Thursday, 13th—It rained nearly all day and I never saw it rain harder than it did this forenoon. We left our bivouac at 5 a. m. and marched eighteen miles. The roads are good now. The left wing of our army marched into Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, the rebels having evacuated the place last night.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Wednesday, 12th—We started at 8 a. m. and marched five miles, all the way through one continuous swamp. News came to us this forenoon that General Lee had surrendered his entire army to General Grant. It was glorious news. We forgot all about our hard marching, and the whole brigade commenced singing songs—”John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave, As we go marching on!”
Tuesday, 11th—Weather quite pleasant. We started at 6 a. m. and marched twelve miles. Our march was very slow, the road being through one continuous swamp. We had to lay corduroy the whole way. Our division, the First, was in front of the corps, and there was some skirmishing in our front.
Monday, 10th—Had an all-day rain. The entire army moved forward today, some starting at 8 a. m. We packed our knapsacks early this morning, but did not start until 10 o’clock. While we were waiting, some of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Regiment which had arrived at Goldsboro came over to our “ranches” for a visit. We boys had a visit from Homer Curtis of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa. We marched ten miles today. The Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps form the right wing, the Twenty-third Corps, in command of General Schofield, the center, and the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps form the left wing. Some heavy cannonading off on the left.
Sunday, 9th—Very pleasant weather. Our division was inspected this forenoon by General Smith. Two regiments in the division did not pass inspection and were sent back to their “ranches” with the order to get themselves up in better style and come back at 4 o’clock for inspection. The Eleventh Iowa was complimented for its neat appearance. We were ordered to come over to General Smith’s headquarters at 5 o’clock in the evening to hold our dress parade. The officers of the two disgraced regiments were ordered to appear at his headquarters to see our regiment go through the manual of arms on our dress parade. We returned to our “ranches” much elated over the high compliments we had received from our division commander. We set to work at once preparing for our dress parade, not even taking time to cook our noon-day mess. A number of the boys were sent down town to buy all the white gloves and white collars they could find, besides shoe blacking and shoe brushes, and then we spent all the time till the parade in fixing ourselves up. We went over to the general’s headquarters looking our best, and every move ordered by our colonel was nicely executed in the presence of the line officers of the other two regiments.[1]
[1] The next day when we started for Raleigh, one of those two regiments having marched out on the road ahead of our regiment, was ordered to halt while ours passed to the front. While we were marching by they could not find words strong enough to express their contempt for us.—A. G. D.
Saturday, 8th—All is quiet. Sherman’s army received orders to march on the 10th. Our wagon trains are loaded with thirty-five days’ rations, and we are to carry five days’ rations in our haversacks. The news is so good that all are anxious to move at once. The boys are all happy, thinking that this will be our last campaign. Our brigade received orders to clean clothing and accouterments for regimental inspection.
Friday, 7th—Weather still pleasant. Company drill two hours a day. Our brigade came out in review and was inspected by General Smith. A statement was read to us by the assistant adjutant general of our brigade, stating our loss at Richmond, and also that of the enemy. Our loss was seven thousand killed and two thousand taken prisoners, while that of the enemy was forty thousand in killed, wounded and prisoners.
Thursday, 6th—News comes that General Grant has taken Richmond with five thousand prisoners and five hundred pieces of artillery. We also hear that Mobile has been taken with twenty thousand prisoners and a large number of guns. Glorious news!
Wednesday, 5th—The regimental chaplains are occupying the pulpits of the different churches of Goldsboro and conducting nightly meetings. A large number of the boys are attending and a great many are coming forward and professing the name of the Lord. May the work continue until all have made the profession.
Tuesday, 4th—The quartermaster distributed new clothing today. I drew a hat, a pair of shoes and a pair of socks. We are enjoying full rations again, and also our new clothing. We no longer have to search our haversacks for a crumb of hardtack.
