March 16-22.
Sally and I spend the night at Castalia ....No church. Young Bob got home from the wars late Saturday night-15th. He had been sick and came home to recruit. He paid us a visit at Music Hall early Sunday morning; is
looking well and seems glad to be among us again. He and Sally have quite a pass of words as to who is the
rightful hero of the Leesburg fight. Sally goes up Monday to town to visit the new niece ....She comes back on
Wednesday bringing Lydia with her. We are all much pleased with the little stanger. She is about 16 but is a
perfect child in manners and feeling; is anxious to do all we recommend. Brother Jim is rather more unwell this
week. Does not improve as fast as we hoped. I fear we are too hopeful. Have some nice little visits to Uncle
Bobs. It revives my spirits to go over there; we are all so sad at home. This week we had a great many reports
of The Army of The Potomac falling back from Manassas. What can it all mean? On Saturday evening I take
Lydia to Castalia to spend the night and to see her kinfolks ....