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 9, 2013

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

Sunday, 9th—I was detailed on a foraging party today. There were two hundred men and one hundred wagons, accompanied by a squad of cavalry as a picket guard. We went up the Yazoo river bottoms about five miles and loaded our wagons with green corn, which we found in abundance. It was very hot, and the work was strenuous, besides its being on the Lord’s Day—but such is the life of a soldier.

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