Diary Entry:
I was in Baltimore this morning. Went to Fayette St. Church. The first time I have been out in town since our arrival in Baltimore. I saw an Undertakers sign on the 1st Story of a house and a Dancing Masters sign on the 2nd Story.

In town again tonight, the first pass I have yet had at night. Went to Seaman’s Bethel: going in, some little boys wanted some soldier buttons. one of them wanted five. gave one a tin and the other a bone button. boys thought they were not the kind they wanted.

See the scanned diary page.

More Information:
April 13, 1862, was a Sunday and Cyrus spent the morning at a church on Fayette Street. Although we don’t know which church he attended, Fayette Street was only a few blocks away from Camp Andrew.

Seamen’s Bethels were established in port cities as a cleaner and more moral alternative to waterfront dives and sailors’ boardinghouses. Although every city’s Seamen’s Bethel was  different, many of them had libraries, boarding rooms, and common areas for sailors and other visitors. Baltimore’s was built in 1826 and operated by the Seamen’s Union Bethel Society of Baltimore .

Sources: Seamen’s Missions: Their Origin and Early Growth by Roald Kverndal