The regiment worked on the fortifications today for the
third day in succession. I was not with my company though, being on other
fatigue duty. The forts under construction are arranged so that if one fort
should be captured, the guns of two other forts could be turned upon the enemy
in that one. The floors of the forts and the rifle-pits are raised from four to
ten feet by filling in earth, and then laid with the lumber from the houses
which were pulled down to make room for the fortifications. The ramparts are
faced on the outside with long woven baskets of hickory withes and filled with
earth to keep them in shape. The forts are built with a view of standing some
time, and should last for four or five years. We commenced drawing bread
instead of crackers.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 78
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