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Civil War Diary: 'A Bridge Of Canal Boats Have Been Put Across By Our Forces'

By Becca Costello

Posted May 4, 2019

May 4 quote from civil war diary

(Becca Costello, WFIU/WTIU News)

157 years ago, a Hoosier from Monroe County wrote about fighting for the Union in the Civil War in a diary he kept almost daily. Peter Thomas Matthews was 20 years old when he enlisted in the army and served as a drummer in the 19th Indiana Regimental Band. 

Follow along as we publish his diary entries in real-time on the day they were written. 

Read the first entry here. Learn more about Matthews and read all former and future entries here. 

Editor's note: We have left Matthews' words as he recorded them, which means spelling and punctuation may not conform to modern standards.

May 4, 1862

A warm spring day me and some of the boys went Down to the Rappahannock River saw the remains of two burnt steam boats 3 Bridges and lots of scooners a Bridge of canal boats have been put across by our forces we seen two or three companies of our troops over in the city were our Patrol herd the church bells ring—for the since leaving [illegible] hights—quite solemn sounds The Bell of the Presbyterian church, I hear, has been made into gun caps for the rebels muskets the town looks diserted almost—but few persons to be seen—We witnessed also the construction of a Ponton bridge which is also being thrownd across Chaplain Dale conducted Divine Worship in camp at 3 oclock a very good sermon was preached Camp rumor says we soon expect to march on Richmond the rebels are sepected to contend with us north of here at some place

Check back for the next entry on May 5

Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.

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