1862 March 27

[from the diary/memoirs of Captain Jonathan B. Hager, Co. F, 14th Indiana]

The noble
steamer Elm City carried the 3d, 14th & 17th regiments
of Infantry with Gen. Sykes & Staff. It was a
glorious morning as we steamed down the Potomac
Hundreds of transports filled with men, horses
and all the material that go to make up a
great army moved forward by steam & sail to
the grand rendezvous.
Fondly supposing that the officers at least would
be furnished with something to eat on board, we
had failed to lay in the necessary supplies--Here
was a go! Nothing had been provided for us.
We had provided nothing for ourselves. Toward
Evening, when the supplies laid in the evening
before in the streets of Alexandria were exhausted
and had performed their functions, I examined
my mess chest which I had purchased the
day before at second hand from our Major.
What was my delight when I found a loaf of
dry bread, a raw onion & a little whiskey.
We supped sumptuously, that is Lt. Walker &
myself---I went to bed not over fed to dream
of Delmonicos--A light supper induced a
good nights rest. What a system of Compensa-
tions is life! Whatever we do we get paid for it.
If we do good we are rewarded, of bad we are
punished--I must confess the good I did
unto myself this night by a light supper
did not merit any reward, for ti was com-
pulsory, but nature kind mother that she is
treated me as though I was the most self-
denying of mortals.

MSS 9044