Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, August 17, 1861

I mowed grass all forenoon and in the afternoon went to a Sunday school celebration down at Posten's Grove. I made up my mind to enlist and go and fight our Southern brethren. In the evening I went to Mr. Willey's to stay all night with Ward. Later in the evening we attended a peace meeting at Inland.

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