Monday, May 21, 2012

1861 May 21 Camp Chapman, road to Richmond, Va.

[from the diary of Jonathan Hager of the 14th U.S. Regulars, as copied at a later date]

May 21  Our stay here was limited and on Monday
of the 21st at 10 a.m. we moved.  It was an
intense sickening hot day.  I was detailed
with my company to march in the rear of the\
column and bring up stragglers.  Although
the march was but five miles, the heat was
so overpowering that the men suffered very
much.  There were however very few stragglers
from the regular troops, but the 5th N.Y. Zouaves
lined the road.  Poor fellows! neither the
threats nor entreaties of their officers could
move them.  There was but one straggler
from the regular troops & he promptly obeyed
my order to move on. After many delays
we reached our Camping ground, an ex-
quisitely beautiful spot.  I could have
spent a month there and not tired of its
beauties.  This Camp was called "Camp
Chapman" in honor I suppose of Lt. Col.
Chapman commanding 2 Brigade of regulars
We did not however stay here very long.

MSS 9044 

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