1862 May 5 Yorktown, Va.

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

May 5   this morning my ears were greeted with the news
that the American Flag floated over Yorktown
The rebels have evacuated it.They have been at
it for several days & the last of the troops left
this morning.  In order to deceive they kept at
this firing until an early hour in the morning
I was not sorry.  the assault upon their works
would have been bloody in the extreme.  I knew
that my wife & friends at home would not be
sorry that we had escaped the terrible affair
and I was glad on their account.  The rebels
were pressured by our Genl. in Chief & severely
punished at West Point & Williamsburg.

MSS 9044