1862 September 7 Washington, D. C.

[from the "War Journal" of George Hazen Dana, as compiled by him at a later date from diaries and letters]


                              
                                        Washington House
                                      Washington  Sept. 7th 1862
I have had no opportunity to write you for
some time, neither have I received a single home
letter since Aug. 10th when we started on our
forced march from Harrison’s Landing, since
when, we have been on the eternal tramp.
It has used up many of our stoutest men.
We marched all the way down the Peninsula to
Newport News, took transports to Aquia Creek,
thence moved to Fredericksburg, then to Barnett’s
Ford on the Rappahannock, then up through
 Warrenton and Manassas to the scene of the last
battles, arriving two hours too late to take part in the
last day’s fight.        We were shelled once only on
the route, at Bristol Hill near Manassas, where
three or four men of a battery were killed and
wounded within a few rods of us.        Capt.  -
was taken down with a severe fever at Fredericksburg
(has since received his discharge, I’m told), leaving
me in command, and thank God, I was able to
hobble along at the head of my company, as long as
there was any chance of a fight.        But just
before our skedaddle at Centreville, I had been soaked
with a drenching rain, slept in a wet blanket
two nights with no shelter but the dripping clouds,
nothing to eat, and was my self taken with a
very high fever, and pains in every bone in my
body, (the result of exposure, exhaustion, and star-
vation), and was taken to a hospital in Centreville,
checked into an ambulance among the groaning
wounded, and brought down here – hospitals full,
so was told to find lodgings, and medical attend-
ance would be furnished me – so I am here.     I
have been visited once by a physician, day before
yesterday, but have not seen him since – trust
however that he will come today.

My fever is all gone, but I have still pains in
my bones, and a bad head ache, and am determined
to remain here till well.        I don’t know where
my regiment is, but presume it is posted near
Washington with the rest.

     (By reason of the severe attack of Malarial
fever mentioned above, Lieut. Dana was allowed
a furlough, His "Journal" will continue on the 28th
 on his return to Washington)

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 15130