Diary of Jeremiah White Graves, Volume 2, Book 18

27th March 1865 Carried Bet a mule to Chalk Level for Government. $1200 P[..]ssed & valued. finished Plowing Cotton Patch &c &c. Halling wood in the evening. Hunting my s[...] Black Sow been missing nearly 2 weeks Young spotted one 3 days Boar nearly a [... .]

28 Started down to Plantation to Sew Oats this morning 2 Horses & [slush?], Cloudy & like for Rain. Set out Potatoes 2 Cows had calves here [..] both Heifers somewhere 2 weeks ago Sowed 3 Bushels down there to day.

29th went to Jos. Hubbards to Write for him. Stayed till evening Went to plantation did not get done sowing Oats to day. 2 bags down there yet.

30th Raining this morning No tidings from my Black & young spotted sow. My boar is gone too. Moderate weather Rain very hard this evening [...y] tremendous high, all over the flats

1st April 1865 Let Jordan have 1 Mid[...] Bacon for negroes at Aspen Grove for 2 weeks from to day

1865 April 1st Fixing up Water Gate on Creek & fencing there to day. Sent H[.sh.] to plantation today My young spotted sow Henry found yesterday & She had 6 Pigs & has come up here Pigs: 6

2. Put up my shoats to stay here. Lowry & Perry & Mr Kellys Tom starts in carry all to Danville to work on Breast Works for 60 days. Claiborne & Millie gone to Plantation to finish Sewing Oats there & bring home Plow & a stack Oats. &c. &c. Wrote to Wm C Grasty to take care of negroes provisions and deal it out to them.

Finished sowing oats 25 Bus here 8½ Bus. at plantation ourselves

Lain has secured 45½ to this time Brot 1 load Oats Sheaf[?] Oats from there to day & 3 Pecks white Beans Henry Plowing for Corn. Stayed by Wm. Bybee our sh[..]ts to day [...] out 2 sows young ones

5th Sewed flax seed to day. Rained a little last night. Cloudy to day Will take up our sweet Potatoes

Planted Sweet potatoes 3½ bus. to day Plowing for corn Claiborn halling rails on creek

1865. April 7. Sent to Mill D R Hunts 1 Barrel corn for meal 1½ Bus for Chop for steers & cows. Richmond Fell about 1st April 1865

Hester & Mr Forests Jack this day - warm moderate weather

8.9th.10. Crowds of soldiers passing. Genl. Lees army sur rendered at Appomattox CH & such a site of soldiers I never saw. Stealing Hogs & chickens Breaking open Smoking Houses & calling for Something to eat at all times in the day

11th April. April 1865 Genl. Jackson Brigade Lomax Division passed here & took Phil from Henry going to Plow. Come right by the House & would not stop I was sick & could do nothing with him.

12 April Pannills & Wards Bridge Burnt. Great crowds of soldiers going South.

12 April 1865. Claiborne [.erry] who came home 1st April & Milly Ann has meat for a month, -- from this day.

13.14 & 15. Some body stole Hester & carried her off South a Soldier no doubt.

the 15th negroes got Bacon this this day for 1 month

-They left a Large Bay Mare Mare[sic] called called Lucy in [...] Place & I got the horse brot by Jerry Smith 7 or 8 years old. great uproar in the neighborhood about stealing Government Horses one took from Mr Hunts place last night belonging to Mr J R Whitehead.

16.17.18. Fencing ground to Plant Corn Sent to Mill to day & got 2 Bbls Meal D R H

1865 April 19 Planted Sorghum & Planting Corn in Lot on Branch. Clearing up new ground set [...s] on fire to night

20th Raining this morning Sent 2 Boys Henry & Sith after my Boar at Mrs Colemans

Got my Boar home from Mrs Colemans this morning put him in pen

21.22. finished Planting corn at home, [on up?] a little on flats

23rd In the Evening Saml Hubbard Mrs Shields son in Law took Lewis Black Horse out of the field at Plantation & on Monday Jennings Neal give me a hint who had him Mr Whitehead & myself started down to see Lain overseer & Wm Neal told us the Horse was at Mrs Shields & we went there & asked for a Black Horse particularly marked &ct after a good deal of talk, Saml Hubbard brot out my Horse & I claimed him. he would not give him up for a long time