Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Wednesday, 11th–All is quiet. The commissioned officers of our brigade had a meeting at brigade headquarters for the purpose of considering ways and means for arming the colored men, since they have been declared free. The plan is to put them under good officers for garrison service, thus relieving that number of men for the more important places in the front. They also passed resolutions calling upon the loyal people of the North to put down those at home who are opposing the prosecution of the war; if need be they would use force by calling for soldiers from the front. The men at the front feel that this opposition to war at home is helping to prolong the war, by encouraging the rebels.