Our brigade was moved out to the left of the Fourth Division
during the night, and General Logan's Division occupied our former position.
The Eleventh was at work nearly all night throwing up a new line of rifle pits,
while the other regiments of our brigade occupied pits previously made by other
troops. During the night Logan's Division was twice charged upon, but both
times repulsed the attack. Skirmishing began early this morning and continued
throughout the day. Our entire left wing was ordered to fall in all along the
line and make a demonstration, by cheering and by opening our batteries. This
was done to compel them to draw reinforcements from their left, while our right
would then charge their weakened left.1 During these demonstrations
and skirmishing the captain of Company C was wounded by a sharpshooter, as was
also a private in Company G.
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1 This is strategy of war. — A. G. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 198
