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.

March 27, 2013

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

Friday, 27th—We started down the river at daylight this morning and landed about three miles below Lake Providence. We pitched our tents on the lawn of a fine plantation, some distance from the house. We found plenty of boards with which to build our bunks. We are situated about ten feet lower than the water in the river, but the levee is strong here, being well sodded over. Our camp is in the open, unprotected by shade trees. On coming down the river we saw our camp ground on the Sparrow plantation all flooded over, and the country as far as we could see was under water. The town of Lake Providence looked desolate with the houses standing in the water.

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