Sunday, 17th—Nothing of importance. We had company inspection early this morning. Because of the hot weather, all men not on duty stay close to their tents in the shade.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Saturday, 16th—Ten men from each company are detailed every morning to stand on picket, while the others patrol the railroad tracks. The first thing we do is to form a line of battle every morning at 4 o’clock.
Friday, 15th—There was a very heavy rainstorm last night. We pitched our tents and built the bunks in them today, and are again quite well settled in camp. This is my birthday—twenty years old, and I have done a hard day’s work, setting up our tent and building bunks, after having been all night on picket. I have now served almost a year in the army and it has been an active year’s work, too.
Thursday, 14th—The Eleventh Iowa was ordered to move across the river, which we did this afternoon and went into camp on a low piece of ground. Our regiment is to guard the railroad track for four miles. We have to go on duty every other day and have to see that the rebels do not come and tear up the track.
Wednesday, 13th—The weather is very hot. I was on camp guard today when one of the guards suddenly became sick. I was number 24 in the first relief, and the man next to me, number 25, got sick. He called out to me, “Corporal the guard number 25.” It then became my duty to repeat the same call, “Corporal the guard number 25,” to the guard next to me, number 23, who made the same call to the guard next to him, and in this way the call went down the line to guard No. 1. Guard number 1 then sent the same call to the corporal of the guardhouse, who went out to guard number 25 to see what he wanted. When he was found to be sick another guard was brought out to relieve guard number 25.
Tuesday, 12th—We just learned that Ebenezer McCullough of Company E died of chronic diarrhea at Corinth, on the third of this month. His home was at Davenport, Iowa.
Monday, 11th—I wrote a letter home today and sent a ten dollar bill in it. I am sending home nearly all my pay from the Government, with the understanding that father is to keep it for me.
Sunday, 10th—We had company inspection this morning. We received orders to sweep the camp twice a day from now on. Our new chaplain, Chauncey H. Remington, conducted preaching services in the evening on the regimental parade ground.
Saturday, 9th—The weather is very hot and during the day the men not on duty keep close to camp. There are some fine orchards in this locality and we get plenty of fruit now, as all orchard guards have been removed. The men are given passes and every day four or five from each company go out to get fruit.
Friday, 8th—No news of importance. The officers are having considerable trouble in keeping the boys from getting through the lines. We have regular brigade guard to keep the men in camp, yet every day a few slip through when the guards are walking in opposite directions. But now, every morning at guard mount, the officer of the day gives strict orders that guard number 1 shall walk his beat so that he will be looking at guard number 2, and continuing thus around the entire camp, so that all getting to the end of their beats at the same time face about and proceed as before, each looking toward the guard ahead of him.
