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 14, 2014

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

Thursday, 14th—There is a rumor that our army has taken Charleston, South Carolina. Some of our guard early this morning stole a big fish from a fisherman who was taking a load to market. It weighed forty pounds and was divided among the boys. I took a piece to my tent and cooked it, but I might as well have eaten a piece of crow, for it was tasteless and tough. It proved to be a channel cat.

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