Like many soldiers in the Civil War, Private Will L. Wade of Company G, Eleventh Regiment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry was not only literate but made use of his writing ability to keep a diary while in the army. His journal offers readers the perspective of a private soldier in the Civil War and is especially valuable for its contribution to the history of the Eleventh Iowa. His account begins with his enlistment in 1861; includes the major battles and campaigns of Shiloh, Vicksburg and Atlanta; and ends as he traveled home after his discharge in 1864. Will's enthusiasm for military service cooled as time went on. Though he fulfilled his three year obligation, he had no desire to extend his service by re-enlisting. It is evident in the journal that he was marking time, particularly as time passed. His journal reveals an average soldier who did his duty, but who increasingly looked to his life beyond the army. A wealth of vintage photographs, a bibliography, and an index to full-names, places and subjects enhance this excellent eye-witness account of the Civil War.