Center for Archival Collections

Annie R. Stuart's diary describes a woman's activities including school teaching, courtship, and marriage as well as domestic chores. During this time, her husband and brother served in the Union army.

Annie R. Stuart Diary - 1862

October 1862

Wednesday, October 1, 1862
We went to Kinney's to make peach butter. ______ peaches and made it. Had good. Walked back to Jim's. Nan and me carried part o it. Wrote a shirt full [sheetful?] to Cline.

Thursday, October 2, 1862
Helped Nan to do the work. Inez and Fernando came. Spent the day talking about war and its horrors. Felt sad. Got a letter from Annie Seymour. Read the naems of the drafted of our vicinity. To bad.

Friday, October 3, 1862
Helped some. Pared and canned 7 quarts of nice peaches. Wrote some to my pet. Cora and I went to Mary's. Stayed till dark. Stopped at Troxells. Did not get a letter. Felt very bad about it.

Saturday, October 4, 1862
Helped Nan some. Crushaid (crocheted) my net. Felt bad. Dunn and I had a talk. Cinthia came with me as far as Troxells. No letter. Came to Mary's feeling _____. Wrote some to Rob. Lib and I washed and went to bed and dreamed of seeing my dear.

Sunday, October 5, 1862
Did not get up early. Read and wrote most of the day. Finished Robs letter and one of 12 pages to my dear. Took them to Jim's to send them down.

[from back of diary, this date] Lib went to church. I finished a letter of 12 pages for my true husband. Read about the progress of the war. Wrote to Rob. Lib and I took the letters to Jim's to have him mail them. Read till dark. Felt lonely.

Monday, October 6, 1862
Helped to wash. Fixed my net. Went to Jim's to get the mail. They had gone to town. Spent the eve alone. Knit, read and wrote. Got a long letter from the absent one. Felt bad to think he had to endure so much. Wrote some more to him. Went to bed.

Tuesday, October 7, 1862
Wrote some. Decided to go to Nan Bogarts. Jim hitched up the horse and buggy. Lib brought me up. Mailed a letter for my dear. Helped Nan. Knit some. Wrote some. Got a letter from Rob. He had sent me money. Did not _____ very good.

Wednesday, October 8, 1862
Sewed most all day on Mr. Bogarts shirts. Wrote a letter to Mr. Cline. Went to town with Bogart. Got a $1.00 worth of stamps. Got a letter from Mollie _____. Wrote one in reply. Han and I took it to the office. Called to see cousin Jennie. Had a pleasant little time. Nan did not forget to tell me how much she thought of my husband. Came home. Heard Bogart read the war news.

Thursday, October 9, 1862
Sewed some. Rained all day. Very gloomy. Albert here. Wrote some. Knit some. Talked about war and the dear friend we had there. Fear of trouble in our midst.

Friday, October 10, 1862
Rained all day. Sewed. Finished my ____ letter. Mr. Bogart took it to town. Daily said they were fighting at a good many places where my true husband was too. How bad I did feel. Cried and could not help it. Had bad dreams all night.

Saturday, October 11, 1862
Helped Celia do the work. Very gloomy. Knit, read, felt very anxious.

Sunday, October 12, 1862
Went to Mary's. Wrote most of the time. Cried because I felt so bad about my absent husband. Came back with Mr. Bogart. Wrote some to my dear brother.

Monday, October 13, 1862
Helped Nan all day. Eve. Got a letter from my dear and cried most of the eve because he had such hard times. Wrote some. Fighting at almost every point was the news.

Tuesday, October 14, 1862
Finished a letter to Mr. Cline. Nan and I made a satin vest for Mr. Bogart. Had to work hard for it. Got a letter from my noble husband stating that he had been in the hard fight in Kentucky and had got through safe. How thankful I felt.

Wednesday, October 15, 1862
Got up a 3 o'clock. Nan and I took Mr. B. to _____ to take the cars to Columbus. Rather cold ride. Finished a letter to brother Rob and wrote one to my darling. Read the daily. Knit some.

Thursday, October 16, 1862
Helped some about the work . Read an account of the battle of Corinth and a letter from one of the souther soldiers. It was awful what they had to endure as well as the northern boys. Had a letter from my darling.

Friday, October 17, 1862
Helped Nan sew. Read some. Knit. Wrote a letter to Mr. C. Played some with the children.

Saturday, October 18, 1862
_____morning. Churned. Got ready and went to town. Took dinner at _____. Went to the Aid Society. 15 ladies present. Did a good of sewing. Went to the drug store and got 50 cents worth of paper and envelopes. Went to Mrs. _____. Lill and I went to the office. Got a letter from Rob. Aaron Hank came after me. Read the news. Wrote some. Went to bed and dreamed of my darling.

Sunday, October 19, 1862
Read some. Wrote to my dear. Wrote to Annie Seymour. Martha came. Talked to them and wrote to Rob.

Monday, October 20, 1862
Helped Nan all the forenoon. Afternoon, wrote to Mrs. Lawhead and finished 3 other letters. Sent 4 to the office. War news not very encouraging to those who have loved ones in the army.

Tuesday, October 21, 1862
Read some. Knit. Mr. Bogart came about noon. Brought me a new pair of shoes. Nan and I talked as usual. Eve, Mr. B. brought me to Thomases. Wrote some.

Wednesday, October 22, 1862
Helped Mary. Finished a letter to my darling. Went over to Jim's. Talked about what a strong rain there had been. Martha came, I went home with her. Wrote some, Felt sad.

Thursday, October 23, 1862
Finished a pair of socks. Cut out Viola's dress. Sewed some on it. Eve. Went to the Aid Society. Did not amount to much. Finished a letter to Mr. C.

Friday, October 24, 1862
Helped Martha. Beautiful morn. We started for Crawford County. Got to aunts about dusk. Found her better. The cancer killed. Spent the eve in social chat.

Saturday, October 25, 1862
Did not get up very early. Snowed all day. After dinner, went to Mr. Grubs. They very much pleased to have us come. Glad to hear from the boys. Got the pictures. Maze gave me a frame. I gave Susie a collar. Had a great time reading and talking.

Sunday, October 26, 1862
Cold and disagreeable. Started home at _____. Got to _____steads at 1. Eat dinner. Came to Jims. Got a letter from my husband. Martha a little spunky at me for what I said about Albert going to war, but I could not help it. Went to Mary's and stopped. They went home. Talked. Wrote a fools cap to Mr. Cline.

Monday, October 27, 1862
Wrote to Rob. Helped wash. Knit some. Came to Jim's. Helped him with his molasses.

Tuesday, October, 28, 1862
Helped Jim. Pleasant day. Wrote to Mr. Cline. Wrote a note to Mr. Bogart.

Wednesday, October 29, 1862
Very pleasant. Got a letter for Mr. Cline. Helped Jim with his molasses till eve, then went after the mail. Was very much disappointed when I got no letter from my husband. Went to Marys. Wrote to Mr. Cline and wrote one in reply to the one I got for Jim. Felt bad.

Thursday, October 30, 1862
Got up early. Went to Jim's to help Mary make her molasses. Went with Jim to the woods to get a load of wood and we picked awhile there, 4 or 5 bushels of walnuts. Worked like sixty. Came back late to Thomases with the children. Wrote some to my dearest husband.

Friday, October 31, 1862
Helped to do the work. Let Mr. Bogart have Rob's money. Went with Mary to town to see about getting a room for Lib to go to school. Got one. Came home. Sewed some. I finished my darling's letter.

November 1862

Saturday, November 1, 1862
Did part of the work. Fixed my hoops. Felt very anxious about my dear till I got a letter. Nan brought me one from town. How good it was and how glad to get it. Eve, got one from Rob. Talked. Lib and I had a good wash.

Sunday, November 2, 1862
Did not get up very early. Wrote a letter 2 sheets to Mollie McCanaughy. Wrote one to Rob and One to my darling husband, in all, 16 pages. Rad a little. Morning beautiful. Rained and got cold in the afternoon.

Monday, November 3, 1862
Helped wash. Cut out Mary's and Libs dress. Did some chores. Wrote some.

Tuesday, November 4, 1862
Got up very early. Made the waist of Libs dress. got a letter from J. Lawhead and _____. Wrote one in reply. Went to the largest ____ bed that I ever was at held at Republic for the benefit of our soldiers. Pleasant eve and a great many there and had a very nice time. Came back. Wrote some.

Wednesday, November 5, 1862
Got ready. Went with Jim and Nan to Tiffin. Got me a new hat. A Good many in town. Mailed a letter for Mr. Cline. Got a gallon of coal oil. Came back. Tried to sew. Did not feel very well. Eve. It rained and was cold.

Thursday, November 6, 1862
Sewed all day. Eve. Finished Libs dress. Wrote some.

Friday, November 7, 1862
Made the waist of Mary's dress. Cold. Gloomy. Got a letter from Mrs. Lawhead.

Saturday, November 8, 1862
Finished Mary's dress. Trimmed my hat. Fixed my dress. Went over to Jim's. Had a romp with Cora. Wrote some to my dear husband. Went to bed and had an awful dream about him.

Sunday, November 9, 1862
Did not get up early. Mr. Pashes folks came. Had a very pleasant visit. Came back to Thomases. Wrote most of the eve. Very pleasant day.

Monday, November 10, 1862
Helped wash. Finished a letter to Mr. Cline, one to Rob and wrote one to Oscala. Got ready and went to Republic. Stopped at Ellises. Went in to see Han. Inez and I went to the office. Got a letter from my darling husband. Went to the reading, but did not enjoy the lecture much. Felt too bad about my absent husband. Stayed all night with Inez.

Tuesday, November 11, 1862
Wrote a long letter to my dear _____, I put it. Talked a good deal. Went down street. Called at Mrs. ____ and stopped at Mr. Weikerts. Susie pleasant. Went to see the panorama of the Senators. Sun, very beautiful. Stayed all night with Susie. Had a pleasant time.

Wednesday, November 12, 1862
Susie and I went to Tiffin. Went to tell _____ that I had got his letter and went out to McClellans. They glad to see me. Stayed till Susie came along. Came back to town. Mr. Bogart called for me and I came home with him.

Thursday, November 13, 1862
Very pleasant. Commenced my stocking. Wrote some to darling. Nan and I had some big talk.

Friday, November 14, 1862
Felt bad and uneasy. Walked to town. Stopped at Bob _____. Called at Mr. Scotts. Got a letter from my true husband. Was so glad to get it. Mrs. C and I went to the academy to attend the reunion. A big crowd present. Did not enjoy it very much. _____a letter for Mr. C.

Saturday, November 15, 1862
Had fresh fish for breakfast. Went in to see Mrs. Weikart. Walked down to Thomases. Very tired. Washed some of my dirty clothes. Wrote some. Ironed my clothes. Read some.

Sunday, November 16, 1862
1/2 ble redwood
1/2 ble logwood
hunk of alum the size of a walnut
Sabbath. Fine morning. Roads excellent, dusty. Finished a long letter to Rob. Took a walk to the woods with Lib and the boys. Wrote some. Came over with Jim.

Monday, November 17, 1862
Very rainy and dismal. Sewed some on Cora's dress. Finished a letter to my husband. Went to Thomases. Got a letter from Mr. C. Glad to get it. Knit some and wrote some to Mr. C.

Tuesday, November 18, 1862
Rainy. Came back to Jims. Knit. Finished my dear's letter. Went to town to attend the soldiers parcing bee as for them there was a good many out for the night. Came home through the rain and it was very dark.

Wednesday, November 19, 1862
Rained all day. Sewed some and did not much of anything. Got a letter of old date from my husband. Albert came after me. Wrote some to my husband.

Thursday, November 20, 1862
Started early. Stopped at Mary's to get some things. Stopped in Tiffin. Got my dear 2 suits of underclothes for $5.50. Came out to Alberts and fixed things and packed a small box to send to _____. Albert and I took it to Tiffin. Gave Mr. Jordan a letter for C. Saw the box directed.

Friday, November 21, 1862
Cut out Elles dress and sewed all day.

Saturday, November 22, 1862
Got up early. Finished Elles Dress. Wrote some. Felt bad because I did not get a letter.

Sunday, November 23, 1862
Sabbath. Rather cold and cloudy. The day seemed long and lonely. Finished a long letter No.6th, to my dear husband. Wrote one to dear Rob. Read some.

Monday, November 24, 1862
_______. Went down to Mr. Landers to get Elles cloak stitched. Came back after dark. Got 3 long and very interesting letters from my darling. Wrote some to him.

Tuesday, November 25, 1862
Sewed. Finished Elles cloak. Finished Mr. C. letter. Felt rather bad. Not well. Knit some.

Wednesday, November 26, 1862
Ground white with snow. Made Elles sack. Wrote some. Got a letter from Rob. Wrote one to him.

Thursday, November 27, 1862
Went to Tiffin. Rather cold. Went to church. Heard Mr. Young preach a very good sermon. Got a $1.00 worth of stamps. Had 8 teeth extracted and one filled. Took ether to have part of them drawn. Kennyman the dentist. Wrote some.

Friday, November 28, 1862
Cut and made a pair of drawers. Knit some. Wrote some. Trimmed Violas hat and cried to hear Albert read some of the incidents of the battle field. Went to bed and dreamed all night about my darling husband.

Saturday, November 29, 1862
No Entry.

Sunday, November 30, 1862
Sabbath. Jim and Nan came. Brought me a letter from Mr. C. Went to the funeral of Charles Norris. The house full. McKeon preached a good sermon. Wrote to Rob. Wrote some to my husband.

December 1862

Monday, December 1, 1862
Helped Martha some. Went to the funeral of Mrs. Linns child. Mc. preached well. Came home. finished Mr. C. letter. Sewed some. David Ellis called and I sent the letter with him to Mr. Cline, Nashville. Sent him a kiss too. Cut out Viola's sack.

Tuesday, December 2, 1862
Martha and I went to Mr. Parks to visit. Had a very pleasant time. Clara and I built many _____ as to have we would go to _____ to see our dear men. Got a letter from my dear stating he had got the box I sent him. Read it on the way home. Wrote one letter to him.

Wednesday, December 3, 1862
Cut and almost made Linden a pair of pants. Got another long and interesting letter from my husband. Helped Ella make some Taffy. Wrote some.

Thursday, December 4, 1862
Finished Linden's pants and finished and sent my pets letter. A beautiful day. Knit some. Mary and Thomas came after me, but Martha would not let me go.

Friday, December 5, 1862
Finished Martha's hood. Went to the funeral of another poor soldier, W. H. Thaeniaher. McKeon preached to a crowded house. Very solemn. Came home. Wrote some. Cut out Viola's sack. Cut a vest pattern for Linden and cut his vest.

Saturday, December 6, 1862
Went to Tiffin with Mr. Ellis. Very cold. Got a letter from Rob. Went up to get my teeth filled but the Dr. was not at home. Saw some of my old schollars. Came home. Finished Linden's vest. Wrote some to Rob and Cline.

Sunday, December 7, 1862
Sabbath. Albert and Martha brought me over to Mary's. Very rough. Finished a letter to Rob and my dear husband. Read some and talked to Lib. Washed and went to bed.

Monday, December 8, 1862
Cut out Lib's dress. Made the waist. Knit some. Fine weather for winter.

Tuesday, December 9, 1862
No entry.

Wednesday, December 10, 1862
No entry.

Thursday, December 11, 1862
No entry.

Friday, December 12, 1862
No entry.

Saturday, December 13, 1862
No entry.

Sunday, December 14, 1862
No entry.

Monday, December 15, 1862
No entry.

Tuesday, December 16, 1862
No entry.

Wednesday, December 17, 1862
Finished a letter and sent it to Mr. C. Got one from him. Very glad to get it. Snow quite deep. Cooked dinner. Lib and I, while _____, tended to the _____. Had a great time stuffing sausage.

Thursday, December 18, 1862
Helped finish the work. Wrote some. Commenced another pair of socks for my husband. Cold day.

Friday, December 19, 1862
Finished my husband's letter and got one from him. It was good. Came over to Jims. Read an account of Burnsides battle, our _____ and felt hard to think we had to loose so many brave boys. Nan, Jim and I had another talk over the past about poor Charlie etc.

Saturday, December 20, 1862
Knit. Wrote and thought that how differently I spent 8 years ago. My poor mother's spirit took its flight to the land of rest 8 years ago today. What a sad day was that for me. Talked of our great loss of life at the battle of Fredericksburg.

Sunday, December 21, 1862
Sabbath. Read. Wrote. Talked. Lib and I came back to Inez's. Spent the eve writing. Snowed some.

Monday, December 22, 1862
Finished a letter for my husband and one for my brother. Helped wash. Put up some sausage for Mary. Knit some. Made a collar for little Albert. Got two letters from my dear husband.

Tuesday, December 23, 1862
Wrote a letter to my dear Cline. Finished him a pair of socks. Ironed some. Went to Republic with Lib to get her hair _____. Very muddy. Mr. Shaw _____ it.

Wednesday, December 24, 1862
Got ready. Went to Tiffin. Got a nice pan. Got 5 teeth filled for _____. Had a long talk with the Dr. about matters in particular. Got some _____ for the children. Came home at dark. Found Eliza and Susan here ready to have some fun. Did not feel very well, but thought it should not be spoiled by me so I was to be old Santa Claus and Eliza to be my wife. I dressed all up in my husbands oldest clothes. Eliza put on the oldest I had and we blackened our faces as we looked worse than any darky. Went out doors so that the little boys could not see us. Then came in with their presents. They were frightened at first, but thought sure it was the old fellows that had come and had no other thought or idea, and then 4 of us went to Troxels and thought we would have lots of fun, but the old man spoilt it all, so Lib and I came back. I eat by the stove and acted darky till I thought Mary and Thomas would hurt themselves laughing. Changed my attire. Jim gave me a letter from my good husband while I was in Tiffin. I wrote some to him. Was very tired. Went to bed. Did not feel a bit funny all the eve, but tried to act so.

Thursday, December 25, 1862
A very long, lonely and rainy day. Rained all day. Thunder and lightening in the afternoon. I spent most of the day in my room. Felt very sad. Cried when I felt like it. Wrote a long letter to my husband and brother each. Spent the eve in my room writing. Felt so sad and lonely. Wrote several verses.

Friday, December 26, 1862
Sent the two long letters to Tiffin. _____ for 50 cents worth of stamps. Jim came and brought me two letters. One from my brother, the other a good long one from my husband. Came home with Jim. Water very high. Red some. Sewed some on Nan's dress. Jim read to us in the eve.

Saturday, December 27, 1862
Finished the sleeves of Nan's dress. Played with Cora. Poped her some corn. Wrote some. Jim read to us in the eve.

Sunday, December 28, 1862
Sabbath. Got up late. Jim brought me to Thomases to dress so that I could go with him to church. Lib went too. Got there. No preacher came. Talked awhile with Sophia and others. Came back to Ward Eastman's and stopped for dinner. Had a pleasant time. Came back to Thomases. Read and finished a letter to my absent husband.

Monday, December 29, 1862
Helped wash,then copied the verses that I had composed from my slate and composed 4 others. In all 27. Pleasant, like Spring. Lib and I had great times.

Tuesday, Decebmer 30, 1862
Snowed and blowed like sixty all day. Ironed before dinner. Wrote some. Knit some. Lib and I tussled some. Eve. Wrote and talked. Thomas and Mary said Lib and I could get up early and get breakfast. We told them we would have it at 7 o'clock. We had it by that time.

Wednesday, December 31, 1862
Lib and I did not get up very early. Like to lay in bed to well. We got breakfast. I finished my dear husbands letter No 21st and sent it to Tiffin with Bro. Jim. Finished a pair of socks for Thomas. Made me a new undershirt that Nan gave me. The day pleasant. Thawed some of the snow off. Bad going. Felt so dreadfully disappointed because I did not get a letter from my darling husband. Opened a can of my cherries and made 4 pies. Did not eat any supper. Lib and I watched the old year out and the new one in. Wrote all the time of its last moments. Did not feel a bit like having any fun.

MMS 1454 - Annie Stuart Diary Guide
Manuscripts by Subject | Women's Studies Collections, Part 2