John E. Wilkins Diary: Daily Routine of Camp Life

John E. Wilkins recorded the daily routine of a Civil War soldier in the 11th Regiment. Every soldier was required to awaken at 5 a.m. Each day the soldiers had Battalion Drill in the early afternoon and would be assigned their duty post, which they would stand for the next 24 hours. Between 8 and 10 p.m. each evening soldiers were allotted free time, and in the words of Wilkins, they could "have all the fun they wish." At 10:00 p.m. all lights and campfires were put out, and the soldiers would return to their quarters for rest.