Co. B. 13th Regiment.

Extract from letters written by Captain Duncan to his wife

• Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 7, 1862
• Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 10, 1862
• Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 15, 1862
• Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 21, 1862

We have read a letter from Cap. Duncan to F. W. Johnson of this place, dated Sept. 21st in which he regrets his inability to record a battle with [plosions?]  victories &c.

He says he has the best company in the Regiment any way you have a mind to regard it—he has more men, better men, and the men are better drilled than any in the reg.; and he intends, if he has the ability, to keep it in the pride of the Col. and his staff, and the envy of all others.  We hop his highest expectations will be realized. Those who know the Company have no fears as to what will be its record on any battlefield.—ED.

• Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 26, 1862

[The bottom of the newspaper is torn off and the rest of this letter is missing.]

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 26, 1862

Springfield Sept. 26th.

I am in excellent health; am heavier than I ever was before; weigh a hundred and sixty eight lbs. of nice clear meat: have outgrown all my clothes, you see that hard crackers agree with me fine.  I think Springfield is a healthy place, it being situated on the highest peak of the Ozark Mountains. The

[The bottom of the newspaper is torn off and the rest of this letter is missing.]

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 21, 1862

Sept. 21st.

Our Reg. is still working on the fortifications, and the work goes on well.  The Gen. is building five forts at this place, when finished they will be impregnable  The troops are coming in very fast—we have from 10,000 to 15,000 now, and when they all get here we shall have from 25,000 to 30,000.  They we expect to go to Arkansas and Texas where there are a few jobs to be done in the way of fighting.  Hindman is said to have a large force somewhere south of us, and if he does not attack us soon we will attend to him.  I am anxious for this war to close; not that I regret having enlisted to serve my country, but because I would like to be at home with my friends.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 15, 1862

Sept. 15th

We removed from our camp to Springfield yesterday.  This is a beautiful place for camping.  I really don’t know how many troops we have here, but suppose from eight to ten thousand.  Gen. Brown left here, with 8,000 troops, for Vernon, he was met by the rebels and driven back: he came into town last night about nine o’clock.  About the same time heavy firing was heard at the southwest; and the supposition was that after the Gen. left his troops, they turned on the enemy and had a fight.  The firing was kept up till 12 o’clock, but we have no word from them as yet.  By the way, this Gen. Brown is not well liked. His troops that are in the regular service despise him; they think he is “secesh.”

All the troops, and all the farmers, merchants and mechanics that are inside of the pickets have to work on the entrenchments this morning. The prospect is pretty fair for a fight.  The enemy are said to be approaching in two columns 30,000 strong—our force is much less.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Captain William M. Duncan to Mary Morgan Duncan, September 7, 1862

Springfield, Sept. 7th.  I never had better health in my life, though we had a hard time[.] While marching from Sedalia to this place—a distance of One Hundred and twenty five miles, which we marched in six days over the most hilly and dusty roads I ever say.  This is doubtless to the poorest country in the west.  The drought has nearly ruined the crops, and it looks little like subsisting a large army here through the winter.

Our troops nearly famished for water on their march, and the roads were so dusty that none could scarcely tell the color of our cloths or even the color of the men.  After crossing the Osage River, we commenced climbing the Ozark Mountains, and had nothing but hills, hollows and rocks from their to Springfield.

Take it, all in all, it is one of the most God-forsaken countries I ever saw.  War has destroyed every thing in its way, houses [tenantless], fences burned, and orchards destroyed.  You can scarcely see a man in a day’s travel, unless it is some old man unable to do any thing.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2

Captain Charles “Edward” Putnam to Mary “Ella” Fawcett, July 17, 1863

Camp 13th Iowa Infantry

Clinton, Mississippi

July 17th 1863

Dear Friend Ella:

I had begun to think Ella had forgotten her absent friend, Ed — until a few days ago when a letter came from her with the date of June 28th. I am always very anxious to hear from you and when a long time passes without the receipt of a letter, I imagine a thousand things, wondering if you are tired of our correspondence, or if I have failed to please you. As regards your showing my letters to your friends, I have no objections if there is anything in them of interest to others. I do not intentionally write anything of which I am ashamed to have anyone read; perhaps there are things in them occasionally which had not better be too widely circulated, but I leave the matter to your discretion.

My Fourth of July passed off very quietly. Our brigade lay at a ford on Black River all day watching the movements of  Gen. Johnston’s troops on the opposite side of the river.

Frank has never shown me your miniature nor have I seen a likeness of you taken since I came away since I have been in the army. I expect you have changed very much since I left you and am anxious to know how you look; but presume I shall have to wait until my return. I was greatly surprised to learn that you had not imagined what possesses a woman to shear her head of her greatest ornament — and you had such beautiful hair that it seems a pity that you should have done it.

Evening, July 19th

Do you begin to think that after all the promises I have made about going home this summer that I am not going to fulfill them? It really looks so now — but I assure you that were it possible, I should have been at home ‘ere this. It is very true that many officers are going home all the time; and it looks singular that among so many chances, I cannot obtain the privilege of leaving. But to get a leave of absence one must be sick, or pretend to be, and my principles will not allow me to resort to false statements to obtain even so great a wished for pleasure.

To say that I am contented would be false, for I have anticipated so much happiness from a visit that to be deprived of it makes me quite discontented — and you know that, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick” — and certainly I have hoped long enough to go home, as my letters will testify. However, I still hope on believing that my turn will come after awhile.

You don’t know how much I want to see you and I am afraid that when I get a chance…

[unsigned letter; missing second sheet]

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SOURCE: This letter was put up for auction on Ebay. Accessed August 5, 2017.

Captain Charles “Edward” Putnam to Mary “Ella” Fawcett Putnam, August 21, 1864

Before Atlanta, Ga.

August 21st 1864

Sunday night, 9 P.M.

Dear Ella:

Perhaps my letter would be more valuable to you if I did not write so often, but when night comes, I get lonesome and can find no enjoyment except in writing to my wife — even if I have not much to say. You are my only comfort and joy, and I like to talk to you as I am denied the pleasure of seeing and talking vis-a-vis. My long letter sent today is not the style I always intend to write, but I felt that I would like to talk to you just as I wrote. Consequently the letter was such.

This is a dark, rainy night and is inclined to produce a blue feeling, but I am not blue, but confess to feeling a little sad. I feel that my Ella is not as happy as I would wish her to be for I would have her perfectly joyous and full of hope. You must believe, my dear, that I am safe all the time and will return at the earliest possible moment. Just think how very happy we will be when I can again imprint a greeting kiss upon your lips. Our last meeting is not to be compared with the one to come for we were not so dear to each other then as now. Our lives are as one now — each cares not to live without the other. But I trust both will live many years a joy to each other’s heart. We will have a home which shall never know aught but the brightest sunshine. I know Ella will be my teacher, learning me how to be good, telling me my faults and how to correct them. All this selfishness of heart she shall drive away and make me a man worthy of being loved by her. I believed I could make you happy when I wedded you and still believe so. I know that you love me as I have never been loved before. Why then should I not be the proudest man in the world! I am.

I think after I get home where I will be under your influence all the time, and not have my mind wholly occupied by the one thought of returning to my Ella, that my energy will return and my old ambition spring into life again. As it is now, I do not care for promotion. I would not stay in the service a month after my time was out to secure it without it was with your consent. I presume were I to devote my attention to that one object, I could soon secure an elevation to a higher rank; but lately I have not given it one single thought for should I be favored with advancement in grade, I would be expected to remain in the service another three years, if I did not receive some injury totally unfitting me for duty.

I can not write a long letter tonight. A Sabbath night’s sweet kiss for you, sweet Ella. Good night.

Truly your own,

Edward

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SOURCE: This letter was listed for sale on Ebay, accessed July 12, 2017

Some Observations by Alexander G. Downing

BROTHERS IN COMPANY E.

Twelve families are represented in Company E by two brothers each, and one by three brothers. John W. and Samuel Albin — John W. slightly wounded June 15, 1864, on the skirmish line on Noon-day creek, Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia. Robert and William Alexander —William killed on the skirmish line June 15, 1864, on Noon-day creek at the foot of a spur of Kenesaw Mountain. John M. and Sylvester Daniels — John M. received a wound on one hand at Shiloh April 6, 1862, and was discharged for disability on October 13, 1862. John W. and William Dwiggans — William died of typhoid fever December 28, 1861, and John W. died from wounds received at Shiloh May 7, 1862. John W. and William Esher — John W. was severely wounded June 25, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain and discharged for disability March 20, 1865. Allen and Carlton Frink — Carlton killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Dean and John Ford — John had his right thumb shot off at Vicksburg and then slightly wounded on the skirmish line June 15, 1864, on Noon-day creek, Kenesaw Mountain. Ezra and Samuel McLoney — Ezra killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Francis and Reuben Niese — Reuben died March 2, 1865, in McDougal's Hospital near New York City. Ebenezer and James Rankin. Burtis H. and James K. Rumsey — James K. died at Chattanooga, Tennessee, February 2, 1865. George W. and Wilson Simmons — George W. wounded at Shiloh April 6, 1862, and died of his wounds May 12, 1862; Wilson died of lung fever April 15, 1862. Daniel, George and Henry Sweet — George killed in battle July 22, 1864, near Atlanta, Georgia; Henry L. died of fever in the Division Hospital in Tennessee, May 4, 1862.

CASUALTIES IN COMPANY E.

Killed in action, 11. Died of wounds, 4. Died of disease, 14. Discharged for disability, 15. Taken prisoners, 6. Deserters, 4. Absent on account of sickness for short periods, 52. Absent on account of slight wounds, 31. Total casualties, 117, or a fraction over 82 per cent of the 142 men in the company during the four years' service. There were those who were sick and marked not fit for duty, yet who did not leave the company, and there were others slightly wounded who likewise did not leave the company. Then, there were those, who for the same causes, had to go to the hospitals and be absent from the company for weeks at a time. The regimental surgeon would examine all cases, and it was left to his decision as to what a man had to do.

CROCKER'S IOWA BRIGADE.

Crocker's Iowa Brigade was composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Infantry Regiments. The regiments enlisted in the months of September and October, 1861, and were organized into a brigade April 27, 1862. There were in all 6289 enlisted men in the brigade.

The regiments had the following numbers, rank and file:

Eleventh	1297
Thirteenth	1788
Fifteenth	1767
Sixteenth	1441

The record of re-enlistments in the different regiments at Vicksburg, Mississippi, January, 1864, is as follows:

Eleventh	420
Thirteenth	450
Fifteenth	440
Sixteenth	415

The casualties numbered 4773, or seventy-six per cent of the strength of the brigade. The record of the officers and men who died during the war is as follows:

	Killed in battle	Wounded	Died of wounds and disease	Total dead
Eleventh	90	234	148	238
Thirteenth	117	313	176	293
Fifteenth	140	416	231	371
Sixteenth	101	311	217	318
	448	1274	772	1220

The miles traveled in marching during the war are, by years:

	By land	By boat and railroad
1862	495	581
1863	470	651
1864	1979	1660
1865 (to July 24)	1622	440

This makes a total of 4566 miles traveled by land and 3332 miles by boat and railroad, with a grand total of 7898 miles.

BATTLES ENGAGED IN BY CROCKER'S BRIGADE.

1862.

Shiloh, Tenn., April 6th.

Advance on Corinth, Miss., April 28th to May 30th.

Iuka, Miss., September 19th, 20th.

Corinth, Miss., October 3d, 4th.

Waterford, Miss., November 29th.

1863.

Lafayette, Tenn., January 2d.

Richmond, La., January 30th.

Siege of Vicksburg, May 20th to July 4th.

Oakridgetown, La., August 27th.

Monroe, La., August 29th.

1864.

Meridian, Miss., February 24th.

Big Shanty, Ga., June 10th.

Noon-Day Creek, Ga., June 15th.

Brushy Mountain, Ga., June 19th.

Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27th to July 1st.

Second Advance on Nick-a-Jack Creek, Ga., July 3d, 4th, 5th.

Advance on Atlanta, Ga., July 20th.

Charge on Bald Hill, Ga., July 21st.

Battle of Atlanta, Ga., July 22d.

Ezra Church, Ga., July 28th.

Advance on Atlanta, Ga., August 3d.

Before Atlanta, Ga., August 3d to August 16th.

Atlanta & Montgomery R. R., Ga., August 28th.

Jonesboro, Ga., August 31st to September 1st.

Flynt Creek, Ga., September 1st.

Lovejoy Station, Ga., September 2d.

Fairburn, Ga., October 2d.

Snake Creek Gap, Ga., October 15th.

Savannah, Ga., December 10th to 21st.

The battles from June to September are known as the Siege of Atlanta. During this period of eighty-seven days Crocker's Brigade was under fire eighty-one days.

1865.

Garden Corners, S. C, January 14th.

River Bridge, Salkahatchie Swamp, S. C, February 2d.

Big Salkahatchie Swamp, S. C, February 3d.

North Edisto River, S C, February 9th.

Columbia, S. C, March 3d.

Fayetteville, N. C, March 11th.

Bentonville, N. C, March 20th, 21st.

Raleigh, N. C, April 13th.

INTEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY.

Intemperance in the army during the war was the cause of much disturbance, and, to the men using intoxicating liquors, it was a curse. Men who were good men when sober, became, when intoxicated, regular demons. There were more men ordered bucked and gagged by officers for drunkenness than any other cause, and that just for the reason that a drunk man will talk or fight.

The only trouble I had with any of the boys in my company was at Louisville, Kentucky, just before we were mustered out. One of the boys came back to camp from the city so drunk that he could hardly walk. I was out in front of my “ranch,” cleaning my rifle and accouterments, and, as I was the first man he happened to see upon his return, he was ready for a fight at once. I, of course, kept out of his way and soon a number of other boys came out, captured him, took him to his “ranch” and tied him to a post. There he remained till he “cooled off.”

HARDSHIPS OF WAR.

Some people think that being in a battle is all there is to war. While experience in battle is a dreadful thing, it is by no means the only hardship in war. Here are some of the hardships and dangers aside from being under fire: in a field hospital; suffering from wounds or from any of the many diseases to which a soldier is subject; on long marches, sometimes for days and even nights at a time, or on picket line for a day and a night without sleep; in rain or snow, and that without protection, or perhaps in digging trenches all night for protection the next day, or in remaining in the rifle pits for days and nights at a time, and in addition, drinking stagnant water, thus causing fevers; then for days and weeks at work, building heavy fortifications, and besides all at times on short rations, when an ear of corn would be a Godsend — these are some of the many hardships. But above all things, starving to death in a Southern prison required more courage than going into any battle fought during the Civil war.

MY PAY FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

While in the army, I received as my pay, $700.00, as bounty money, $500.00, and for clothing, $40.00, making a total of $1,240.00. Besides this I received from the State of Iowa, $24.00.

Privates received $13.00 per month to May 1, 1864, after which time they received $16.00. Sergeants received $22.00 per month.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 298-302

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Friday, June 23, 1865

The Thirteenth Iowa received their pay today. A great many of the boys expressed their money home.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 284

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Friday, April 14, 1865

We started at 5 a. m. and marched twenty-one miles. We crossed the Neuse river at noon and passed through Raleigh about dusk, going into bivouac four miles west of town. Raleigh is a very nice place, and not a building was burned. Our division had the advance, the Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa being on train guard.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 268

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, March 25, 1865

We remained in camp all day. Large foraging parties were sent out to get feed for the mules and horses. Our train loaded with supplies returned from Kingston, down on the river. A construction train came in from Kingston, repairing the railroad. The Twenty-third Corps from Schofield's army has been moved to Kingston. All the troops are in camp in and around Goldsboro, and it will be but a short time until all our supplies will be brought in from the coast by the railroad. The Thirteenth Iowa received three hundred recruits today.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 264

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Friday, February 17, 1865

The Seventeenth Army Corps remained all day on the south bank of the Congaree river, near the Saluda cotton mills, while the Fifteenth Corps early this morning crossed the north fork, the Broad river, on pontoons, having laid them during the night, and moved down upon Columbia. But when they entered the place they found that the rebels had already left it. In the meantime the Thirteenth Iowa Regiment, being on our skirmish line in front of the city, crossed the river in skiffs and after a little skirmishing succeeded in placing their flag on the State House before any of the Fifteenth Corps even got into town.¹ So a part of the Seventeenth Corps was the first to enter Columbia.² Our corps crossed the forks late this afternoon and went into camp a short distance from town.

_______________

¹ This is precisely the substance of the original entry of Mr. Downing's diary. In the following footnote, after almost fifty years, he explains the flag episode more fully and also speaks Incidentally of the burning of Columbia, though he makes no mention of it in his original; that he did not is, however, not to be wondered at, since such burnings were common. In his revision fifty years later he does not enter into the discussion of “Who Burned Columbia,” but makes a single statement, which seems to hold the Confederates responsible. — Ed.

² It was a bright sunshiny day with a high wind blowing from the south. From where we were, on the south bank of the river just opposite the city, we could see men on foot and on horseback in the main street of Columbia, lighting the cotton bales which they before had piled up in the streets for defenses. In the forenoon, a detachment of men from the Thirteenth Iowa Regiment crossed the river, and driving the enemy's skirmishers into the city, they placed their regimental flag on the State House, thus having the honor of being the first to place the Stars and Stripes on the capitol of the first state to secede from the Union.

The Thirteenth Iowa was in Crocker's Brigade, or the Third Brigade of the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. The boys of the Thirteenth Iowa made the mistake of not placing a guard about their flag, for about an hour after they had raised their flag, the Iowa Brigade in the Fifteenth Army Corps entered the city from the west, and the Thirtieth Iowa Regiment of that brigade, being on the skirmish line, naturally made for the State House. Upon approaching the capitol and seeing no Union soldiers around, they proceeded to investigate a little, and upon entering the building and finding no guard, they took down the flag of the Thirteenth Iowa, and put up their own instead. They then left a guard to defend it. The Thirteenth Iowa was without a flag for two or three days, when the Thirtieth Iowa finally returned to them their flag.

Our corps, the Seventeenth, moved up the river, and by dark had crossed the forks, the Saluda and Broad rivers, on the pontoons. As soon as we had stacked arms, I left for the city to replenish my haversack, which had become rather flat, and I did not get back to our bivouac until 2 o'clock in the morning, and then without anything to eat in my haversack. On entering town I passed by the abandoned Confederate commissary department, and seeing a great abundance of food stuffs, I thought that I would go down into town for a while, and then on my way back would fill up my haversack. But when I returned, I found the building in flames and food and all was In ashes before daylight.—A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 253-4

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, January 15, 1865

The rebels fell back last night and our men pushed forward this morning. We moved six miles and again went into camp. One regiment and the Thirteenth Iowa was left at Pocotaligo for picket duty and to act as train guard for the trains passing to and fro from Beaufort, hauling provisions out to the front for the army.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 246-7

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Friday, December 30, 1864

The Twentieth Army Corps was reviewed by General Sherman at 9 a. m. They came out with their flying colors and brass bands, making a big showing. But when there's a fight on hand they are not as forward as they might be; it suits them better to garrison a place after it has been taken. We have company drill once a day, and the substitutes have to drill twice a day when in camp. The Thirteenth and Sixteenth Iowa and the Thirty-second Illinois, moved their camps this afternoon to make room for the fortifications planned. Sherman has ordered Savannah to be strongly fortified. Heavy guns will be mounted so that no enemy can get close enough to do any harm with the ordinary field guns. The engineers went to work today laying out the places where the forts are to be built.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 242

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, October 22, 1864

We lay in camp all day for the purpose of resting. But it appears to the rank and file of the men that Sherman must have given up trying to catch Hood, or else we would not remain so long at one place. The supply trains were all sent back to the main railroad line for provisions. I went out on picket this morning. The non-veterans of the Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa Regiments were mustered out this morning, and left for Chattanooga, from which place they will start for home. All of the non-veteran officers from each regiment, except two or three, went out with the privates. It is fine weather for marching. No news from the Eastern army.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 223-4

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, August 2, 1864

We had a refreshing rain last night. Governor Stone of Iowa arrived at the hospital this morning, having come from the front, with an order from General Sherman granting a thirty-day furlough to the sick and wounded from the Iowa regiments here in the hospital. Those able for duty are to be sent to the front. News came from the front that the Iowa Brigade was badly cut to pieces in the battle of the 22d of July. Many of them were taken prisoners, including almost all of the Sixteenth Regiment. Among the killed are the major of the Thirteenth and the lieutenant colonel of the Fifteenth.¹ There is no news from General Grant's army.

_______________

¹ Later I learned that while the brigade's loss was great, yet Company E's loss was light. By a flank movement the brigade advanced a short distance upon Atlanta. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 208

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, June 19, 1864

It rained hard all day. Cannonading commenced early this morning and was kept up all day, being very heavy in the center. We have outflanked the rebels’ right and they have fallen back from their first line of rifle pits and have placed their heavy guns on high points of ground. It is supposed that they are on the retreat towards Atlanta, as it is reported that they have fallen back from two to four miles and are building strong earthworks. The First Brigade of our Fourth Division has now formed a line of battle beyond their former first line of rifle pits. The Thirteenth and the Fifteenth Iowa Regiments moved out in the front this afternoon.

The rain today has been a great benefit to those who are wounded. May God help them and stand by them, and may they return thanks unto Him! May they ever look unto Him for their support and help.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 199

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, May 1, 1864

The Eleventh Iowa signed the pay rolls this morning for two months' pay. Six of the boys were robbed of $30.00 last night. Our regiment drew the new rifles and accouterments this afternoon. The Government is fitting out all of the veteran regiments with new equipments.

We received orders this afternoon to go on board the transports at 5 o'clock, and we struck our tents and turned them over to the post quartermaster. The Eleventh, the Fifteenth and part of the Thirteenth Iowa are on board the “John H. Dickey.” We were ordered to carry five days' rations. Our destination is supposed to be Huntsville, Alabama.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 184

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Monday, March 7, 1864

The Thirteenth Regiment started for Iowa today on their thirty-day furlough. Our regiment received three months' pay, and all who re-enlisted were given a part of their bounty money, $160.00 each. The bounty, with my regular pay, after settling for six months' clothing, $8.00, gave me $207.00.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 173

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, January 20, 1864

The Thirteenth Iowa was today sworn into the service for three years as a veteran regiment.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 163