1862 June 23 before Richmond, Va.

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

Monday 23  this day like many that preceded & followed
has been exceedingly hot.  The mercury ranging
between high up in the nineties and a hundred
in the coolest spot we could find on our bowers.
An occasional shot was heard during the day
the heat driving even the artillerists to seek the
shade.  The intense heat brought on a rain in the
afternoon; an immense rain accompanied by
terrific claps of thunder, which brought to the blush
the puny efforts of man to counterfeit with the
huge throats of his mortal engines.  Many of the
officers were washed out.  The water poured in the
low ground upon which we were encamped, from
the high ground upon our right, in torrents, and
the bedsteads were the only places of safety.  I
escaped the deluge & congratulated myself upon
being so much better off than the rest, and I
am inclined to believe I was a few hours too
soon as appears from my diary of next day.

MSS 9044