Sunday, 29th—We learned that there had been several spies in the city getting plans of our fortifications; they also got medical supplies and other articles of value to the rebels, and smuggled them through our lines at night. Special precaution is taken and the guard is to be continued. We were relieved this morning by a detail from the Thirteenth Iowa.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Saturday, 28th—A detail of forty men from our regiment was sent into town on provost guard. Our orders were to arrest all citizens and soldiers found upon the streets without passes from the commander of the post here or from the provost marshal, and take them before the latter for investigation and punishment.
Friday, 27th—A detail of men, two of them from Company E, was sent as a guard to go up North with some deserters from our army. Upon being caught, the deserters were brought back, court martialed, and will now be confined in one of the United States military prisons.
Thursday, 26th—I returned from picket and all is quiet. I loaned $5.00 to Corporal Daniel E. Sweet, until next payday. All of the furloughed men are back now.
Wednesday, 25th—Out on picket. The guard continues strong and the officers are very strict.
Tuesday, 24th—The weather is clear and cool, and the regiment is in good health. No news of importance.
Monday, 23d—It was warm and pleasant again with rain in the afternoon. The “chuck luck” banks at the spring are in full operation this morning. At each bank there are from twelve to twenty of our boys down on their knees laying their money on certain figures, as the “banker” throws the dice. After each throw the operator picks up the largest number of dollars. Some of the men in less than five days lose every dollar received from the paymaster.
Sunday, 22d—This morning when our detail was relieved from picket, we were marched to brigade headquarters and put to target shooting. This is to be done regularly from now on, in order to give the boys practice. To encourage good marksmanship a reward is given; those who hit the bull’s-eye are excused from picket duty, once for every time they hit the mark.
Saturday, 21st—The weather is quite cool today. The Fifteenth Iowa got their pay today. Pay time for the soldiers is the time for the gamblers.[1] It is then that they start up their “chuck luck” games. These banks or games are set up south of town, about the springs where the boys from our brigade go for their water.
[1] That is, gambling among the soldiers themselves.—Ed.
Friday, 20th—It is rainy and blustery today, but otherwise all is quiet. We received two months’ pay, being paid in crisp new greenbacks. The paymaster always has a guard with him to guard the strong iron box containing the bills.
