Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

August 15, 2012

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Friday, 15th—There was a very heavy rainstorm last night. We pitched our tents and built the bunks in them today, and are again quite well settled in camp. This is my birthday—twenty years old, and I have done a hard day’s work, setting up our tent and building bunks, after having been all night on picket. I have now served almost a year in the army and it has been an active year’s work, too.

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