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

Friday, 7th—No news of importance. The boys had a dancing party at the depot, and some of the girls in the neighborhood who are somewhat lively were there—they seem to enjoy smoking when out in company.

Thursday, 6th—Very fine weather. There is one woman in this locality of whom the boys are afraid, for she has a large kettle of water hanging on the crane over the fireplace. This she keeps at the boiling point, and whenever any of the boys come around her premises, she is out with the hot water. They have to take lively steps to keep out of her way.

Wednesday, 5th—Nothing of importance; the regular routine of camp life. Our company has this locality pretty well disciplined as to the people’s duty toward the Government.

Tuesday, 4th—A squad of the boys went out on a scouting expedition, but did not accomplish much in the way of getting supplies for the company.

Monday, 3d—The captain with eight men went out on a scouting trip to rout some “secesh” from an island in the Missouri river, where they were trying to recruit a company.

Sunday, 2d—Nothing of importance. We had preaching in the forenoon and prayer meeting in the afternoon.

Saturday, 1st—I commenced cooking for twenty men of our company. None of the boys likes cooking, so the seven messes have been consolidated into three with a cook for each. Mess numbers 1 and 2 have been united, becoming mess number 1, and I am to be the cook.

Friday, 31st—This is the end of January. Company E has been at Lookout Station thirty-seven days, and while our army service has not been hard, yet we are anxious to leave for more active service.

Thursday, 30th—A part of our company went out into the timber to gather persimmons. They are very plentiful in this locality; the trees are quite large and some of them are loaded with the finest fruit.