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 30, 2014

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

Monday, 30th—The weather is getting quite warm and the roads are dusty. Our advance guard broke camp at daylight, while our brigade did not get under way until 10 o’clock. We crossed a ridge of mountains this afternoon and this evening went into camp in the valley close to Warrenton. The mountains are heavily timbered, mostly chestnut, and the soil is sandy and rocky. There are only a few small farms here and there. The men have gone to war, while the women and children remain with scarcely anything to live on.

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