1862 June 28 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]

June 28                                         We were exceedingly
            tired & worn out with the fatigues of the previous
            day & night and it was not without a full
            appreciation of its comforts that three of us
            lay down together in the cool of the morning,
            on the bare ground, with our heads upon the
            sawn log.  There was so much noise made
            by the soldiers around us that we could not
            sleep, and after resting an hour or so, we a-
            rose to the performance of our duties.
           After so severe a battle, our losses had to be
           ascertained,  the killed, wounded & missing had to
           be reported.  Arms had to be examined,  ammu-
           nition replenished, rations to be issued and all
           the preparations necessary to be able & ready to
           meet the enemy again wherever & whenever he
           may appear. With an occasional nap during the
           day, when it could be snatched, passed the time
           until Evening.  About 5 P.M. an order was re-
           ceived to take up our line of march and we
           set out for we knew not where.  Our belief
           was that we were going toward James River.
           Up to this time we were not informed, of
           course as to the nature of the movement.  We
           could not help observing, however, that we were
           getting out of the way of the enemy. Leaving
           the field of battle at night & blowing up bridges
           behind us looked like a retreat and of
           course was not by any means encouraging
           to us.  Spiritless we resumed our march.  Our
           tramp was lagging & wearisome.  We were on
           the road all night.  Many times we stopped
           to rest.  No sooner did the column halt, than
           men & officers dropped down into the road,
           & were instantly asleep.  Thus passed the night
           until perhaps midnight when an oc-
           currence took place which showed up to what
           intensity the nerves of all were wrought.  Some
           disturbance at the head of the column, what it
           was we never knew created the idea that we were
           attacked by the rebel cavalry.  The shock went
           through the entire division like the firing of a
           train of powder.  Every man was instantly upon
           his feet.  Half took cover in the wood which
           bordered the narrow road on one side & the other
           half hugged the fence on the other side.  Almost
           as quickly however we knew such a thing to be
           impossible & we returned to our places in the line.
           It was a most astonishing thing.  The entire
           column acted as  one man,  and the shock at
           the head was almost instantaneously felt at the
           foot of the column, and the absurdity of the idea
           struck each man as it were at the same instant.
           When it is considered that we had been on short
           rations for two or three days, without sleep for two
           nights, had just been engaged in a terrible battle,
           were retreating, the dead & still hour of midnight
           & almost every man asleep, any disturbance would
           naturally be ascribed to the enemy----

           MSS 9044