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

Wednesday, 7th—The quartermaster placed a strong guard around the corral where the provision wagons were parked last night. But some of the boys of my company and of Company K were determined to have something to eat without waiting on the slowly-moving formalities. They slipped through the guard line in the night to the wagons and succeeded in getting away well loaded, having secured a small chest of tea and two boxes of crackers, which they divided among the boys of the two companies before daylight. Expecting Van Dorn’s cavalry to make a dash into town today, we formed a line of battle at 2 o’clock and awaited the attack. But no cavalry appeared, and in the evening all our teams with a strong guard were sent out to forage corn and fodder.