Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, August 16, 1861

I, with Tom Toly, mowed grass all day. Swinging the scythe was hard work for me and I did not cut as wide a swath as Tom did. Father went to Tipton in the afternoon and upon his return told us the war news. I am thinking some of enlisting and going to war.

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