Saturday, November 23, 2013

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, January 24, 1863

We had some rain early this morning, followed by a heavy fog which lasted all day. Boats loaded with troops are constantly arriving and landing at different points along the river where the men are going into camp. Some of our boys are quite sick, the result of using the river water on the way down. Accidents are not common here considering the large number of men crowding as they do, but today a private of the First Kansas Infantry fell from the boat and was drowned before help could reach him.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 96

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