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.

October 10, 2012

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

Friday, 10th—We have received no rations yet and have nothing but fresh meat and sweet potatoes to eat. Our brigade went out about four miles on a scout, to escort a battery to another part of the army. The weather is very hot and about 3 o’clock in the afternoon it commenced to rain, the roads soon becoming very muddy, for the dust was so deep. At dark we reached our old bivouac, where we had been the night before last, and stopped for the night. A cool wind followed the rain and some of us went into negro huts, built fires and dried our clothes.

Previous post:

Next post: