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.

May 17, 2014

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

Tuesday, 17th—We marched fifteen miles today. Our brigade had the cattle in charge and at 10 o’clock we had to stop and let them rest, the heat and rough stony roads being too much for them. The other brigades of our corps passed us, going on ahead. We started again at 4 o’clock, but did not catch up with our corps and go into bivouac until late at night. In the country we passed through, only now and then are there small clearings with log huts. The people are poor and schoolhouses are very scarce through here.

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