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.

December 2, 2013

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

Wednesday, 2d—We now have a good market house established here which has cut the cost of provisions; formerly the army sutlers had a corner on everything. I bought a barrel of potatoes for $4.00, which, without the market house, would have taken $12.00 out of my month’s pay. The provisions come from the North and are sold by retailers occupying stalls in the market house. They are usually at it as early as 3 o’clock in the morning.

Two brigades came up from Natchez this morning and went out to Black river bridge to reinforce the post there. A report reached camp to the effect that General Grant has raised the siege of Chattanooga and put Bragg’s army to rout, gaining a glorious victory. We threw up our hats and cheered for Grant. Sherman routed Longstreet from the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee. Everything seems to be coming our way again.

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