Creator

Purdy, Horace, 1835-1909

Title

Horace Purdy Journal, March 1862 Entry

Date

1862-03

Description

10pgs

Subject

Danbury (Conn.) -- History.

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal Narratives.

8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment (1861-1865)

Arthur Griswold

Bell Purdy

Boughton Family

Brother Pegg

Charles Mills

Charles Reed

Connecticut Military Units - Civil War

David Mills

Eliza Humphrey

Gussie Purdy

John Carpenter

Mrs. McDonald

Theodore Fowler

Publisher

Western Connecticut State University

Abstract

MARCH 01 – SATURDAY - Pleasant. I have worked all day in the shop. It is rumored that the Army of the Potomac under McClellan is on the move. If so, some hard fought battle or some large running on the part of the rebels is close at hand. I went into the street in the evening with Gussie to get her some shoes. We received a letter from Cousin Eliza in California. Mother Griswold took care of Eddie so that we could go to the store. MARCH 02 – SUNDAY - Pleasant. I attended church in the morning. Brother Pegg preached a sermon for the Sunday School children from the first chapter of Luke, the middle clause of the 66th verse. Mr. Tucker, the editor of the Sunday school Bell, was in the school and talked to us a little. I came home and Gussie went in the PM. We went up home to tea and drew Eddie in his carriage, notwithstanding the snow. We came home before evening meeting time. Gussie went to meeting and I stayed home with Eddie. MARCH 03 – MONDAY –Pleasant in the morning, but some rain during the day. I worked all day in the shop. I got an order from Mr. Crofut and took to Lounsbury’s to pay a shoe bill of $2.50. Brother Boughton came in the evening to sell a patent article for lifting hot dishes, etc. I did not purchase. MARCH 04 – TUESDAY – The shop was called the first thing this morning. It was in session when I got there. It was called to look into the case of Mr. Hurd who had, by the request of Mr. Crofut, taken hats away from the shop and pounced them at home. At the same time, he claimed to be a journeyman instead of a piece boss. We considered it a fouls act for him to work for Mr. Crofut in the capacity of a journeyman without complying with the rules of the trade and going on turn. He was also holding a shop at Tweedy Brother’s. He said that he had designed no wrong and that if any wrong had been done, he was willing to make it all right. The men concluded to look over the offense and allow him to go to work, provided that he would “cry off” from Tweedy Brothers and then go on turn. He did so and affairs were made right for the present at least until the next trade meeting when his case will undoubtedly be brought before the trade. As we were about to adjourn, it was suggested that something should be done in regards to getting more money and getting it regularly, also if possible to do away with the order system under which we have been working for some time past, a year more or less. It was proposed that the making department join with us in the shop call on the subject, which they readily assented to. We all assembled in the boiler room and spent all the forenoon, or nearly so, in talking over the matter, sending a committee to the boss, etc. Mr. Crofut said that he would do the best he could with us and that would be just as he had been doing. He could not possibly make changes in money matters at present, but he gave us some encouragement that he could settle with us on the 1st of April. But this even, he could not promise, for he might be disappointed in getting the money. So we finally adjourned without accomplishing anything, as is usually the case in a shop call. I waited a part of the afternoon for work without getting it and then went over to Mr. Olmstead’s for my hams which he has been smoking for me. I changed the brine for my beef and then went back to the shop quite late, got some work, finished one hat, and then came home. I did not feel well and so did not go to the class meeting in the evening. Cousins Mary and Anna Purdy came in and took tea with us. MARCH 05– WEDNESDAY –Pleasant. Very warm and spring-like. I went to the shop and finished off what work I had out. There being no more ready, I came home. On my way, I stopped at Ira Morse’s and selected a piece of cloth for George for a pair of pants. He came in and looked at it. He liked it and was immediately measured. He ordered them to be cut so that he could take them home for Mother to make. When I came home, I partly emptied our south chamber preparatory to Father Griswold moving in. Towards night, I went down to the shop and got an order to pay for George’s pants - $3.18. Gussie went to the Sewing Society at Stephen Holmes’ in the evening. George came and stayed with me until she came home. MARCH 06 – THURSDAY – I have not felt very well today, though I have kept at work. I did not go out in the evening. MARCH 07 -FRIDAY – Pleasant. Nothing unusual. I received a letter from Cousin Charles Mills in the 1st Minnesota Regiment now at Harper’s Ferry, Maryland. MARCH 08 – SATURDAY – Pleasant but the thaw and the breaking up of the ice and snow makes it very bad under foot. I have felt very poorly, but have worked in the shop all day. I feel very languid and very weak with the headache. I have been told that I have contracted the fever and ague while I was in the army in Virginia. I begin to believe it myself that I have it about me in a light form. A special Hatters’ Meeting in the evening. I got there just in time to see them adjourn. MARCH 09 -SUNDAY – Pleasant and warm. Gussie attended church in the morning and stayed to Sunday School Prayer Meeting at which a splendid Pronouncing Bible was presented to Brother Pegg and one to Sister White who is about to leave us to reside in Peekskill. The books were presented by the officers and teachers of the school. I went to church in the PM; it was sacrament service. Mother called on the way to meeting in the evening and I went down with her. I stopped and mailed a letter to Cousin Eliza in California in which was one enclosed from Fanny, Hattie, Gussie and myself. Brother Pegg preached from John 14, first clause of the second and last of the third verse. MARCH 10 – MONDAY – Stormy. I have felt poorly but worked in the shop all day. I went to Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting in the evening. We have had news today of an engagement near Fortress Monroe between the rebel iron-clad steamer “Merrimac” and our war vessels. She sank one and captured another, but our new iron-clad gunboat, “Monitor”, came up in time to engage “Merrimac” and two other rebel iron-clad boats. She proved to be too much for them, driving off the “Merrimac” in a crippled condition. MARCH 11 – TUESDAY – Pleasant and warm. The snow and ice has disappeared very fast. I have worked in the shop all day. It has been reported by telegraph and also by the evening papers that the rebels have evacuated Manassas and our troops are in possession of their works. John Carpenter’s house at the lower end of Main Street caught fire this forenoon and an alarm was immediately given, but before the hose could get there, it was extinguished. I attended class in the evening. MARCH 12 – WEDNESDAY – I have worked in the shop. A church social at the church in the evening. We took Eddie and had him baptized. He attracted a great deal of attention and was thought to be a nice baby. The gathering was a very pleasant one and was well attended. Refreshments were served in the basement. MARCH 13 – THURSDAY – I have worked as usual in the shop. Ii received a letter from Cousin David Mills. It was headed, “On the March Forward to Winchester”. It was a very interesting letter, giving an account of their march and a skirmish with a body of rebel cavalry while making a reconnaissance. MARCH 14 – FRIDAY – Cloudy and misty. I have worked in the shop. I was very tired after work. MARCH 15 – SATURDAY – Cloudy with a little rain in the morning. The storm gradually increased during the afternoon and in the evening, it stormed very hard. I went after the milk before I ate my supper, it being too stormy for Mother Griswold’s girl, Eliza, to go. I paid Mrs. McDonald what I owed her for milk, $1.00. MARCH 16 – MONDAY – It rained, hailed and snowed last night. It cleared off warm and pleasant before noon. I went to church in the morning. Brother Pegg preached from Luke 18:37. When Sunday School was out, I came home and Gussie attended in the PM. Mother came home with her to tea and stayed until evening meeting when Gussie went with her while I stayed home to take care of Eddie. I wrote a letter in the PM to David Mills and Gussie mailed it in the evening. After they had gone to meeting, I wrote another to Charles Mills. They are both in the army, the last in the 1st Minnesota Regiment and David in the 5th Connecticut. MARCH 17 – MONDAY – St. Patrick’s Day on the Morning. I have worked in the shop. I have not felt very ambitious. We $5.00 in the PM. I went into the street in the evening and ordered a vest of Charles Stevens. I also mailed the letter I wrote last night to Charles Mills. MARCH 18 – TUESDAY – Pleasant. On my way home from work, I stopped at Tip Hummingston’s to look at a Sawbuck which I think of buying. He is selling out to go west. MARCH 19 – WEDNESDAY – I have worked all day in the shop. The papers give us an account of another victory in North Carolina by Burnside, the capture of Newbern. The 8th, 10th and 11th Connecticut regiments were engaged. Two men in Southmayd’s company in the 11th were wounded, but none from here were killed. Although all three of the regiments suffered in killed and wounded. We have further accounts also of our victory at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. I was late home from the shop, too late to go to class. MARCH 20 – THURSDAY – I went to the shop and finished one dozen 6/. Then, having to wait a considerable (time), I concluded to come home and do some work which I had to do. I had a ½ ton of coal put in the cellar. I had such a severe headache that I was not able to do much more. I was obliged to give up and lie down. It was about noon when I got home. I found Gussie over home eating dinner. I took dinner there too. Robert Foot, a young man, died very suddenly last night with heart disease. MARCH 21 – FRIDAY – Stormy, rain. I did not feel able to do much today. I carried an order to Charles Reed for $3.62 to pay for coal brought me yesterday. In the evening, I went down to Dr. Thompson’s to get a truss. I bought one home for trial. Mother Griswold spent the evening with Gussie. Robert Foot was buried today. The wife of Isaac Seely died today. MARCH 22 - SATURDAY – Cloudy, sunshine and snow. I have worked very uncomfortably today with my truss. It is very unpleasant. Father came in this morning and wanted a bag of flour and pay in work for Father Griswold. I let him have it. MARCH 23 – SUNDAY – Warm, though cloudy and a little snow in the forenoon. I attended church in the morning. Brother Pegg preached from Matthew 6, the latter clause of the 10th verse. I came home after Sunday School to let Gussie go in the PM. Isabella came home with Gussie to tea. Mother came down before evening meeting and went with me. MARCH 24 – MONDAY – Pleasant. I have worked as usual in the shop. We were paid $4.00 each at the shop. I took an order on Stevens & Hoyt to pay for a vest - $3.25. MARCH 25 – TUESDAY – I woke with a headache. I went to the shop, but my head ached so severely that I came home just before noon. Father has been helping Father Griswold move such things as they could into my cellar and into his new barn. His bookcases and books were moved into our parlor in good shape. MARCH 26 – WEDNESDAY – Pleasant. I have felt well and worked in the shop all day. When I came home from work, I felt so sore and tired from wearing my truss that I determined to stay away from class and retire early, but there being somethings wanted from the store, I was obliged to go into the street but did not attend class. MARCH 27 – THURSDAY – Pleasant. I have worked all day in the shop. I took another order at Benedict & Nichols for $3.00 and had 68 cents that I had traded there last night taken out if it. Mother came down and took dinner with Gussie but went home before I came home from work. MARCH 28 – FRIDAY – A little cooler today. Brother Pegg called in the shop in the PM. Today’s paper gives a list of the killed and wounded at Winchester, Virginia. Gussie’s cousin, Arthur Griswold, Company I of the 8th Ohio Regiment, is one of the killed. Gussie left the baby with Eliza and went to the store with me in the evening. I bought a bottle of cement of a peddler in the street today. MARCH 29 – SATURDAY – Pleasant. I have worked all day in the shop. Arthur Fowler, our foreman, fell down the garret stairs. His foot slipped while coming down. It hurt his face, but not seriously. MARCH 30 – SUNDAY – I attended church in the morning. I met my class as usual in the Sunday School and came home in the PM to let Gussie go. Brother Pegg preached from Revelations 21, 1st clause of the 22nd verse. MARCH 31 – MONDAY – A thunder shower last night. With the exception of the rain, it was snow instead, which with a little rain today, disappeared. I borrowed $5.00 of Theodore Fowler, our foreman, to pay Dr. Thompson $3.50 for a truss, which I carried to him this evening and to complete the amount wanted tomorrow to pay my interest.