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94
May 14. 1863.
He then drove us to the carrs, his servant took back the carriage he & Mrs. Thorpe came to the City with us.
we got to Charle's a little after 10 oclock found his family all well. Toward evening Cora and Louisa daughter called to see us.
[[underlined]] Tuesday 15.[[/underlined]] News by this mornings papers state that the Rebels had occupied Chambersburg at 9 oclock last night.
Mrs. Peale, Harriet and I went at 9 oclock to the Refreshment saloon on Washington Street, to see the Floral Fair for the benefit of the soldiers, this spacious Hall was abondantly supplied with all kinds of articles eatable, fancy articles and quite a large colliction of Birds and Quadrapds stuffed and handsomely cased under glass, and several Acquarians with living fish but of common kinds.
We there met Mrs. Stewart Patterson and Emma Patterson. We dropped Mrs. P. and Emma at Arch & 8th. Street.
We learn that the Rebels are now at Chambersburg. 18 miles from Harrisburg.
In the afternoon I went down town to see if there was much excitement, I found great crowds of people in Chesnut Street especially about Independance Hall. I strolled up the street to 8th. street and observed the attention of the people were directed to the tops of the opposite [[?]] I then saw a balloon majestically passing over the City S.E direction it appears to be the one that is raised in the northern part of the City nearly daily when the weather is favorable, the owners receive admission to view the enflating of it, and those that wish to have a view of the City & surrounding country pay a dollar for an assent of about 1 or 2 hundred feet elevation, it is kept under control by a cord and thus lowered down & another party is let up. and finaly it is let loose with the proprietor and others to take an Aerial Toure of a few miles.
While I was thus gazing a gentleman, hoped I would excuse his roodness for enquiring my name, he was struck by my resemblance to Rembrandt. I found him to be an old citizen residing at the corner of Chisnut & 7th Street Mr John V. Cowell who has been in business at that place for 60 or 70 years, it was then nearly out of town. he is nearly two years younger than I am, born in 1785. was acquainted with some of our family.