1862 July 3 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 3                                       I slept soundly
this morning.  I got a boy to purchase a pair of
boots for me and  a pair of Socks for three times
the worth of each article.  Employed a soldier
to take my pants to the River & wash them
for which I gave him a dollar.  In the meantime
the officers sent me some coffee, bread & butter
& cheese & I made a sumptuous breakfast
By the time I was dressed I saw the Company
Sergeant of my regiment, hailed him, ascertained
where the regiment was located & bid adieu to
my Kind friends who I learned were officers
of the 53d Pennsylvania. I shall never forget
them.  may they ever be prosperous & happy.
Before I reached my regiment I was utterly dis-
gusted. The enemys shells came into this immense
Camp. The thing was so sudden, unexpected and
alarming!  How could it be.  They were more than
mortal men if they followed us the day before, &
yet the stubborn fact presented itself that they
were there.  By the time I reached my friends the
whole Army was in line, each regiment for itself.
We were told that the bayonet only must be relied
on, for the rains of yesterday had made the guns
unfit for immediate use.  We were sickened. Here
we had been fighting every day for more than a
wee, Were without food & wanted rest, sill the
devils pressured us without mercy.  What would
be the end of all this!  Our fears were soon set at
rest by three rousing cheers which came from
the point where this battery had been stationed
A few men sent out had captured it.  It proved
to be a small party of rebels with two pieces of
Artillery, which was scouring [or scanning] the country & not
being posted as to the condition of affairs, and
not having reconnoitred sufficiently was ig-
norant of the strength of the Federals & fired
upon us--the consequence was their capture--

    We marched to our camping ground, a wide
clear place, plenty of grass, where we built
our bowers & laid down & enjoyed for that day
at least one "otium cum dig[nate]."  We were almost as
new born babes.  We had but a few dirty rags
to cover us. The Cape of my overcoat which I had
rescued from the flames at Savage Station was
my only bedding & the bowers of brush were our only
tents.  But we were gratified for we had rest.  We
were free from a victorious enemy's assaults. Their
shells came not near us.  And for the first time
for weeks there was profound quiet in the air--
None but those who had suffered as we did for
the past ten days could appreciate the comfort of
lying under the shade of bowers enjoying a sleep
which was not likely to be disturbed  by the whizzing
& whirring of the enemy's missiles & the stentorian call
of our officers to "fall in"--It seemed too luxurious to last.


MSS 9044