1862 May 17 White House on the Pamunkey River

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

May 17  We struck out tents this morning and at
9 o'clock took up our line of March for
White House some five or six miles up the
Pamunkey River, which place had been made
the base of McClellan's operations.  The day
was excessively hot and the roads excessively
muddy. We encamped in a beautiful spot,
on the edge side of a hill, on the edge of a
woods bordering an immense field of growing
wheat.  The field contained some two or three
thousand acres and belonged to Col Lee, son
of the rebel General Robt. E. Lee.  It made
a splendid pasture for a large herd of
Cattle which was driven with the army to
supply it with fresh beef.  The wheat also
made good beds for the soldiers and they
profited by it to no small extent.  White
House is the name given to the landing.
The Mansion itself is an unpretending ten-
ement. revered and celebrated as the
house in which Genl. Washington courted his
wife Mrs. Martha Custis.  In this house Genl.
McClellan had established his Head Quarters.

MSS 9044