Tuesday, 19th—I attended a party last night at Mr. Ray’s and did not get home till daylight this morning. William Green and Jeremiah Argo came home with me for breakfast and left for Camp McClellan. Green is one of the veterans of Company E and Argo is a recruit for the same. The weather is getting warm, the ground is in fine condition for putting in the crops and the farmers are all quite busy seeding. I sowed some barley today for the first time. This evening I went over to Mr. Sparks’s to see Jason, who is getting along well with the measles, and in a few days will be able to leave for the army.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Monday 18th—I stayed at home all day. Father finished sowing his wheat today. John D. Moore with Henry Clark left this morning for Davenport to go into Camp McClellan—Clark is a veteran of my company, while John is a recruit for the company. Jason Sparks could not go with them on account of having the measles. Dr. Clark went to see him and certified that he was not fit for duty.
Sunday, 17th—It is cloudy and quite cool. There was some rain today, but toward evening it cleared off and became quite pleasant. I attended church at the Sparks schoolhouse, where the few members of the Christian church in this settlement have organized a church. They have prayer meeting and communion every Sunday at 10 o’clock, with preaching every fourth Sunday. May God help those who are trying to keep His holy laws, and may He help the churches all over the world, that they may do much good in bringing sinners to repentance and into the service of the Lord their Savior. After services I went home with John Moore, perhaps for the last time this spring. John and I spent the early evening at the home of Mr. William Listenwalter.
Saturday, 16th—It is clear and quite cool today. My brother John and I went up to Tipton this morning. Things are pretty lively in town; but there are not many of the veterans in today. I went to the harness shop and bought a saddle as a present to father. I called on Mrs. Willey, she and her husband having been good friends of mine. Mr. Willey was a member of the Twenty-fourth Iowa, but died in the spring of ’63 at Milliken’s Bend, above Vicksburg. On our way back home I stopped at the home of Mr. Robedie and took supper with the family.
Friday, 15th—It is cloudy and quite cool. I harrowed all day, and I think that it is the last day’s work that I shall do on the farm for some time, unless this cruel war soon comes to a close.
There are two families in this locality who are Copperheads and opposed to the war. They are members of the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” but are very quiet at present. They do not, however, give dinners to the returned veterans. About eighteen months ago, they, with some others, north and west from here, were giving the loyal people of the county a great deal of trouble, going so far as to recruit a company of cavalry for the rebel army and drill them at the county seat. Finally, some of our brave soldiers, Tipton boys, home on furlough, made it so hot for the would-be rebel soldiers, that they disbanded, and have not been seen drilling since.
Thursday, 14th—Another cloudy, disagreeable day! I drilled in wheat all day and Kelley did the harrowing. The boys with the measles are getting along fine and will be well in a few days if they don’t take cold.
Wednesday, 13th—It is cloudy and very cool. I helped father put in his wheat today, harrowing all forenoon and drilling in wheat in the afternoon. James Kelley, a soldier of the neighborhood, home on a furlough, came over to help me out for a few days.
Tuesday, 12th —It rained almost the whole day; it does look as if it would never quit raining. I gave father $110.00 today, to keep for me until I return from the war. That makes $360.00 altogether that I have placed in his hands to put out on interest till I return. There is nothing of any importance here.
Monday, 11th—It was rainy all day, but I went to farming this morning for the first time for nearly three years. As the boys are all sick and as it is impossible for father to hire help even for a few days, I made up my mind that it was my duty to help father to get his seeding done. I started in drilling wheat, but after a while I had to stop on account of the rain.
Sunday, 10th—It is still raining; there appears to be nothing but rain, rain! I went to meeting again this morning, and accompanied Mr. Sparks home for dinner. Jason Sparks is going to enlist and return with us to the front. In the afternoon we all went to attend meeting at the Inland schoolhouse, but the preacher didn’t come, and so I spent the balance of the day with the family of Mr. Willey, and remained there till late in the evening.
