17h
26th I Finished Planting and replanting and replanting my Tobacco
` crop to day I have had a serious time with my Tobacco crop so far as
the seasons have been verry light and the cut worms have been worse than
I ever remember of Before as I have had to set out some of my Tobacco
Three times and the most of my crop will have to start from the Bud
27th It is raining again this morning with a good prospect for a
days rain and as I have nothing else to do I will indulge in writing
down a few stray thoughts in the first place the all engrossing throught
which engrosses evry is the war we can as it were hear its distant
mutterings and feel its terrible effects each day of our lives but brings
us but nearer to its stern reality and I fear that many of us who have
looked on it from a distance are yet doomed to participate in its awfull
strugles already are arrangements made for the purpose of furcing the
- conscription upon both white and black and Hundreds of thousands must
now be taken to fill the decimated ranks of the Federal Army allready have
vast armies melted away like the driven snow and yet that daring race of
rebels appear stronger than ever at least (500,000) five hundred thousand
men have fallen in the two contending armies up to the Present time and
yet the call is for more men I have read of gory fields untill
28th Sunday I was aVChurch and Sabbath School in the Morning and
at singing in the evening the day has been warm and I think we will have
more rain
29th went to Henderson to day in company with G Mitchell
30th This has been a warm day with occasional showers I commenced
cutting my wheat this evening my wheat is verry good considering I have
pastured it all the year to day brings us to the close of the Month of
June the month has been a dry one untill recently it has rained allmost
evry day and the ground is now too wet to plough crops of all kinds with
the exception of wheat are verry backward
July lst I went to Henderson to day in company with G Mitchell
it rained again to day
2nd I Rode down to Mitchells this morning and went a cow hunting in
the evening &c `
3d I was assisting the boysko prepare a place for a Pic Nic this
morning and replanting Tobacco in the evening
hth Went to the Pic Nic to day evrything Passed off pleasantly
we had plentyto eat and drink allthough there was a large crowd in at-
tendance I enjoyed myself finely among that large and Joyous crowd there
seemed to be no other aim than Pleasure all appeared happy and it is a
fine thing for us that the Bouancy of our feelings will at times lift us
above the gloom by which we are surrou ded I have been at celebrations
on this day from my earliest recolections memory goes back to many pleasant
hths forever past and gone when the shrill clarion of war was not heard in
the land and a united People met to celebrate this day yet dihow changed
the days of Republpc have passed away and a military despotism Rules in
its stead the hopes of Millions have been crushed and the land deluged
with Blood even to day the two hostile armies are said to be engaged in