Friday, 11th—We moved our camp to the south of Vicksburg, two miles, just within the fortifications. The ground is low and level here, and the water is scarce. It is not a good place for the sick to get back their health. But there is danger of a raid by the rebels’ cavalry from this point.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Thursday, 10th—I reported to the doctor this morning for the second time in the space of two years. The doctor thought that I was in no immediate danger, for which opinion I thought he was not very well posted, but he gave me the “Blue Mass” pills, telling me to be sure to take them and not throw them away as so many of the boys do. I told him that I did not come for the purpose of getting medicine to throw away, for I had been too near dying. He assured me that I was a long way from dying.[1]
[1] The doctor’s exact words were: “Oh, you’re a long ways from dying!” Perhaps I was more frightened than sick. But when a sick man is near a regular hospital and sees from three to six dead men carried out every day to the “bone-yard,” as the boys used to say, it does not look very encouraging to him.—A. G. D.
Wednesday, 9th—Still more of the boys are coming down with the ague. I had a shake of it myself today, for the first time in my life. I passed through all the degrees of fever and chill. Am thankful tonight to find that I am still among the living.
Tuesday, 8th—Captain McLoney is going home for thirty days and there are still others from our regiment going on furloughs. We have no drilling, dress parade, camp guard or picket duty to perform, nor yet fatigue duty—our whole duty at present is to help care for the sick boys.
Monday, 7th—Things are quiet and there is no news of importance. Our chief concern is taking care of the sick, as the weather is yet quite hot. This is a lonesome day with so many of our company sick in the hospital, while six are home on furloughs and three more are soon to go. This leaves but a few of us for duty. I tell you, it looks pretty discouraging.
Sunday, 6th—The sick in our regiment were sent away this morning, thirty-one in all. Those who could stand the trip North were given a thirty-day furlough, and the very sick were taken to the general hospital here in Vicksburg. The men whose thirty-day furloughs have expired are returning to their regiments.
Saturday, 5th—No news of importance. The weather continues hot and sultry. Many more of the sick are being sent home on furloughs or taken to hospitals. Although half of our number are sick with the chills and fever, yet a kind Providence has certainly favored the soldiers of the Union armies in this region; for though in past years it was a common thing for the people here to have a siege of cholera or yellow fever, we have thus far been spared such a scourge.
Friday, 4th—The weather today is intensely hot. Those who are not sick spent the day in washing their clothing. Over half of the boys in our regiment are sick with the fever and ague, all because of the very poor water we had to drink while on the march, the weather being very hot and sultry.[1]
[1] The results accomplished by this expedition were meager indeed, While the suffering endured by the men engaged in it was very great. Many died from the effects of the hardships to which they were subjected, and many never fully recovered from the diseases contracted while passing through that malarious region, and that during the hottest days of the summer.—A. G. D.
Thursday, 3d—The boats arrived this morning and we embarked immediately, pushing out at 10 o’clock for Vicksburg. The Eleventh and the Sixteenth Iowa were on board the “Samuel Gotz.” We were crowded on the boat, and the heat of the sun was frightful. We reached Vicksburg at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and disembarking, marched to our old camp.
Wednesday, 2d—We left Bayou Mason at midnight and marched through to the river, eighteen miles, without stopping, reaching Goodrich’s Landing at 7 o’clock this morning. General Stephenson planned our march so that we should pass through that terrible ten miles of hemp at night, thus avoiding the heat.[1] Our brigade led in the march all the way. The day is very hot and sultry. General Logan’s Division has taken the boats down the river for Vicksburg.
[1] All were thankful to him for it; for, if there is such a place as hell, this piece of road is a sample of the road leading to Satan’s residence. —A. G. D.
