1862 July 2 Harrisons Landing, Va.

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

July 2  At the first peep of day we were up & under arms.
          In our ignorance, happy ignorance, we supposed the
          whole army was yet with us.  Our little brigade of
          regulars was drawn up in battle array where
          the enemy cold have a full view of us.  Here
          we stood some time.  It was a dull, dark,
         cloudy, murky, close morning.  We were without
         breakfast & I had not even so much as a
         drink of water.  During all the night previous
         I had about a gill of warm water in my
         canteen with which i wet my tongue at intervals
         long between.  Now if we were to be attacked a-
         gain I should suffer terribly for want of it.
         About 6 o'clock the 14th was conducted into a
         long line of rifle pits where by spreading out
         we made considerable show.  At this time I
         came across a straggler who had a canteen
         of water, fresh.  I negotiated with him for it &
         finally I purchased the water for a gold dollar,
         he pouring it from his canteen into mine---
         About 7 o clock it began to rain.  I was without
         any protection. The rain increased & I wrapped
         myself up in straw with which the rifle pits
         were tolerably full, but the rain soon found its
         say through this & it was not long ere I was
         wet to the skin. We spent perhaps an hour or
         more here when we got orders to leave the pits
         a few at a time & to struggle, indifferently
         as if were towards a wood not far in the rear.
             In a short time we were all congregated in this
        wood where we struck a line for our old
        position, the plateau of Malvern Hill.  We reached
        it in a short time in the midst of torrents of
        rain.  Our consternation may be more easily im-
        agined than described,  This immense plain which
        the evening before was filled to overflowing with
        the stupendous army and with all the parapha-
        nalia of its equipment, its horses, its wagons, its
        artillery, was totally deserted.  The army had
        left during the night & our poor little brigade
        was all that was left to interpose between the
        Grand Army of the Potomac & the rebel army.
        As soon as the men could sling their knapsacks
        which had been left here the day before under
        a guard we left to join the main army.
            The windows of heaven seemed opened.  The
        roads & the surrounding Country were all under
        water.  It washed down the hills almost fearful to
        behold.  We who had been under fire for so many
        days were in danger of our lives from getting under
        water.  Of course the mud & mire was bottomless.
        As we straggled along endeavoring to keep
        from being carried away by the torrents rushing
        impetuously on both sides of the road, our
        attention could not but be attracted to men
        standing by the roadside here & there each one
        with an axe in his hand, standing by a tree
        nearly cut through and only waiting for one
        last man or horse to pass to fell it across
        the road.  Besides these groups of men were
        stationed at each little bridge ready to blow it up
        when we had passed---We were the rear-guard
        of the "Grand Army of the Potomac,"  As we
        trudged on we came to a line of boxes of hard
        bread. There was no time to issue it and each
        man as he passed by took a handful and as
        it was tolerably wet there was considerable di-
        ving towards the bottom of the box to find a few
        dry ones.  I got about half a dozen & put them in
        a haversack which I foraged from a dead soldier
        in the morning, but in a little while they were
        wet through & unfit to eat.  On we trudged for
        three or four miles farther when a halt was called
            A line of battle of the brigade was formed and
        preparations made to keep the enemy in check
        in case they pursued us.  Here I found among
        the débris of an old camp, a white (or what had
        once been white) rose blanket, evidently rebel--I
        put it on my shoulders & it was very comfor-
        table indeed--for I was wet to the skin & the
        rain had made me very cold.  No enemy came,
        They had been badly cut up the night before &
        were most too sore to follow & beside the terrible
        storm of water was too much for their fire-----
            We then moved on towards James River at Harrisons
        Landing. We got in sight of the army about 1 P.M.
        The mud &water were too much for my shoes, the
        soles were at variance with the uppers and my
        feet being filled with sand found there at every step.
        Being in sight of Camp I halted to see if I could'nt
        remedy my troubles.  Ere I could ascertain that at
        present they were remediless the regiment got out of
        my sight--I moved on in the direction I last saw
        them taking expecting to overtake them, but could
        not find them.  Nor did I find them that day.
        I walked over that immense plain, through mud
        & mire & then walked back again, then I took
        another line & pursued that both ways.  Mud
        over ankle deep was not in my way, for I was
        lost & had no home until I could find my
        regiment--I could not hear of it--Nobody knew
        where anybody else was.  I ascertained next day
        that I had been within a hundred yards of it
        two or three times, but there were so many regiments
        and so many men and they were all so covered
        with mud, that one could not be told from another.
        As I walked on the banks of the James River I got a
        soldier to fill my canteen. The water was thick
        with mud, but it tasted good--By this time it was
        nearly dark & I must have some place to sleep,
        but where should I find it?  I passed some wall
        tents near the old Berkly Mansion.  I went to
        them, knocked at one & entered--I was a sweet
        looking object wrapped up in a dirty white blanket
        with my drawn sword in my arms, mud from head
        to foot & no doubt they thought so.  I spoke:
        "Gentlemen, I am an officer of the regular Army, through
       a mishap I have lost my regiment & have sought it
       in vain for the last three or four hours.  I was in the
       fight yesterday evening, slept on the battle field
       which we left this morning, am hungry, thirsty,
       tired, sleepy & wet.  Have lost everything but honor
       & my money & desire a place to sleep."  An
       officer said I should have it & gave me a shelter
       tent with a bundle of straw under it.  I divested
       myself of the remnant of my shoes, got off my
       pants, wrapped myself in my rose blanket & was
       soon oblivious to all earthly cares.  I slept soundly
       till morning.

    MSS 9044