July 3
When the last regiment had taken up its alloted space I found the regimental headquarters, hitched my horse to a small oak, and completely exhausted, crawled into a shelter tent and was instantly asleep. Promptly at break of day, the whole army stood in line of battle and remained in position for about an hour when they were dismissed and ordered to build fires and dry their clothes.
The storm was over and the sun shone with all the brilliancy of a July day. We formed in close column of division and laid out a regular camp, our whole corps being in reserve about half a mile from the river bank in the center of the army. Broom, with his regimental wagons intact, came up and was received with immense applause. At the sight of our wall tents, we forgot the trials of the past and eagerly watched the men as they pitched them in a comfortable spot, just in rear of the regiment. Seth was not slow in arranging matters in orthodox fashion, and by noon the beds garnished with red blankets, were ready for occupancy, a luxury to which we had long been entire strangers and so at last the great retreat, or change of base, was ended and the Army of the Potomac, just as sound as ever, was firmly planted along the James river, in spite of all the efforts of its formidable antagonist.
Thankful for my good fortune in escaping unhurt, and for the long desired repose from excessive fatigue, I slept for many hours, oblivious to all surroundings.
