Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for A dance.–Alexander G. Downing.

A dance.–Alexander G. Downing.

January 3, 2012

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

Friday, 3d—Mrs. Hemmenway gave some of the boys permission to have a dance at her home last night. Quite a number of the boys went and they declare that they had a good time. The girls of the locality were there and most of them either smoked or chewed tobacco. They would dance a while, then rest and smoke, but those that chewed did not care to stop.[1]


[1] Craven Lane, a member of Company E, died of lung fever on this day at Jefferson City. He had been with us but a short time and was a very quiet boy.—A. G. D.

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