Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Friday, November 13, 1863

My same old duty again — picket. There was no fatigue detail today, as the fortifications are almost completed. Two or three forts, however, are yet to be built just outside of the rifle pits.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 152

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, November 7, 1863

I was on fatigue duty again today. Two brigades of General Logan's Division went out to the Black river post to relieve General Tuttle's Division, which came in and is to take boat for points up the Mississippi river.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 151

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Friday, November 6, 1863

I was on fatigue again, but on account of rain last night the detail did not go to work until 1 o'clock this afternoon. Some of the heaviest siege guns obtainable are being mounted on raised platforms in the forts.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 151

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, November 5, 1863

It rained all day and on account of it the fatigue party did not work on the fortifications. Our camp number 3 is located on the town commons, and because of no timber near by the northwest wind has a full sweep over the camp. No news of importance.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 151

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, November 4, 1863

It is still quite warm. I was on fatigue at the fortifications. The men are pulling down some fine residences and using the material in building the forts. It is pretty harsh and severe business to order a family, brave enough to stay all through the siege, out of their home and tear down their house before their eyes, to build into fortifications, but this is war. We are fortifying the place so that ten thousand men can hold it against any force that has a mind to come.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 151

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, October 31, 1863

The water has left our camp in a frightful condition, and we got orders to move the camp to higher ground tomorrow. This was general muster day.¹ I went on fatigue today. William Green of our company, not having recovered from his sickness, left for home this morning on a thirty-day furlough. I sent $50.00 to father by him.

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¹ A general “muster day” was a day observed throughout the army by general order mustering the soldiers for pay. — Ed.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 150

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, October 22, 1863

We are glad to be at home again in camp after eleven days' absence. Most of that time we were in bivouac without any protection — two nights in soaking rainstorms. Our heavy duties begin again — fatigue duty and camp guard, fourteen of our number being on guard today. Our regimental payrolls for two months' pay were made out and we signed them today. There is no news from the army in the East, and all is quiet here in the West.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 148-9

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, October 1, 1863

We had brigade inspection this morning at 7 o'clock, by General McArthur. Colonel Hall of our regiment is in command. There were three regiments of infantry, one of cavalry and three batteries. In the afternoon I was on fatigue duty, and part of the time in a heavy rain; this is our third successive day of rain.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 145

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, September 30, 1863

It rained all day. I was on fatigue, helping to clean up the review ground. We are to have general inspection in the next few days by General McArthur, our division commander, and General McPherson, corps commander. Our company is returning to its old-time form and numbers.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 145

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, September 26, 1863

There is still some shaking with the ague among the boys, but the health of our regiment is gaining slowly. We have no drill in camp at present, but we are on duty almost every day, our routine running as follows: Picket duty every other day, and the alternating days on fatigue duty either in Vicksburg or in camp, and then, once a week for twenty-four hours at a time, we are on provost duty in Vicksburg.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 144

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, September 25, 1863

It is quite warm today. I was on fatigue duty, accompanying the quartermaster's wagons into Vicksburg to draw supplies for the regiment. The bales of hay and sacks of corn taxed our strength in loading them. Some of the boys on furlough returned today.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 144

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, September 8, 1863

Captain McLoney is going home for thirty days and there are still others from our regiment going on furloughs. We have no drilling, dress parade, camp guard or picket duty to perform, nor yet fatigue duty — our whole duty at present is to help care for the sick boys.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 141

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, August 5, 1863

The heat continues as yesterday. The Eleventh Iowa signed their payrolls today, and the Fifteenth Iowa received their pay. I was on fatigue duty all day. We had dress parade this evening for the first time since May 19th. The boys came out in fine style. Troops are leaving every day to reinforce different commands of the army of the West.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 133

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, March 18, 1863

We now have company drill four hours a day. The fatigue duty at this camp has not been very laborious, as the officers put negroes to work, very few of our men working any toward the last. The lake is still rising and already overflowing the bottom land at places. We are expecting to receive orders to leave soon. The weather is warm, the trees are all leafed out, and everything is growing fine.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 105

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, February 1, 1863

We had an all day rain and the river is rising; the bottom land on the east side of the river is already under water. It came my turn to go on fatigue today. A detail of four hundred men was again sent down to work on the break in the levee. Our chaplain preached to the regiment this afternoon.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 98

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, October 28, 1862

The regiment worked on the fortifications today for the third day in succession. I was not with my company though, being on other fatigue duty. The forts under construction are arranged so that if one fort should be captured, the guns of two other forts could be turned upon the enemy in that one. The floors of the forts and the rifle-pits are raised from four to ten feet by filling in earth, and then laid with the lumber from the houses which were pulled down to make room for the fortifications. The ramparts are faced on the outside with long woven baskets of hickory withes and filled with earth to keep them in shape. The forts are built with a view of standing some time, and should last for four or five years. We commenced drawing bread instead of crackers.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 78

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, September 26, 1862

I was on fatigue duty down in town today, helping to dismount the guns and load them with the ammunition upon the cars to be shipped to Corinth. We are preparing to leave Iuka as soon as possible, but it is slow work, as the railroad is in bad shape, and there is only one train a day.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 71

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, September 11, 1862

The brigade received marching orders to leave in the morning at daylight and we packed our knapsacks today. The talk is that we are to go to Corinth. A small force is to be left here to hold the fort, and it will require a large number to take it. Bolivar has some loyal citizens who will be protected in this way, but we are sorry to bid these people good-bye, perhaps for all time to come. We have been in camp here forty-two days and all the time engaged in hard service — on picket, fatigue and patrol duty, besides often in line of battle.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 67

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, August 29, 1862

No news of importance. We are all on fatigue duty today, building rifle-pits and a fort. Our fortifications are not on high ground, but in case of an attack upon our camp, they would give us ample protection.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 65

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, June 19, 1862

Drill is now all dispensed with on account of the hot weather. But the men are kept busy at fatigue and picket duty.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 54