Washington District of Columbia

The Diary of Michael Shiner
Slave and Freeman at the Washington Navy Yard
1813-1869
Transcribed and edited by : John Sharp ©

C O N T E N T S

The Diary of Michael Shiner

the early history of Washington DC
Dating from 1813 to 1865
see Page 1 Fire and Hose Companies Organized 1813

1813 1 War of 1812

1814 3 About the War of 1812

1816 15 Hard Winters in Washington DC

1819 17 Very Hard Winters in Washington DC

1819 17 United States Ship Columbus Launches

1825 17 United States Frigate Launched
( Brandy Wine)

1826 18 Big Fire in Alexandria Va

1826 18 Merchant Ship Virginia Launched in Alexandria

1827 21 United States Sloop of War St. Louis Keel was Laid

1827 23 President John Qunicy Adams boards a Sloop of War in Georgetown DC

1828 24 The Lighters Launched at the Washington Navy Yard

1829 36 The united States Marine Barracks
( Burnt down )

1829 38 Died Commodore Thomas Tingey
Commander of the Washington Navy Yard

1829 38 Commodore Isaac Hull took Command of the Wash.

1831 40 The darkest eclipse in Wash. DC

1832 48 The United States Schooner Experiment Launched at the Wash. Navy Yard, Built by Winslow

1832 48 President Andrew Jackson and his cabinet at the Navy Yard

1832 49 Colery ( colera) in Washington City

1832 50 General Scott, returns from the Indian War in the South

1832 50 The Launching of the United States Revenue Cutter Jackson

1833 51 Andrew Jackson on his way to Richmond to lay a cornerstone met with a accident.

1833 55 Metor fell from the elements and frighten the people very much

1835 57 A turn out of the militia in Wash. DC

1835 59 The first strike in Washington DC and Andrew Jackson called out every soldier in Washington

1835 64 Cars started for between Baltimore and Washington

1835 65 Stealing Copper from the Washington Navy Yard

1835 70 Commodore Isaac Hull Leaves the Washington Navy Yard

1836 71 The Launching of the United States Frigate Columbia

1836 72 Commodore Daniel Patterson and Captain Joseph Smoot takes command of Navy Yard

1836 72 Major General Santa Anna Mexican General was taken prisoner

1836 73 Trouble with Indians In the south

1836 74 The Battle of North Pont was celebrated in Washington DC

1836 74 The United States post office was Burnt down

1836 75 The 4th of March Martin Van Buren is President the second time

1838 76 The United States Marine from their Fight in Florida

1839 77 The Death of Commodore Daniel Paterson in the Wash Navy Yard

1839 77 Ten Hours in the Federal Buildings

1840 78 Death of Commodore Isaac Chancey ( Chauncey)

1841 79 Death of Commodore Thomas Holddig ( Holdup) Stevens in Wash. Navy Yard

1841 79 Died in the White house Major General Wm. Henry Harrison

1841 80 Death of Major General Alexander Mc Comb Commander in Chief of the U. S. Army

1843 82 Death of Commodore Isaac Hull

1844 83 Sad Accident on Board Frigate Princeton

1844 84 The Launching of the United States Sloop of War St. Mary's

1845 86 The National Theater burnt down on the 5th of March

1845 86 The Mexican Minister demands his past port

1845 86 The United States iron steamer Water Witch was launched the 26th day of March on Thursday of U. States

1845 87 Death of Major General Andrew Jackson Ex. President

1846 89 Dedicated the Odd Fellow Hall on 7th St. N.W.

1846 90 The Battle of Harrington Hotel on Capitol hill

1846 92 Commander Charles Macaulay took Command of the Wash. Navy Yard in September

1846 94 The launching of the United States Steamer Frigate Union

1847 96 Celebrating the Mexican War in this City the Whole City was slit up

1847 97 Some facts about the Mexican War

1848 101 Death of Ex President John Quincy Adams

1848 101 Laying the Corner Stone of the Washington Monument

1849 103 Death of James Polk ex President of the U.S.

1849 103 Commodore Henry E. Ballard took Command of the Wash. Navy Yard, the 1st of Oct

1849 104 The Arrival o f the English Sloop a Minster of War Vacar with Lord Bullwer from England

1850 105 Death of ex senator John C. Calhoun

1850 105 Death of Major General Zackary Taylor at the white house

1851 107 Corner Stone was laid at the Capital in July

1851 109 The Library of Congress was burnt in July

1852 113 Death of Henry Clay A Senator

1852 115 Commodore Charles Morgan took Command of the Wash Navy Yard

1852 116 Death of Daniel Webster

1853 118 Death of Commodore Charles Morgan in Wash Navy Yard

1853 121 The President Franklin Pierce visited the Wash Navy Yard

1854 132 The Nebraska Bull Passed

1855 135 Captain French Forrest took Command of the Wash Navy Yard

1855 136 The Launching of the U.S. Steam frigate Minnesota on the 10th day of Dec

1856 152 Commodore Lavallette took Command of the Wash Navy Yard

1857 152 The National Theatre burnt down

1857 156 Election takes place in Wash

1858 165 Lord Napier and the British Secretary at the Wash Navy Yard

1858 165 Commodore J. Rudd took Command of the Wash Navy Yard

1859 171 Commodore Buchanan took Command of the Wash Navy yard

1859 172 Launching of the United States Steamer Anacosta

1860 175 Dedication o f the Washington Statue

1860 176 Arrival of the Jappanees at the Washington Navy Yard

1861 178 Justice Clark Administers the Oath of Allegiance to the Mechanics of the Wash Navy Yard

1861 178 The Emancipation of the District of Columbia

1865 184 President Lincoln was down at the Wash Navy Yard on good Friday the 14 1865 with his Wife

1865 186 Michael Shiner Saw eleven Presidents take there seat and some Presidents twice
( the end)

The Diary of Michael Shiner
the early history of Washington DC Dating from 1813 to 1865 see Page 1 Fire and Hose Companies Organized 1813
1813	1	War of 1812
1814	3	About the War of 1812
1816	15	Hard Winters in Washington DC
1819	17	Very Hard Winters in Washington DC
1819	17	United States Ship Columbus Launches
1825	17	United States Frigate Launched ( Brandy Wine)
1826	18	Big Fire in Alexandria Va
1826	18	Merchant Ship Virginia Launched in Alexandria
1827	21	United States Sloop of War St. Louis Keel was Laid
1827	23	President John Qunicy Adams boards a Sloop of War in Georgetown DC
1828	24	The Lighters Launched at the Washington Navy Yard
1829	36	The united States Marine Barracks ( Burnt down )
1829	38	Died Commodore Thomas Tingey Commander of the Washington Navy Yard
1829	38	Commodore Isaac Hull took Command of the Wash.
1831	40	The darkest eclipse in Wash. DC
1832	48	The United States Schooner Experiment Launched at the Wash. Navy Yard, Built by Winslow
1832	48	President Andrew Jackson and his cabinet at the Navy Yard
1832	49	Colery ( colera) in Washington City
1832	50	General Scott, returns from the Indian War in the South
1832	50	The Launching of the United States Revenue Cutter Jackson
1833	51	Andrew Jackson on his way to Richmond to lay a cornerstone met with a accident.
1833	55	Metor fell from the elements and frighten the people very much
1835	57	A turn out of the militia in Wash. DC
1835	59	The first strike in Washington DC and Andrew Jackson called out every soldier in Washington
1835	64	Cars started for between Baltimore and Washington
1835	65	Stealing Copper from the Washington Navy Yard
1835	70	Commodore Isaac Hull Leaves the Washington Navy Yard
1836	71	The Launching of the United States Frigate Columbia
1836	72	Commodore Daniel Patterson and Captain Joseph Smoot takes command of Navy Yard
1836	72	Major General Santa Anna Mexican General was taken prisoner
1836	73	Trouble with Indians In the south
1836	74	The Battle of North Pont was celebrated in Washington DC
1836	74	The United States post office was Burnt down
1836	75	The 4th of March Martin Van Buren is President the second time
1838	76	The United States Marine from their Fight in Florida
1839	77	The Death of Commodore Daniel Paterson in the Wash Navy Yard
1839	77	Ten Hours in the Federal Buildings
1840	78	Death of Commodore Isaac Chancey ( Chauncey)
1841	79	Death of Commodore Thomas Holddig ( Holdup) Stevens in Wash. Navy Yard
1841	79	Died in the White house Major General Wm. Henry Harrison
1841	80	Death of Major General Alexander Mc Comb Commander in Chief of the U. S. Army
1843	82	Death of Commodore Isaac Hull
1844	83	Sad Accident on Board Frigate Princeton
1844	84	The Launching of the United States Sloop of War St. Mary's
1845	86	The National Theater burnt down on the 5th of March
1845	86	The Mexican Minister demands his past port
1845	86	The United States iron steamer Water Witch was launched the 26th day of March on Thursday of U. States
1845	87	Death of Major General Andrew Jackson Ex. President
1846	89	Dedicated the Odd Fellow Hall on 7th St. N.W.
1846	90	The Battle of Harrington Hotel on Capitol hill
1846	92	Commander Charles Macaulay took Command of the Wash. Navy Yard in September
1846	94	The launching of the United States Steamer Frigate Union
1847	96	Celebrating the Mexican War in this City the Whole City was slit up
1847	97	Some facts about the Mexican War
1848	101	Death of Ex President John Quincy Adams
1848	101	Laying the Corner Stone of the Washington Monument
1849	103	Death of James Polk ex President of the U.S.
1849	103	Commodore Henry E. Ballard took Command of the Wash. Navy Yard, the 1st of Oct
1849	104	The Arrival o f the English Sloop a Minster of War Vacar with Lord Bullwer from England
1850	105	Death of ex senator John C. Calhoun
1850	105	Death of Major General Zackary Taylor at the white house
1851	107	Corner Stone was laid at the Capital in July
1851	109	The Library of Congress was burnt in July
1852	113	Death of Henry Clay A Senator
1852	115	Commodore Charles Morgan took Command of the Wash Navy Yard
1852	116	Death of Daniel Webster
1853	118	Death of Commodore Charles Morgan in Wash Navy Yard
1853	121	The President Franklin Pierce visited the Wash Navy Yard
1854	132	The Nebraska Bull Passed
1855	135	Captain French Forrest took Command of the Wash Navy Yard
1855	136	The Launching of the U.S. Steam frigate Minnesota on the 10th day of Dec
1856	152	Commodore Lavallette took Command of the Wash Navy Yard
1857	152	The National Theatre burnt down
1857	156	Election takes place in Wash
1858	165	Lord Napier and the British Secretary at the Wash Navy Yard
1858	165	Commodore J. Rudd took Command of the Wash Navy Yard
1859	171	Commodore Buchanan took Command of the Wash Navy yard
1859	172	Launching of the United States Steamer Anacosta
1860	175	Dedication o f the Washington Statue
1860	176	Arrival of the Jappanees at the Washington Navy Yard
1861	178	Justice Clark Administers the Oath of Allegiance to the Mechanics of the Wash Navy Yard
1861	178	The Emancipation of the District of Columbia
1865	184	President Lincoln was down at the Wash Navy Yard on good Friday the 14 1865 with his Wife
1865	186	Michael Shiner Saw eleven Presidents take there seat and some Presidents twice ( the end)

Preface or Diary - first page of transcription

Photogaph of Page 119


	Preface or Diary - first page of transcription
	Photogaph of Page 119