Alexander G. Downing enlisted in the Eleventh Iowa Infantry on August 15, 1861 and kept a diary of his life in the Army until he was discharged on July 31, 1865. The Eleventh Iowa Infantry was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and became part of Crocker's Iowa Brigade. This unit participated in several major battles, including Shiloh, Vicksburg and Corinth. They were eventually assigned to General William Tecumseh Sherman and took part in his famous "March to the Sea" where they fought in the Battle for Atlanta. As you read of this soldier's life during one of the most trying times in our country's history, you will gain an understanding of what it was like to be a soldier in that great war. Mr. Downing made entries for each and every day he served so you will find there were times of boredom as well as moments of terror and tragedy. You will find both humorous and sad entries as well as the inner feelings of this truly remarkable American patriot who experienced so much in the four years he served his country. This book is part of the Historical Collection of Badgley Publishing Company and has been transcribed from the original. The original contents have been edited and corrections have been made to original printing, spelling and grammatical errors when not in conflict with the author's intent to portray a particular event or interaction. Annotations have been made and additional contents have been added by Badgley Publishing Company in order to clarify certain historical events or interactions and to enhance the author's content. Photos and illustrations from the original have been touched up, enhanced and sometimes enlarged for better viewing. Additional illustrations and photos have been added by Badgley Publishing Company.