Horace Purdy Journal, February 1863 Entry
5pgs
2/1 Sunday Pleasant and warm. I attended church in the morning. Brother Woodruff preached for us. He is from Waterbury. After Sunday School, I came home and Gussie went in the P.M. Mother came home with her to tea and stayed until evening meeting time and then they went to meeting. I stayed with Eddie. I wrote to George. Mother enclosed a line. Gussie mailed it as she went to meeting. 2/2 Monday Pleasant. I have worked in the shop as usual. Worked as late as I could see. After tea, I went to the Post Office and returned home. Mrs. Swift came downstairs and stayed until after I came home. I filed off the toes of my skates for the second time in the evening. 2/3 Tuesday Colder today. Prospect of a storm in the afternoon. I received a small package by mail from George containing shells, pebbles, etc. from the Potomac River. I have worked hard all day and as long as could see at night. After tea, I went to the Post Office and down to the Skating pond to try my skates after cutting off the toes for the second time. I stayed only a short time and returned home. The weather is very cold. 2/4 Wednesday Colder today than yesterday. I have worked very hard again today. On my way home from work, I took two letters from the Office for Harriet from Abel, 23 Reg't Banks' Division, New Orleans, La. After tea, I finished my letter to George and went to market and to the Post Office and mailed it together with the Danbury Times. The New York Herald came out today with a startling piece of news, that the rebel gunboats in Charleston Harbor had destroyed the blockading fleet at the entrance to the harbor. The other daily papers said nothing about it. The Post this evening sets it down as a canard. Gussie finished her letter to Eliza Humphrey. 2/5 Thursday Very cold last night and this morning. The weather moderated a little during the day. A very little snow before noon. It commenced again about 6 o'clock and continued during the evening. I received by the morning mail a letter from Edwin. Anne enclosed one also with a carte de visite of herself and Willie with baby. Ella and Eddie wrote to Gussie and enclosed in the same. The Jeffersonian gives an account of the death of lieut. Col. Henry B. Stone of the 5th Reg't C (onnecticut) V(olunteers) who was wounded at Slaughter Mountain (Ed. Note, also known as Battle of Cedar Mountain in Culpepper County, Va.) and was taken prisoner and has since been confined and died at Delavan Hospital at Charlottesville, Va. 2/6 Friday The storm turned to rain last night and this morning the snow was leaving us in a stream of water. It cleared off just at night leaving but little snow. I bottle over 40 bottles of cider for Mother Griswold in the evening and two dozen for myself to pay for bottling theirs. It was 11 o'clock when I finished. 2/7 Saturday Pleasant. The mud was stiffened up this morning, but water was slightly frozen. The day has been pleasant as May overhead, but muddy under foot. Having worked pretty hard for the two weeks past, I am about worked out and consequently have not accomplished as much as usual for the two days past. By the evening mail, I received a letter from George. He wants another box of good things sent to him. After I returned from the Office, I went up home with Mother and Bell (who had been to market) and pulled two teeth for Father. 2/8 Sunday Pleasant and warm. Gussie attended church in the P.M. I went down to Sunday School and stayed to the Communion in the P.M. A collection for the worn out preachers was taken up. Bell came home with me to tea and stayed until evening meeting time when Mother came down and went with her to meeting. I wrote to George. Mother enclosed a letter in mine also. I sent it to the Post Office by her. I wrote to Edwin also but withheld it so that Gussie could write to Anne and enclose it with mine. 2/9 Monday Warm but cloudy most of the day. Gussie received a letter from her cousin Eliza Humphrey in California. I went to market in the evening and to the Post Office and mailed a letter to Edwin in Elysia, Ohio and one for Gussie to Ellen Dare. I received one from George. 2/10 Tuesday Pleasant but muddy. It began to grow cold in the P.M. I worked in the shop as long as I could see. Bell came down to stay all night with us. She took care of Eddie while we both went into the street to buy things to send to George. I commenced a letter to him in the evening. 2/11 Wednesday Isabella stayed with us last night and today Mother and Gussie with Bell's help to take care of Eddie have been working hard making pies and cake to send to George. Not feeling very well, I came home at noon and packed up the box before night and took it down to the Express Office in the evening. I received a letter from George by the evening mail in which he wanted me to hurry up the box and send him some money by mail. I mailed a letter to him with a receipt for the box and some money $4.38 enclosed. I ordered a bound Harper's Weekly last year's issue of Swift for George by his request. Gussie received a wedding card from Louise Howe, her old school mate, now Mrs. Wright. 2/12 Thursday Snow and rain during the day. I drew an order for $19.00 to let Mr. Swift draw it for me out of the Savings Bank, the same being used to pay expenses of sending boxes to George and for other uses which he directed me to appropriate it the money being his subject to my order. I went to market in the evening. Augustus Wilcox, an old hatter of this town, was seriously injured at Norwalk this P.M. by a train of cars. 2/13 Friday Pleasant. Mr. Wilcox is dead. (Marginal note: Later, Mr. Wilcox is not dead) Wilson Porter, the rum seller uptown is dead also. Hiram Crofut's wife was taken with cramp in the stomach this forenoon and word was sent to the shop to Hiram that she was dying. Gussie went to see a tableau at the Concert Hall in the evening, gotten up by the Episcopal Society to assist in paying the debt on their church. Admission free and a collection taken. Bell came down and stayed with Eddie. I went to the Post Office in the evening and walked up home with Mr. Swift. 2/14 Saturday St. Valentine's Day. Colder last night. Bell came down again to take care of Eddie this evening so that Gussie could go shopping with me. She is to stay all night. Gussie bought a Photographic Album. We came home and then went over to Colonel's Pond to give her (Gussie) a chance for the first time to try her new skates. Mr. Wilcox was brought up on the train today. He is badly hurt. 2/15 Sunday Rain in the morning. It cleared off about dark. I went to church in the morning with Bell who stayed with us last night. She came home with me in the afternoon and Gussie went. After tea, Mother came down and I wrote to George and David Mills and mailed the letters as I went to evening meeting with Mother and Bell. Very muddy all day and in the evening. 2/16 Monday Pleasant. John Brush around the shop drunk this morning. Worked as long as I could see in the shop. Mr. Cocking came to look at my rooms in the evening. I went into the street in the evening to see Jas. S. Taylor, but not seeing him I dropped a line in the Office to him about the 400.00 I had spoken to him about. I went up to Father Griswold's when I returned and visited with Peter Starr and wife. 2/17 Tuesday Cloudy all day until just before sundown when the sun shone brightly. I have worked hard and as late at night as I could see. I went to the Post Office in the evening and there I saw Jas. A Taylor about the money I had previously spoken to him about. Four hundred dollars which he is to let me have to take up a note in Alfred Gregory's hands. I made arrangements with him to have it on the 1st of April. I then went down to the skating pond a short time. While I was away, Mr. Cocking and wife came to look at my rooms. They decided to take them I believe. 2/18 Wednesday Pleasant in the forenoon. But a little spitting of snow in the P.M. I mailed a Danbury Times to George in the evening. I did not attend class on account of Mrs. Cyrus White and Cousin Hattie Mills coming to spend the evening. Mother and Bell were with us also. In course of the evening, Mother Griswold, Fanny, Harriet and Mr. and Mrs. Swift came in also. Left a ' dozen rolls of Griswold's salve at Butler Drug Store to be sold, he having one third for selling. 2/19 Thursday Stormy all day. Rain. On my way home from work, I called at the Jeffersonian office for Harriet to see when Abel's subscription for the Jeffersonian runs out. After tea, I went to the doctor's ( Bulkely) office and got some medicine for Eddie. I wrote a letter to George in Swift's office. Mailed a letter and Jeffersonian to Eliza Humphrey for Gussie. I walked up home with Mr. Swift. His wife being downstairs with Gussie, he came in and they spent the rest of the evening with us. 2/20 Friday Cloudy nearly all day but came off pleasant just at night. Bell came down just at night to stay with us all night. Gussie went to Emily Anderson's in the P.M. She went into the street with me in the evening. She received by the morning mail a letter from her Essex friend Cornelia Post. 2/21 Saturday Pleasant but cold. It grew colder in the P.M. and evening. I had a severe headache in the P.M. Bell came down after school to go skating with me in the evening. I felt a little better after tea, so we went down to the skating pond. It being so very cold, we stayed but for a few minutes and then came home. My head was worse when I came home so I went immediately to bed. Bell stayed all night with us. 2/22 Sunday Washington's Birthday. Bell went home after breakfast to get ready for church. I did not go to meeting in the morning, but got there in time for Sunday school. After school Bell came up to take care of Eddie so that Gussie could go with me to hear Lieut. Rob't Stone's funeral sermon preached at the Baptist church by their pastor Mr. Stone. She met me at our church. The text was Acts13:36. I wrote to George after tea and took it up to Fanny to send to the Office if it did not storm too hard as I was not going to church. It commenced snowing at noon and continued hard in the evening, so very hard that Bell did not go home but stayed with us. 2/23 Monday Snow about a foot deep on a level this morning. It cleared off early and has been pleasant all day. I worked around home, Father Griswold's and Harriet's until nearly 11 o'clock sweeping paths. Isabella stayed all day and is to stay tonight on account of the deep snow. Pay day at the shop. I drew for pay two last week's work ($29.08). Teacher's Prayer Meeting in the evening in the middle classroom at which some arrangements were made about procuring new library books for the Sunday school. 2/24 Tuesday Very cold last night. It has moderated very much during the day and has the appearance of rain. Isabella went home this morning. After tea I went to Dr. Bulkely's for some medicine for Eddie. I mailed a paper to George (Semi Weekly Tribune). I took a letter from the Office for Mother. As Gussie had been expecting a picture from Harriet in a letter to Mother and there being one in it, she opened it with my consent, but found it to be one of George for Mother which [???] Jones had been painting. I commenced a letter to George before I retired to bed. 2/25 Wednesday Contrary to my expectations yesterday, it has been pleasant today. I left my work before night. Before tea, I took some hams over to Mr. Olmstead's to be smoked for Father Griswold. As we somewhat expected our cousin Chas. C. Parsons, a lieut. In the regular army on the evening train, I went to the depot. But he did not come. I went to the Post Office and mailed a Middle Brooks and a Methodist Almanac to Abel by request of Harriet. Mother and Bell came down this P.M. and expected Uncle Edwin to call for them and take them home with him to make short visit, but he disappointed them and did not come. Bell stayed all night with us. 2/26 Thursday Warm and rainy. I received a letter from David Mills this noon. I went to the depot again this evening to see if Lieut. Parsons should come, but he did not. 2/27 Friday Rainy in the morning. It cleared up in the middle of the day. My work detained me at the shop very late. I went down to the Post Office in the evening. 2/28 Saturday Pleasant. I worked as usual in the shop. After tea, I went to market and them came home for my skates and went down to the skating pond for a while. I got home from skating about nine o'clock
1863-02
Horace Purdy Journal, July 1862 Entry
6pgs
7/1 - Tuesday - Stephen Holmes boy Charly died this morning with inflamation in the bowels. I went to the savings bank before going to the shop and paid $21 interest money. After work hoed the garden and helped Father Griswold set out some tomatoes and cabbage plants. Went to market in the evening and to the Hatters Meeting. I didn't get home til 10 o'clock. Father has been plowing out his potatoes. Mother and Bell called in the evening. 7/2 Wednesday -Worked till noon then came home to dinner. Went to the funeral of Charly Holmes. He was a member of our Sabbath School. The School assembled at 1 o'clock and the service was at 2 o'clock. It rained all afternoon. A large portion of the scholars were present and sang the hymns commencing with Our Sweet Flower Has Drooped and Faded. Father Griswold officiated. I went up to the cemetary. Burr Bradley walked under my umbrella and we walked home by his house to keep him dry. He gave me some cabbage plants. 7/3 Thursday. Worked in the shop. I sent a letter by Beatty's Stage to Abel Grey who makes and supplies us with butter. A telegraph this afternoon that there was a heavy battle on Tuesday near Richmond. Our loss was estimated at 15,000. Louisa took care of Eddie in the evening and Gussie and I went into the street. 7/4 Friday - I hoed in my garden and went to practice with my pistol at a target in the afternoon. In the PM Gussie and I took a walk with the baby in his carriage . Went up to Emily Anderson's and then down to the new fountain at the foot of Main Street and up home to Father Purdy's . Stayed a short time and came home. on our way back from Emily Anderson's we stopped at Mr. Rowan's and took some ice cream. The day has been very quiet for Independence Day. 7/5 Saturday - Worked as usual in the shop. Henry Benedict was buried this afternoon. It is reported that Robert Nostrand had his leg amputated this PM. I later learned that this was false . The Doctor only took out some pieces of bone. I went to market in the evening. Bought a paper (the Post) to get news from McClellan's army near Richmond. He has been fighting for eight days and our losses are near 20,000 as far as can be made out. Rebel losses are much heavier. No fighting since Tuesday as far as we are informed. We had a dispatch today that Vicksburg on the Mississippi is taken. I believe this is the last rebel stronghold on the river. I came back at 9 o'clock and went up home for my clothes that mother washed. I brought home a pail of milk. When I returned I got some water from the brook and put it in a large tub and gave myself a good washing over my whole body. 7/6 Sunday - Had our first young men's prayer meeting at 9 o'clock. Brother Crawford preached. George was in Stamford today so I was Librarian and Secretary. I stayed for afternoon service. Brother Crawford preached from the same text as I heard from Dr. Ryan in Washington DC on May 19th of 1861 previouse to our crossing the Potomac. Congregation and school was small today on account of the excesive heat. Gussie went to prayer meeting in the evening. 7/7 Monday - I worked hard in the shop. After tea I wnet to the post office where I met Uncle Edwin. I had a long talk about his family, the loss of Mary and her two children. Cousin Edwin and the boy living with him now have the same complaint, the diptheria. 7/8 Tuesday -Picked cherries from Father Griswold's tree before breakfast so Gussie could make some pies. Geroge came home on the train today. He came from Stamford to Ridgefield last night, stopped there and came today walking as far as Bethel. Stopped at Aunt Harriet's in Bethel then took the train home. Worked late at the shop to finish a dozen hats. Took care of Eddie in the evening so Gussie could go to the milliner. 7/9 Wednesday - Have all the work I can do in the shop today. Gussie went over to Mrs. Cyrus White's in the PM to the Sewing Society and took Eddy with her. I got my own supper and put up a shelf in the sink room. I went into the street about 9 o'clock for a loaf of bread.7/10 Thursday - It has been very smoky today. The sun looked like a ball of fire and the moon looked the same. Worked hard in the shop. After supper I helped Father Griswold set out some celery plants. I then went to market and brought home a loaf of bread and a peck of round clams. Lieutenant Andrew Knox of the 1st Connecticut Artillery came home on the train this evening. He was in the battle near Richmond. Eddie has broken out with measles and has the whooping cough. 7/11 Friday - Mother was with us to tea. George came down and returned my carpet bag that he used to go to Bridgeport on the 4th, and to Stamford and Ridgefield. We are in doubt whether Eddy has whooping cough or the measles although he coughs considerably. Mother Griswold and Louisa took care of him in the evening to let us go into the street. 7/12 Saturday - I worked until a short time after dinner and came home as I was very tired, having worked hard all week. Mr. Ball, one of Father Griswold's masons put the finishing coat over the plastering on my chimney in the sink room just before 6 o'clock. Gussie went up home so I got my tea upstairs with Mother Griswold. Gussie went to the milliners in the evening and I took care of Eddie 7/13 Sunday - Went to men's prayer meeting at 9 o'clock and Brother Crawford preached. Came home after Sunday School prayer meeting and Gussie went in the PM. I stayed home in the evening and let Gussie go to hear our Presiding Elder Mr. C. Hoyt preach. Sacrament in the PM. John Carpenter Jr. and Henry Heinman were baptized. 7/14 Monday - I worked in the shop. It was our usual payday and I drew $21.00 for 2 weeks work. I attended Sunday School Teachers business meeting and copied the minutes before I retired to rest. Father Griswold and Fanny came home from New York on the evening train. 7/15 Tuesday - Spent the day at home white washing, moving the stove into the sink room, [bolting] down oil cloth, buying zinc and making 2 frames upon which to nail it to protect the wood work behind the stove from the heat, filing my saw and mowing my door yard and it was dark when I finished. 7/16 Wednesday - I came home to dinner. Mother went to the funeral of the child of Robert Sayres. Isabella came down in the PM and stayed to tea. I sent a bottle of cider by her to Father. A thunder shower came in the PM so I did not go to class in the evening. Father Griswold's sofa, parlor table, oil cloth and carpet came from New York today. They were taken into our house to await the finishing of their new one. I received a letter from Cousin Charles Mills in McClellan's army near Richmond. 7/17 Thursday - Worked all day in the shop. Robert Fry came for my door yard grass after tea. A special Hatters Meeting in the evening to give a card to [Saul] Sniffens. He was [rejected]. After the meeting I saw Lieut. Knox at Bennett's store. He is home on furlough. 7/18 Friday - Gov. Buckingham came on a special train at 12 o'clock to hold a meeting in the evening to get volunteers for the war. We had a cannon at the ship and all hands turned ourt to salute the Gov. The train stopped and he presented himself at the door, head uncovered to acknowledge the compliment. A large enthusiastic meeting was held at concert hall in the evening. Lieut Gov. Averill presided and spoke, the Gov. , Mr. Gilbert, a Mr. Hoyt who is preaching at the Baptist Church during Mr. Stone's absence in Europe, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Clark, the Presbyterian minister from New Fairfield, and Thomas St. John who was drunk and made a failure. Capt Moore was there and quite a few came forward after the meeting and enlisted in his new company. 7/19 Saturday - I came home to dinner instead of carrying it. I worked late in the shop in order to finish up the work I had. Cousin George Hall from Sodom called as I came from work. He went over to stay with Cousin Harriet. I went into the street in the evening. 7/20 Sunday - I went to 9 o'clock prayer meeting and George handed me a letter from Cousin David Mills, 5th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, Gen. Banks division dated 3 miles from Warrington VA. George took it out of the post office last evening, M.r Crawford preached in the AM. We had a short Sunday School shool session and an intermission before going up to the First Congregational Church to a gathering of Sunday Schools for School concert to take the place of regular afternoon services. I came home at intermission to let Gussie go to the concert. I took care of Eddy and wrote to Cousin David Mills. Gussie came home and reported an interesting meeting. After tea Mary Purdy came over with George Hall. It being rainy we did not attend church in the evening. They stayed until after 9 o'clock. 7/21 Monday - Anniversary of the battle of Bull Run. I worked in the shop until 7 o'clock. After tea I went down town and mailed my letter to Cousin David Mills. 7/22 Tuesday - George had some diffuculty with Father about leaving home and came to the shop to see me. He called at the house when I was at tea and I wrote a letter for him to [Binghamton] to E. A. Sanford to see about a situation for him to make firearms. We went into the street and he went to class and I mailed the letter. I then went to Military Hall to see how Capt. Moore was doing in getting volunteers. He is doing well with about 50 men already. I bought some groceries and came home. 7/23 Wednesday - In the forenoon I came very near enlisting with 5 of my shopmates, John Brush, Charles Small, Hiram Crofut, Flagler and John Rooney. We were all ready to go to the Recruiting Office except John Rooney who first took off his apron but put it on again immediately. I went to market in the evening. 7/24 Thursday - A special town meeting this afternoon to vote a bounty to the volunteers enlisting for the war under the President's call for 300,000 more men. I stopped work to go but heard that the business was done and the meeting adjourned. $125.00 bounty was voted to all who enlisted under this call previous and until August 20th. I went home and worked in my garden. Also went over to Mr. Hurd's and got some strawberrry plants and set them out. They are Hooker and what he called the None Such, and I got some of both. In the evening I called at Thomas Barnum's to see if he wanted a shop at the Pahquioque. I then went down town and walked up with Mr. Swift to the new dealer who bought out Smith. I had conversation with him about renting my upper rooms. George today has procured a stituation at Sturdevant's Factory at hardening [reals] 7/25 Friday - Just a year ago this afternoon the 1st Connecticut Regiment marched from camp to Meridian HIll Washington D.C. to the arsenal to deposit our arms and from there to the depot to return home after 3 months, including the Battle of Bull Run. The cars did not start until midnight, having to wait for a train arriving with troops. I was told they were a portion of Sickle's brigade. I worked all day in the shop and was very tired when I came home. After tea I propped up my pea vines and went to market. 7/26 Saturday - I brought some turnip plants home from the shop which Daniel Manley gave me and planted them before tea. I went into the street in the evening and paid for a lobster whieich Avery Raymond brought up according to order. 7/27 Sunday - I went to the Young Mens prayer meeting in the morning and came home after Sunday School. Mary Purdy offer to take care of Eddy so I went back to church with Gussie. Brother Crawford preached. A horse ran away as people were going to church in the morning. He came on the sidewalk and ran over several women and badly injured Mrs. Richards, Widow Eli Rockwell, Mrs Nathan Bennnett, John Stone's wife and her sister. I have been told others were hurt but have not yet learned their names. George came home with us to tea. After tea Gussie and I took Eddy in his carriage and called at Mrs. Richards' and at Mrs. Rockwell's. From there we went over to Burr Bradley's and then over to Town Hill to John Pollitt's . We did not got to meeting in the evening. 7/28 Monday - Worked hard all day at the shop. Pay day and I drew $18 for the last 2 weeks. After tea we left the baby with Mother Griswold and went into the street to do some trading. Capt. Moore's company of volunteers were out in the street in the eveninig parading with music. They leave for Hartford on the train tomorrow morning. 7/29 Tuesday - I have been toubled with a pain in my breast and side today. Came home earlier on that account. I came by Mr. Wright's paint shop and paid him 12 cents which I owed him. Bell came down and stayed for tea. Anna Purdy is worse. She had a spell of bleeding last night and another today. I brought home a pound of shellac for Father Griswold. 7/30 Wednesday - I have not felt very well today. William Judson from a Pennsylvania regiment under McClellan was at the shop. He was wounded, having lost a finger and a portion of another in the battle for Richmond. I tried to take up a collection for him to enable hime to get to New York, he being a pretty hard case. I did not succeed as the men feared he would spend it on liquor as I also feared. 7/31 Thursday - I felt better today but still not very strong. I worked until 5 o'clock and went down to the railroad bridge with E. Stevens, George Fenner, and Joseph Young to bathe and wash. Mrs. Russell Wildman and Lucy called after tea. Our folks went with them up to the new house. I went into the street in the evening. Stirring news in the papers. It is reported that 10 iron clad gun boats have come over from England and have broken the blockade at Mobile. I went to prayer meeting late. This morning I took 1 dozen rolls of Griswold Family Salve down to Mr. Swift to let him sell for us on commission.
1862-07