February 1864

1st   Embark on board the "Bell Memphis" & proceed up river at 5. P.M. run all night

2d   arrive in the night

3d   land & take the 12. M. train run to Centralia lay over night

4th   take the 3.A.M. train run to Decater & now we are to lay over until 5.P.M. when we Expect to take the train for Springfield there seems to be no connection at all with the trains on these roads (Irving House)

5th   take the Evening train for Springfield put up at the Cheney House

6th   see Gen White our first Col. he is very kind to us

7th   take the noon train for Chicago where we arrive at 9.P.M. take supper at the Hatch House & then take the 1130 P.M. train for Belvidere arrive at three put up at the American

8th   leave Belvidere at 9.A.M. arrive at Home at 10.A.M.

9th   very cold but pleasant after all visit Charlse Cummings, L. L. Tongue, Cranes, Draper, &.c.

10th   quite pleasant winter weather, report for duty (recruiting service) to Cap't Loop at Belvidere he is very kind sends me Home to recruit my Health (which was never better)

11th   go to the funeral of Samuel Handy, O, where are the friends of my BoyHood, gone- all gone some to the defense of our Country & some to the last resting place of the Human family the Ladies only are left visit Cranes Tongues & in the Evening

11th   at Warren Morses with my Mother Stepfather Levi & Adaline Alferd & Emma, Warren & Mary, Miron Avery & Lady Ruth, Henrietta, Mrs. Tongue, Legran &.c.

12th   quite pleasant revival at the F. M. Church Eighty rods East of here not much success as yet visit at Mrs. Tripp & Jas. T. Sheldons have a pleasant time

13th   beautiful winter weather visit at Asa Yates'es a very pleasant visit come Home at 2.P.M. Mr. & Wife ___ Haskins here very genteel appearing Lady & a very fine appearing boy

14th   go to Warrens & Miron Avery's. pleasant day go to Church in the Evening

15th   pleasant weather go to Church at the little Church & at the Red School House see plenty of my former acquaintances at both places

16th   go to Marengo to visit M. L. Drake he is gone but I have a pleasant visit with Aunt Aunt Lydia & Cousin Hannah & return as far as G. Marvins when it commences to blow & I thinking it will be better tomorrow put up for the night

17th   very _ very cold start for Home come as far as Cranes stay until P.M. & then proceed Home nearly freeze do freeze one Ear & one finger

18th   froze in for today

19th   pretty cool but I go to Mr. Haskins & to see Charlse Anderson of our Co. who is very sick at present

20th   go to Belvidere quite pleasant again the Church continues in spite of cold weather_ go to Bonusville to the Union League stay over night with G. A. Kellogg

21st   go & see Charley & to the funeral of Deacon Smiths youngest daughter

22d   very warm snow is all melting off & I guess we are to have no more sleigh rides this winter have a pleasant visit at Mr. Hoppins another of Deacon Smith's children is dangerous

23d   quite pleasant snow fast melting away go to Southprairie stay over night at Mr. Stodards very fine people

24th   go to Belvidere see Cap't Loop he is a splendid Officer roads very bad

25th   visit at Aunt Lydia Tripp's & sit up with the Corpse of Deacon Smith's only Boy

26th   Funeral very pleasant day

27th   go to see C. A. Anderson and L. N. Tongue &.c.

28th   Church East of here go to Warrens A. Yates

29th   this is a very pleasant morning I have spent 22 Happy days on Old Bonus & now for Dixey away, & for the End of the rebellion our successful Armies under Grant Sherman Hurlbut McPherson are marching forward & under such Generals we can look for nothing less than a successful Campaign the coming summer