Reveille sounded at 2 a. m., and packing our knapsacks, we
started at 8 o'clock for the boat down at the levee. Here we stacked our arms
and waited until the quartermaster with his detail got the commissariat loaded,
putting it upon our boat and the two barges, one on either side. By noon all
was ready and we marched on board, some going upon the boat and some upon the
barges, and at 2 p. m. left Davenport, bound for St. Louis.
We reached Muscatine about sundown and because there are so
many Muscatine people in the regiment, we landed and marched uptown to Main
Street. Here we had dress parade for the benefit of the citizens, who turned
out in large numbers. Companies A and H are made up of Muscatine boys, while
our colonel and quartermaster reside here; besides, Company I is from Louisa
county just west of this place. After the parade we marched back to the boats
and left at once for Keokuk. Our boat is the “Jennie Whipple,” and Company E is
stationed on the hurricane deck.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 18
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