Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, May 18, 1864

The troops in advance of us started early this morning, but our brigade did not move until 11 o'clock. We had a hard day's march, having to cross a large swamp, wade four creeks, and cross one river twice: yet we covered fourteen miles with the cattle, and got into bivouac near Clarenceville1 at 9 o'clock at night. Many of the men got sore feet, as a result of being in the water so much and then having to walk the rough, stony roads. The town of Clarenceville, they say, is almost deserted, only a few of the meaner sort of people remaining.
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1 This must have been Lawrenceburg, the county seat of Lawrence county, and on a direct line between Waynesburg and Pulaski. — Ed.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 188

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