Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, January 20, 1863

Another cold, wet day. We completed loading our regimental supplies about noon, and at 4 o'clock started for Vicksburg. We tied up for the night about forty miles below Memphis. The boats are overcrowded, and because of the cold weather there is much suffering.1
__________

1 Starting on this trip ended seventy-nine days of campaigning; in northern Mississippi and western Tennessee. For suffering from exposure, part of the time no tents at night, nearly all the time on half rations or less, for forty-nine days no change of clothing, and more than sixty cloudy days with rain or snow, this campaign proved to be one of the most laborious campaigns during our four years' service. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 95

No comments: