Friday, 9th—We heard some very heavy firing off to the left towards Farmington. General Pope was compelled to fall back from Farmington, but has again taken the town.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Thursday, 8th—It is very warm today. Our major drilled us—the regiment—in the manual of arms. Company E went out in the evening to reinforce the pickets.
Wednesday, 7th[1]—We struck tents this morning, and moving three miles around to the right, cleared away the heavy timber and brush for our camp number 5. Our camp is just at the edge of the vacated breastworks of the rebels, they having lost them by being outflanked by our forces. Lieutenant Anderson of Company A returned from home today, having been on furlough.
[1] John W. Dwiggans of Company E, who was severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh, died on this day at Paducah, Kentucky.—A. G D
Tuesday, 6th—We had battalion drill this afternoon. News came that Yorktown has been taken. New troops are still arriving and our lines are being extended to the right and left. A second line is supporting the artillery in the front line and the second line’s flanks are supported by the cavalry.
Monday, 5th—Nothing of importance. We did not get orders to move, so we had our regular drills today.
Sunday, 4th—It rained nearly all day. We received orders to cook four days’ rations and be ready to march at a moment’s notice. Henry L. Sweet of our company died of fever this morning at the Division hospital.
Saturday, 3d—We struck our tents and at 7 a. m. started in the direction of Corinth. After marching eight miles we pitched our tents for camp number 4. All of the sick boys have been sent to the hospital set up at camp number 2, which we left a few days ago. General Pope has taken Farmington, out to the left of our army. There was some very heavy cannonading this afternoon.
Friday, 2d—It is warm and pleasant. The water is very scarce at this camp and poor in quality. We hear the sound of cannon in the front every day. The Sixth Division is in the second line of battle, but we are building no fortifications, as we are moved from right to left, as the case may be, in support of either wing of the army whenever reinforcements are called for.
Thursday, 1st—We received marching orders, and striking our tents moved four miles further toward Corinth. All of the Sixth Division moved forward today. We went to work and cleaned up our camp in a heavy piece of timber. This is camp number 3.
Wednesday, 30th—We were routed from our beds of leaves at 4 o’clock and moved on two miles farther in the direction of Purdy, when we received word from General Wallace that we were not needed. We marched back to camp, arriving here about noon, in a heavy rainstorm, soaked to the skin and covered with mud. We had lain all night with rifle in hand, in a heavy timber, on beds of leaves, without blankets, and some of the boys caught cold. The Eleventh Iowa was inspected today for pay. Thus ends this month in old Tennessee.
