And still it is raining! Reveille sounded at 5 o'clock this
morning and we strapped on our knapsacks and all accouterments, and at 7
o'clock marched to the station, where we boarded the cars and started for
Cairo.
We bade old Iowa farewell, perhaps never to return, for in
the course of the coming events it is improbable that all will get back, but if
the Lord is willing, I hope that we may be spared to return again. Crossing the
Mississippi at 8 o'clock, we arrived at La Salle about noon and changed cars — exchanged
fine coaches on the Rock Island for rather poor ones over the Illinois Central.
Leaving La Salle at 3 o'clock we passed through Bloomington at dark, soon after
which many of us took berths for the night. This morning just before leaving
Davenport, I sent $50.00, my bounty money, to father by Solomon Lichtenwalter,
who had come to Davenport to see us off. I then borrowed $5.00 of Thomas
Armstrong, to run me till next pay day.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 182-3
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