1862 July 29 Harrison's Landing, Va.

[from the war journal of George Hazen Dana of the 32nd Massachusetts as compiled by him at a later date from diaries and letters]

 Harrison’s Landing
                                                       July 29th 1862
I have been full of importance and business, the past
week, as, my Captain and First Lieut. having been laid
on the shelf, I have been in command of the company.
Now, however, the Captain’s resignation having been re-
fused, he has suddenly recovered and taken charge
again.          ‘Tis more than probable that the next
you hear from me will be after a battle, as orders
read, last night looked as though some arrangement
of the kind were close at hand.          Officers “to in-
stuct their men to discard all clothing but what
was absolutely necessary, to take but small rations
in their haversacks, as we were to continue near
our base of supplies – no more clothing or knap-
sacks to be issued, etc.”          This order, coupled with
a visit from Genls. Halleck and Burnside, makes
                                                                                       
          an immediate forward movement (keeping the James
River, “our base of supplies,” on our flank), more than
probable.
McClellan had a grand review of the whole army three
days since.               Capt. - , (I could plainly see) wanted
to take charge of our company – so did I, and I told
him that it would not do for him to get well so
quickly, after such severe illness, merely for the sake
of going out on parade.          So I had charge.
Our regiment did march splendidly as it passed Mac,
and was the recipient of a compliment to that effect
from him.          My company was not behind the others,
I was told – of course I could not see, as I had to keep
head square to the front.-          I presume every man
felt and stepped proudly as he passed.          All did
with whom I compared notes, and as for myself, I
feel sure, that had I been blessed with a peacock’s
nether appendages, they would certainly have spread
themselves to their fullest extent -           McClellan
looked tough, hearty, and handsome –
But I must rein in pretty soon, the flies bite my
hands so.          You never saw such flies; such swarms
and such utter want of respect toward the ‘lords of
creation’.          And such impudence as you see
continual cases of, is almost beyond belief.

I had rice and molasses for dinner today, and they
covered it, and would follow each spoonful into my
mouth.      –They taste like shrimps. –     . And they
have none of the fear of our Northern flies.          I saw
one on the side of my plate, rather larger that the
rest, and I put my fore fingers on him, and patted
on the back, when, to my surprise, instead of flying
away, he turned his head, looked at me with a
glance of mingled contempt and anger, then, with
a sort of grunt, resumed his meal -          I killed him.
                                                 (Next letter – without date.)
We (our regiment) have just been ordered to get ready
to move today, in fighting trim, with two days’ ra-
tions in our haversacks.          Shall probably see a
little service before we return.          The general im-
pression is that we are going across the James
River, where the rebels are in small force, perhaps
to take Petersburg and cut off the railway there, by
which Richmond receives heavy supplies.          But
nothing is known; we are all mere tools in Mac’s
hand – God grant that we may prove sharp ones,
and cut deep wherever we may be used.
Capt. _  has been quite lively for two or three days
past, but as soon as we received our orders to move,
he went at once to the Doctor, resuming his funeral
     gait, and said he would not go.          He then came
to me and said – I am very sick this morning, and
will not risk my life – Col. Cass was troubled in
the same way as myself, and he went into the
field and died from it.        “Yes,” said your “Uncle,
“and a ball in the head, which I don’t think will
ever trouble you.”     So I am in command of my
company.          The Major called me just now, and
told me that it was a position of great responsibility
for one so young in the service, but I reckon I’ll manage
it.          I only wish Colonel Parker were here.
There is heavy firing on our right this morning -.  I
think we are shelling Fort Darling.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5130