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

Post image for “Our guns are the old-fashioned muskets made by working over the old flintlock gun..,”–Alexander G. Downing.

“Our guns are the old-fashioned muskets made by working over the old flintlock gun..,”–Alexander G. Downing.

October 25, 2011

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

Friday, 25th—We got our equipments today. Our guns are the old-fashioned muskets made by working over the old flintlock gun, so as to use a cap in place of the flint. The musket is loaded with a cartridge containing powder, ball, and three buckshot in front of the ball. Each man is to carry forty rounds or more of ammunition all the time.

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