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.

January 26, 2014

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

Tuesday, 26th—I went on picket today. The weather is quite warm. Vicksburg, on the east bank of the Mississippi, is built on very high ground. It is quite rough and rolling here. There are some nice buildings here—a very fine court house, six good church buildings and a number of very nice dwellings, besides some large warehouses and stores. During the siege the houses were all more or less damaged, there being scarcely a single building that was not in some way injured. There are very few of the old citizens living here at present, as the military rule of the Union army is not good for their peace of mind.

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