Some Observations by Alexander G. Downing

BROTHERS IN COMPANY E.

Twelve families are represented in Company E by two brothers each, and one by three brothers. John W. and Samuel Albin — John W. slightly wounded June 15, 1864, on the skirmish line on Noon-day creek, Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia. Robert and William Alexander —William killed on the skirmish line June 15, 1864, on Noon-day creek at the foot of a spur of Kenesaw Mountain. John M. and Sylvester Daniels — John M. received a wound on one hand at Shiloh April 6, 1862, and was discharged for disability on October 13, 1862. John W. and William Dwiggans — William died of typhoid fever December 28, 1861, and John W. died from wounds received at Shiloh May 7, 1862. John W. and William Esher — John W. was severely wounded June 25, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain and discharged for disability March 20, 1865. Allen and Carlton Frink — Carlton killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Dean and John Ford — John had his right thumb shot off at Vicksburg and then slightly wounded on the skirmish line June 15, 1864, on Noon-day creek, Kenesaw Mountain. Ezra and Samuel McLoney — Ezra killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862. Francis and Reuben Niese — Reuben died March 2, 1865, in McDougal's Hospital near New York City. Ebenezer and James Rankin. Burtis H. and James K. Rumsey — James K. died at Chattanooga, Tennessee, February 2, 1865. George W. and Wilson Simmons — George W. wounded at Shiloh April 6, 1862, and died of his wounds May 12, 1862; Wilson died of lung fever April 15, 1862. Daniel, George and Henry Sweet — George killed in battle July 22, 1864, near Atlanta, Georgia; Henry L. died of fever in the Division Hospital in Tennessee, May 4, 1862.

CASUALTIES IN COMPANY E.

Killed in action, 11. Died of wounds, 4. Died of disease, 14. Discharged for disability, 15. Taken prisoners, 6. Deserters, 4. Absent on account of sickness for short periods, 52. Absent on account of slight wounds, 31. Total casualties, 117, or a fraction over 82 per cent of the 142 men in the company during the four years' service. There were those who were sick and marked not fit for duty, yet who did not leave the company, and there were others slightly wounded who likewise did not leave the company. Then, there were those, who for the same causes, had to go to the hospitals and be absent from the company for weeks at a time. The regimental surgeon would examine all cases, and it was left to his decision as to what a man had to do.

CROCKER'S IOWA BRIGADE.

Crocker's Iowa Brigade was composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Infantry Regiments. The regiments enlisted in the months of September and October, 1861, and were organized into a brigade April 27, 1862. There were in all 6289 enlisted men in the brigade.

The regiments had the following numbers, rank and file:

Eleventh	1297
Thirteenth	1788
Fifteenth	1767
Sixteenth	1441

The record of re-enlistments in the different regiments at Vicksburg, Mississippi, January, 1864, is as follows:

Eleventh	420
Thirteenth	450
Fifteenth	440
Sixteenth	415

The casualties numbered 4773, or seventy-six per cent of the strength of the brigade. The record of the officers and men who died during the war is as follows:

	Killed in battle	Wounded	Died of wounds and disease	Total dead
Eleventh	90	234	148	238
Thirteenth	117	313	176	293
Fifteenth	140	416	231	371
Sixteenth	101	311	217	318
	448	1274	772	1220

The miles traveled in marching during the war are, by years:

	By land	By boat and railroad
1862	495	581
1863	470	651
1864	1979	1660
1865 (to July 24)	1622	440

This makes a total of 4566 miles traveled by land and 3332 miles by boat and railroad, with a grand total of 7898 miles.

BATTLES ENGAGED IN BY CROCKER'S BRIGADE.

1862.

Shiloh, Tenn., April 6th.

Advance on Corinth, Miss., April 28th to May 30th.

Iuka, Miss., September 19th, 20th.

Corinth, Miss., October 3d, 4th.

Waterford, Miss., November 29th.

1863.

Lafayette, Tenn., January 2d.

Richmond, La., January 30th.

Siege of Vicksburg, May 20th to July 4th.

Oakridgetown, La., August 27th.

Monroe, La., August 29th.

1864.

Meridian, Miss., February 24th.

Big Shanty, Ga., June 10th.

Noon-Day Creek, Ga., June 15th.

Brushy Mountain, Ga., June 19th.

Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27th to July 1st.

Second Advance on Nick-a-Jack Creek, Ga., July 3d, 4th, 5th.

Advance on Atlanta, Ga., July 20th.

Charge on Bald Hill, Ga., July 21st.

Battle of Atlanta, Ga., July 22d.

Ezra Church, Ga., July 28th.

Advance on Atlanta, Ga., August 3d.

Before Atlanta, Ga., August 3d to August 16th.

Atlanta & Montgomery R. R., Ga., August 28th.

Jonesboro, Ga., August 31st to September 1st.

Flynt Creek, Ga., September 1st.

Lovejoy Station, Ga., September 2d.

Fairburn, Ga., October 2d.

Snake Creek Gap, Ga., October 15th.

Savannah, Ga., December 10th to 21st.

The battles from June to September are known as the Siege of Atlanta. During this period of eighty-seven days Crocker's Brigade was under fire eighty-one days.

1865.

Garden Corners, S. C, January 14th.

River Bridge, Salkahatchie Swamp, S. C, February 2d.

Big Salkahatchie Swamp, S. C, February 3d.

North Edisto River, S C, February 9th.

Columbia, S. C, March 3d.

Fayetteville, N. C, March 11th.

Bentonville, N. C, March 20th, 21st.

Raleigh, N. C, April 13th.

INTEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY.

Intemperance in the army during the war was the cause of much disturbance, and, to the men using intoxicating liquors, it was a curse. Men who were good men when sober, became, when intoxicated, regular demons. There were more men ordered bucked and gagged by officers for drunkenness than any other cause, and that just for the reason that a drunk man will talk or fight.

The only trouble I had with any of the boys in my company was at Louisville, Kentucky, just before we were mustered out. One of the boys came back to camp from the city so drunk that he could hardly walk. I was out in front of my “ranch,” cleaning my rifle and accouterments, and, as I was the first man he happened to see upon his return, he was ready for a fight at once. I, of course, kept out of his way and soon a number of other boys came out, captured him, took him to his “ranch” and tied him to a post. There he remained till he “cooled off.”

HARDSHIPS OF WAR.

Some people think that being in a battle is all there is to war. While experience in battle is a dreadful thing, it is by no means the only hardship in war. Here are some of the hardships and dangers aside from being under fire: in a field hospital; suffering from wounds or from any of the many diseases to which a soldier is subject; on long marches, sometimes for days and even nights at a time, or on picket line for a day and a night without sleep; in rain or snow, and that without protection, or perhaps in digging trenches all night for protection the next day, or in remaining in the rifle pits for days and nights at a time, and in addition, drinking stagnant water, thus causing fevers; then for days and weeks at work, building heavy fortifications, and besides all at times on short rations, when an ear of corn would be a Godsend — these are some of the many hardships. But above all things, starving to death in a Southern prison required more courage than going into any battle fought during the Civil war.

MY PAY FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

While in the army, I received as my pay, $700.00, as bounty money, $500.00, and for clothing, $40.00, making a total of $1,240.00. Besides this I received from the State of Iowa, $24.00.

Privates received $13.00 per month to May 1, 1864, after which time they received $16.00. Sergeants received $22.00 per month.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 298-302