Horace Oscar Hall] all left for Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Hicks ground 27 bushels of corn. At night Capt. McCown & 2 other soldiers stopped with me. Weather clear and pleasant.

*This Nellie is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog. Mahala is a 3rd great-grandma, and is Nellie's mother-in-law.

Thursday, February 9th, 1865

To day we commenced to repair the mill levee. Hardeman's Brigade that has been camped on the Elkhart for the past 6 or 7 weeks left for Tennessee colony in Anderson County. The guard stationed in the mill in consequence of the removal of the soldier's were relieved from duty in the mill & ordered to join their commands. Pet [Florence Mahala Hall] is still down at her Grand Ma's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts]. Little Josephine [Josephine Martha Hall] is sick and has been for a few days past. I loaned Mrs. Goodwin 16 lbs of cotton. Weather clear and cold with a hard frost and freeze at night.

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

Friday, February 3rd, 1865

To day John is still at work in the garden. Sam* Sharp [Samuel Houston Sharp] left for his command. Hicks ground 12 bushels of corn. Billy Stewart's wagon came out from Crockett and brought the negro woman America & her child Claudine out and left them with me. Weather clear & rather hot for the season.

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

Wednesday, February 1st, 1865

To day Mr. John Burrows & E.P. Baugh the guard who have been for some time stationed at the mill were relieved and Thomas Hill & Edward Graham were mounted in their place. The boys done nothing in consequence of the rain. It still continues to rain and the Elkhart creek is looming high. I am fearful the mill levee will not be able to stand the pressure now against it. Weather warm.

Sunday, January 29th, 1865

To day the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp], children and I rode down to Mother's [Mahala* Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and spent the day. we also rode down to see the soldiers on review. Weather variable and cold.

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

Saturday, January 28th, 1865

To day John is engaged hauling wood. Hicks ground 17 bushels of corn & 3 bushels of wheat. Richard Pennington came down and I paid him in full for the pork I purchased from him. at night, a soldier stopped with me. Weather changeable and cold.