1862 July 5 Harrison's Landing

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

July 5   This was a delightful day in Camp.  We spent
            much of the time in getting straight our Morning
            Report Books & making the lists of casualties per-
            fect in readiness to make up the muster rolls
            when the blanks arrive.  Twas sweet to be un-
            disturbed.
            Last Evening the 2d Battalion of the 14th arrived
            We were glad to see the officers & we had admiring
            listeners as we recounted to then the campaign
            "before Richmond," from the troubles of which we
            had just emerged.  They were well supplied with
            everything.  Each officer had a wall tent.  Plenty of
           blankets, bedding, basins, pitchers, towels, soap--
           candle sticks  Camp bedsteads--They were well e-
           quipped--We looked upon them with envy.  It was not
           long however before the poor fellows had to send  home
           all their surplus baggage & to divide their tents with
           us & with a fresh supply of all articles we were
           in the course of time on an equal footing with them.
              About this time we were getting anxious to hear
           from home, and quite as anxious to get a letter to
           them--These Seven days were anxious days all over the
           North. The army had been cut off from its com-
           munications & our friends could hear nothing from us.
           In a few days however communication was restored by
           way of James River & the mails arrived & departed reg-
           ularly.

MSS 9044