1862 May 19 Tunstall's Station, Va.

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

May 19  Monday. to day we moved to Tunstall's Station
a station on the Richmond & York River R.R.
eighteen miles from Richmond.  It rained
during our march and did not cease until
some time after our arrival.  We however got
our tents pitched and the everlasting and
indispensable arbors made--These arbors were
becoming absolutely indispensable.  Without
them tents were uninhabitable. The burning
sun beating down upon them made them
more like ovens than habitations
The great variety of evergreens Y the infinite
quantity found in this portion of Virginia
served an admirable purpose & these arbors
were constructed with great taste  by the men
over both the officers & their own tents.
A camping ground looked more like the
adornments for a festal occasion than the
shelter for rude warriors
Black Creek, a narrow, but tolerably deep
& rapid stream of water ran near our ground
and afforded most charming opportunities
to all for bathing and after so long abstinence
in this respect it was much improved[?]

MSS 9044