June 1863
1st -- Hired Katie Kidd of Baltimore to take over as chamber-maid, what with Maureen so near due. She's gone off to Harrisburg to stay with her kin, trusting me to sort out the paternity issue.

3rd -- Letter from Kilpatrick returned unopened. Petite is furious -- keeps slapping her crop on the cushions and wishing Kilpatrick were there to receive the blow. He'd better answer soon or he'll be dealing with the pair of us. That might be some men's dream, but this is Judson's nightmare.

4th -- The war has made business more difficult, but life goes on. Senator S took Sakura to the theatre last night. They made a wonderfully exotic couple with Sakura dressed in her most elegant silk kimono. The Senator marvels to see her in it, then marvels as much to watch her peel it off layer by layer. Perhaps we should charge extra?

6th -- Lata complained that her companion of last evening was far too rough. Seems the young captain is used to the round-heeled girls and doesn't know how a Hiwaiian woman expects to be treated. Should he return Petite can deliver a lesson in manners before he consorts with any of my girls again.

7th -- Sunday. Bridget got her wish and we went to Mass. The papes are certainly the most welcoming of faiths -- even if none of the priests are clients.

9th -- The captain returned last night. Petite caught him just as he was drying off from his bath. She is so very persuasive especially when she's got him by the short hairs. He accepted three blows of the crop and promised to be ever so gentlemanly in future. Lata wouldn't have him, of course, so Bridget took him on. He was much better behaved. I like to think of these corrections as improvements to the male, making them fit husbands in future. Thus the hotel is also an educational institution.

10th -- I found that package again and Cypriana has suddenly taken a great interest in it. I kept telling her that it was just a piece of embroidered pocket linen for some fellow named Armistead, but she practically jumped out of her octoroon skin and insisted that it must be delivered now. It has been sitting in a drawer for two years and now it is all Ms. LaRue can think of. She will not say why the hurry, but I believe her sincerity and will try to find this Capt. Armistead in the next few weeks.

12th -- Quiet evening, but not unprofitable. Several gentlemen of the legislature held a meeting here, for which I served as hostess. I suppose the business must have been serious since only one gentleman remained behind to enjoy an hour of Choctow massage from High Hills. I wonder sometimes if the prostitutes of both Washington and Richmond are the first to know how matters fare in the field by the level and quality of trade.

13th -- A bold gentleman of Congress, no doubt wishing to impress the other gentlemen with his obvious refinements, took me to the theatre tonight. $7 per hour is hardly sufficient to cover sitting through such a dreadful performance. I want the three hours of my life back.

14th -- Sunday. Tried out a Baptist church, but won't go there again. They seemed to think we had come for salvation, rather than simple worship. Made rather too much of a fuss over us, exceially High Hills, Sakura, and Lata -- all three being exotics of heathenish beliefs. If the preacher only knew what Cypriana gets up to in her work hours, he'd have burned her as a witch for sure.

26th -- McGill nears delivery in Harrisburg and I must see to securing the paternity of her child. Word is that the rebs are moving north into Pennsylvania. Cypriana says the old debt on the pocket linen must be paid soon. She is seldom wrong on these things.

27th -- A fine time tonight, quite a party of gentlemen from the Congress and a few others. Too bad none of those gentleman officers could join us, but I hear tell they are on the move to meet the rebs to the north.

28th -- Took the girls to church as usual, but this time went Methodist. Swanned down the aisle and sat right in the front. Strange that the minister was not so happy to see us this morning as he was last night. Ah, hypocrisy -- the ministers are full of it, even though preachers are usually amongst our best clientele. Perhaps the hotel should host some hymn sings.

29th -- Leaving for Harrisburg by coach, no doubt dodging armies north and south. McGill's situation is paramount, though, and if the bastard responsible will not do his duty by her, then I will find his superiors and bring the issue to their attention. No doubt General Reynolds will do the right thing.