August 10th, 1864

Went to Lyons to the funeral of Major T.J. Ennis, shot through the body before Atlanta in the severe engagement of July 28th.

August 2nd, 1864

Go to the Provost Marshal’s office and look over the lists for Geneva, in reference to the five-hundred-thousand draft now upon us. I wanted to see about our students. Very few names are down.

May 23rd, 1863

Holiday for the reception of the 33rd. Regiment. I walked with the procession through the streets under a broiling sun. Judge Folger made the speech of welcome; Col. Taylor replied.

May 22nd, 1863

Faculty meeting. Decide to give holiday to-morrow after first recitation, to join in receiving the gallant 33rd Regiment after two years’ service.

September 22nd, 1862

After prayers dismiss College without recitation to see Col. Johnson’s Regiment go off.  We saw them set sail in three steamboats.

September 11th, 1862

College opens. Wheeler absent- not back from Harper’s Ferry where he acted as adjutant with the 126th Regiment during the vacation. The freshman class come in well and College promises to be as full as it was last year. This is very encouraging when all other Colleges that I know of, are suffering severely.
I find that boys’ schools on the contrary are flourishing. Many persons, by being in the army, are in the receipt of good incomes, and being from home, do not wish to leave their sons without oversight, and so send them to school. Others, finding no business to put their sons at, send them to school. Thus the boys’ schools are full, while the colleges are depleted to furnish officers and soldiers.

April 29th, 1862

Faculty meeting. Consider results and determine about conditions. Very few conditioned. Enforcing our rule about suspending if conditions were not made up on the first day of the term as we did last time, operates extremely well. At five had our last prayers and dismissed the College. Junior exhibition in Linden Hall in the evening. I presided. Good exhibition, but nothing of pre-eminent and striking excellence. Brewer was one of the best. Ashley had a poem on secession which took, from the subject and good delivery.

April 9th, 1862

The students petitioned for a holiday to celebrate the victories (Island Number Ten, and over Beauregard near Pittsburgh) but the Faculty having considered the matter unanimously refused.

February 18th, 1862

Faculty meeting at ten to consider the petition of the students to get off from recitation and make a holiday of to-day and illuminate the College to-night on account of the news of the capture of Fort Donelson and fifteen thousand prisoners. Refused. First, because a leading object was conceived to be to get off from recitations; second, because we should expect other victories and other like requests. Faculty unanimous.

November 14th, 1861

My class debated before me – Should England avoid interfering in our present troubles?  Graves spoke fifty-five minutes; rose spoke long and well.

September 6th, 1861

I spend part of each day in collecting the subscriptions in Geneva t the endowment, or in getting them into the form of notes.  Coxe writes me that he has a very uncomfortable position in Baltimore – that he may resign any day.  He is loyal and his congregation are secessionists.  May God direct and guard him.

June 26, 1861

Meet and interrogate freshmen about supper last night. Attend the White Rhetorical at Linden Hall-fifteen speakers- speaking extraordinary-quite beyond average throughout. Begun about half past nine and ended about half past one. No music. Judges, Judge Foote, Rev. Dr. Wood, Rev. Mr. S. H. Coxe, Rev. A. D. Goodrich and E. A. Graham, Esq. Rev. H. A. Neely delivered an address before the Alumni at four. Subject, “Disloyalty to God cause of our national troubles”. Very good, very short, prepared on short notice. In the evening F.M. Finch read a spirited poem “On the war” and Hon. J. W. Fowler then gave an address on “American oratory, – its versatility,” which was one of the most splendid specimens of eloquence I ever listened to.

June 8, 1861

Buffalo.

Went to see Dean Richmond. I had a long talk with him about war, &c. He thinks no one can foresee how we are coming out of it, or how far it will go. I explained to him our action in the Board- told him I had subscribed $1,000 and hoped he would take $5000 of it; and though he was a little reluctant at first, I persuaded him, and he gave me his check for $500. Kind, generous man! I feel drawn towards him. He is very capable of large and generous views.

April 25, 1861

Have committee wait on me in order to get a holiday for the rest of the day to raise a flag over the middle College. Bishop DeLancey called to learn what I had done for the endowment. Had a long talk with Mr. Douglas about the endowment and the Chapel.

Mr. Douglas came with me to the College to be present at the raising of the flag. After it was raised I introduced the exercises with prayer – The Lord’s Prayer, the Prayer in War and Tumults, and “Direct us,” with the benediction. Dr. Wilson was the first speaker, Prof. Wheeler the second, H.R. Gibson the third, S.W. Tuttle the fourth, Mussy the fifth, Bishop DeLancey the sixth, Colonel Murray, Seneca Falls, the seventh. Wheeler’s was the gem. Bishop DeLancey was for peace and settlement. It all passed off very finely. The members of the College have raised about $30 to pay for pole and flag. They could not get bunting, but made it of woolen stuff. It is large and handsome. Mrs. Towler made it, or it was made under her direction.

April 8, 1861

In New York. I find by Saturday’s paper, which I did not get till to-day, that there is a sort of panic in business circles again- an armed expedition having left New York for parts unknown- supposed to be Texas, or possibly Charleston. This is unfortunate for my operations.

March 20, 1861

Everybody speaks in praise of the exhibition last night. I cannot but reflect that I now been three years in my present office; and I review with thankfulness the course of things in College during that period. I began to work for enlargement before I took office. I have spoken, written and labored for it ever since; and now we seem on the eve of realizing a great forward movement in the history of the College unless these disastrous times prevent, which may God in mercy forbid.

March 7, 1861

New York

Call on Mr. Alexander Duncan of Providence and have a very satisfactory interview. He agrees to aid us, saying three weeks from now, when the times are more settled, he will decide.