Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 2, Book 17

1864 Sept 28th. Gave Fannie W. Fitzgerald 1 sheep a Ram fine & likely Perry got it that morning we are Setting up tops gathering Peas & apples tying up some fodder to day likely for Rain

29. Picking out Peas. Pressing our cider sent Claiborne to Tates mill after flour & 4 Bus. for me & negroes, Cloudy & rainy weather

30th Rained last night worming & succoring Tobacco this morning. John R Whitehead started back to the ^{come home the 11th Sept 1864}army this morning and has been here 20 or 25 day on furlough I have about finished sewing Rye Sewed 2 or over Bus

Oct. 4th Making molasses 2½ Galls this day. Raining nearly all day, finished cutting Tops except last corn, -

Oct 7. Began to cut Tobacco found my young sow Hogs doing badly at Aspen Grove bro^t up Tobacco to Barn & House & trying to finish cutting to day, -

6th we have been trying to sew wheat hunting Aogs at Aspen Grove

1864 Oct 15th Lost both my sows at plantation 1 Died & 1 Killed at Mr E Lewis by negroes, - Stacked Tops cut Tobacco Housing &c &c &c, — Cutting down Sorghum. 2 smart frosts weather cool Firing Tobacco, have not heard from Jerry for 1 One Month. Making Molasses & sewing Wheat in Tobacco Land Halled up Pea fines &c

17th Went to Court Sunday Cutting Corn gathered Peas & Beans halled up Pea & Potatoe vines.

18th Sewing wheat, &c to day.

19th Sewing wheat this day — Mr Bybee Stilled for himself last Monday.

20. Making molasses Halled wood & Sewed 1 Bushel Wheat Bushed in Miss Mary Faris came here to w[?] this day at 12 Oclock

23rd Oct. Jerry Smith Joe belonging to JDH. Estate & Fannies Perry all started to Richm^d with Mr N. C Millers hands to work on Breast works for 1 mo Confed. Call, Mr N C. Miller gets Rich^ds for them in Danville 24th & 25. they will go on to Richmond

1864 Rich^d Whitehead came home this 23rd

Oct. 24th Sewed 2 Bushels Wheat this day

25th Fanned out wheat, Duged our Irish Potatoes, & cutting corn to sew wheat

27 Sewing wheat cutting down corn Halling 3 Loads wood ^{Carried Fan home} to day

Nov 4 Since 25th Oct we have good wood Sewed wheat gathered Lot corn Rained 2 days Killed 1 Beef weighing 452 lbs Davy a steer. Jorden been up here today We have lost 1 of our sheep here & 1 at plantation in the coarse[course] of one week past.

Nov 7th Finished Seeding wheat hear[here] last Saturday evening – getting out Peas to day & expect to send to the Mill sometimes Sat.

8 John Richard Whitehead started this morning Cloudy & like for rain Putting away our Greens Bybee Starts to Danville with 2 Yankee prisoners caught by T. J. Monroe.

14th The last week I went to Danville Car^d Bill to go to Army as Teamster or cook agreeable to call of Gen^l Lee. Sold Peas onions Brandy for Est. & my toll. Potatoes etc they cut Halled wood at home while we were gone.

1864 Novr 13 began to get up corn at home till Tuesday night I am sick this evening

16 Let all go to meeting to worship God under President Davis's request None scarcly went I was sick at home

17 Halling up & shucking corn my Pigs all up now 21 in number 3 sows & 1 Boar & 12 in Pen for meat here & 7 at Plantation

18 Halling & shucking corn began to rain in evening, not quite done Halling up my 21 pigs has damaged my corn very much cut up piney old field new ground

21st Novr. 1864 Our son Jerry got home last night in the night was gone upwards of 9 m^os & a prisoner at p^tLook Out & Elmira[?], ever since May last — Raining all night & day & continues Lucy C Steptoe come with Jacob

22nd Cleared ^{Sent Mr Hurts mules home}off. Sent Lowry to ^MillMillers with 2 Turns 5 Bus corn for meal 1 Bushel ^{Keens Mill dam broke yesterday}Wheat for me & 2 Bags cotton to pick 53 lbs & 49 lbs making 102 lbs Balance. Getting up our corn to day

1864 Novr. 26th Have been daubing kitchen fixing up fencing finished our corn & gone to Aspen Grove got up corn this friday & saturday Henry & Claiborne there Henry malling 27th in new ground

29th Mr Bybee went to Aspen Grove I come home & went to Tan Yard Sheltons got my skin & little Sole Leather, - Henry & Milly Ann Cutting Malling wood & gathering clover Seed, -

Dec 4th The past week I have been at plantation getting up corn & fixing down there Sent 8 bushels Wheat for ourselves & 2 Bus for negroes here & 2 for negroes at Aspen Grove & sent ^{for Christmas}1 Turn of corn for meal got all safe

Went down there to day carr^d some wheat to sew where we got up corn & they are plowing for Rye. Cutting & Halling wood Covered up Turnip Patch. Henry Plowing lot for corn Claiborne halling wood. Smith came home