Friday, 20th—We finished cleaning our clothing and accouterments and spent the rest of the day in cleaning up our camp and parade ground, besides bringing in firewood from the timber near by. When we got back we found the Thirteenth Iowa here in camp, having arrived on the 11th day of the month, during our absence.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Thursday, 19th—We reached Jefferson City this morning at sunup after an uncomfortable night’s ride. The water in the river is very low and it seems that we were fastened on sandbars half the time. Then when the boat was under way, the boat hands, one on each side of the vessel, were constantly calling the soundings, “six feet,” “ten feet,” “no bottom,” etc., in that dreadful, drawling sound, keeping it up all night, and with the thought of that powder on board—it was not a good night for sleeping. But we landed, and marching out to the camp, pitched our tents where we were before. We got back all safe and sound, with one exception, for one of our company took the smallpox and was left at the penthouse at Boonville, with only his bunk-mate to care for him. The weather is quite cool.
Wednesday, 18th—The four companies of cavalry that accompanied us up the river (also by boat) went on a scouting expedition yesterday toward the town of Glasgow. They captured and brought in this morning one hundred and fifty-five kegs of powder which they found hid in haystacks. We stored the powder in the hull of our boat, and at 2 p. m. left this place for an all-night run on our return to Jefferson City. But we are quite uneasy for fear of an explosion from our cargo of powder.
Tuesday, 17th—This morning we entered the town and made a search of all the houses for “secesh.” We took seven prisoners, besides some arms and ammunition. This being a great apple country, we found stores of apples in the houses, and helping ourselves, we filled our haversacks. By one o’clock we had finished sacking the town and started back to our boats, arriving there at dark.
Monday, 16th—We reached Boonville at sunup, and landing, remained there about two hours, when we again boarded the boat and crossed to the other side of the river. We lay on the boat here till dark, when Company E and three other companies started for Boonesboro, seven or eight miles distant. Reaching the town we surrounded it and waited for daylight. On our way out we marched through some very heavy timber, where the sound of our tramping and the rattle of our bayonets aroused the many wood owls, and of all the hideous noises I ever listened to—it made my hair stand on end!
Sunday, 15th—We landed at the little town of Providence, Missouri, about sunup and experienced our first day’s march after the “secesh.” It was a delightful day. The few belated grasshoppers and crickets which escaped the cold spells were singing their farewell songs. We were all awake and keyed to the highest pitch, felt prepared to meet ten thousand “secesh” at any moment. A detail of cavalry was leading the way, and when at times our marching was delayed, each man anxiously wanting to know the cause, would peer forward over the shoulder of his file leader; but there was nothing to see.
At noon we stacked arms and ate our first lunch upon a march, and in the “secesh’s” country at that. Here we rested about two hours, until the cavalry returned. They reported that there was not a “secesh” to be seen in that part of the country, and I guess all heaved a sigh of relief in the thought that there would be no fighting today. We were ten miles out from our landing. Hastening our return march, we reached our boat at sundown, and boarding it, proceeded up the river.
Saturday, 14th—We struck our tents early this morning and at sunup marched down to the landing on the Missouri river, where under the quartermaster a large detail of men worked nearly all day loading our commissariat on board the boats. At sundown our regiment, with a part of the Second Illinois Cavalry, started up the river.
Friday, 13th—The Eleventh Iowa is at home now in wedge tents, with four men to a tent, and we are experiencing more changes in living. Irish potatoes have been dropped from our rations and we have no tables now at which to eat our meals. When the orderly sergeant draws the rations, the company cook calls out for every man to come and get his portion—of hardtack, bacon, sugar, salt, pepper, soap and candles. The cook makes the coffee, boils the beans and salt beef (fresh beef twice a week), and at noon calls each man to get his day’s rations of bean soup and meat. The coffee he makes three times a day, each man having his own tin cup for his coffee. Each one prepares his own bacon to suit his taste, many eating it raw between two pieces of hard-tack. Every one has his own plate, knife and fork.
Our regiment received marching orders with ten days’ rations, and so we have to leave just as we were getting settled in our tent camp.
Thursday, 12th—We received our first month’s pay today. Each man in Company E received pay for twenty-six days of service in the month of October, amounting to $11.25, a little less than a full month’s pay. I received my first Government pay as a soldier in the United States service, getting a ten-dollar gold piece[1] and one dollar and twenty-five cents in silver. I expressed $10.00 home.
[1] This was the first gold I had seen for months and, as it proved, the last I saw during the war.—A. G. D.
Wednesday, 11th—I am having my first experience of living in a tent. We are under the strictest military rules, and we are just beginning to realize that a soldier’s life is not all glory.
