Saturday, 9th—It is cool and quite pleasant. I stayed at home all day and did some writing (brought my army diary up to date). The farmers are still lying by waiting for the weather and the ground to get fit for seeding. There is no news of any importance from the army.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Friday, 8th—Another wet day and I stayed at home all day. It is so lonesome that I almost wish I was back in the army; although if I did not have to go back, I could enjoy myself a great deal better. May God hasten the day when this cruel war will be fought to a close, so that the soldiers may return to their homes and friends. What a cruel thing this war is! Think of the thousands of our brave men suffering in the hospitals and in the camps, and many being killed on the battlefield. And yet, think of the everlasting Copperheads in the North, how they sympathize with the South! Such men as they are not fit to be compared with the negroes of the South! I would like to see such men as they are be made to go down there and fight for the South, and be compelled to live on mule beef at that!
Thursday, 7th—It rained all day, and I remained at home. As the boys are all down with the measles, I am helping father with the farm work between showers.
Wednesday, 6th—I went to Tipton to attend the celebration of the 6th of April, the day on which two years ago we fought the battle of Shiloh. I went with a team, taking a load of the young people of the community with me. The roads were awfully muddy and once we stuck in the mud. The citizens gave a dinner in honor of the veterans of Company E, and though I cannot brag on the dinner, there were a great many present. Although we had a muddy time of it, yet all seemed to enjoy themselves. At a meeting in the court house in the afternoon, Major Foster of the Eleventh Iowa delivered a speech before a large audience.
Tuesday, 5th—I took dinner at Mr. Curtis’s today, and had a fine dinner. Two other soldier boys were there, Mr. Curtis’s son, Homer and Thomas Fossett, both of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry. The citizens in and around Inland are very loyal, and the vicinity is well represented in the Eleventh and Twenty-fourth Regiments.
Monday, 4th—It rained all last night and nearly all day. I attended a party this evening at Mr. Fossett’s and we all had a fine time which passed off very rapidly. There were fourteen couples present. I remained over night with my old bunk-mate, James. I enjoyed my visit with him, talking over the times when we started into the service together.
Sunday, 3d—I went to our church again this morning, it being the day for preaching. In the evening I went to see a young lady friend.
Saturday, 2d—They had a very cold winter here in Iowa and the ground has been frozen so deep that it is slow in thawing out. Farmers, as yet, have sown but little wheat, but they have everything ready to push the seeding as soon as the ground will permit. It is quite pleasant today, but the roads are very muddy yet, and there is no news of any importance.
Friday, 1st—The same old thing over and over. I almost wish myself back in the army; everything seems to be so lonesome here. There is nothing going on that is new, and there is no work of any kind.
Thursday, 31st—I went to a party this evening, given in honor of the veterans, over at Mr. Hatch’s, on Yankee Street.[1] There were not many present, but all enjoyed themselves. I found a new road to travel, a mile from this place—if all goes well. Things are very quiet in this settlement, but almost every young man here is thinking of returning with us to help bring the war to a close. It does us good to see the loyal sentiment among the people at home. The general belief at home is that the war cannot last more than a year longer.
[1] Yankee Street was the name given to an adjoining neighborhood. —A. G. D.
