Dover, Del. —To commemorate the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the American Civil War, the Delaware Public Archives has begun tweeting entries on Twitter and posting entries on Facebook and the blog that are taken from the diary of Delaware soldier Cyrus Forwood.To see what his Civil War experience was like on a day-to-day basis, visit:
Twitter — www.twitter.com/CyrusForwood
Facebook — www.facebook.com/CyrusForwood
Blog — http://cyrusforwood.blogs.delaware.gov/
Citizens can now follow, in real time, the travels of Forwood as he experienced the war exactly 150 years ago. Forwood’s first entry states:
“May 11th 1861. Volunteered in U.S. service for three months in the “Blue Hen’s Chicken’s.”
From that day on, for the next several years, people can check into these Archives social media outlets to view Forwood’s entries and other related Civil War information pertaining to him.
Forwood served in the military for approximately three years. Most of his time was spent with Company A, 2nd Delaware Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His diary reveals both the mundane nature of camp life along with the sheer terror of Civil War combat.
Check in each day to see in what battles did he participate? What did he eat? What did he wear? Who were his leaders? These and other questions will be revealed as the diary progresses through the war.
Read along as Forwood writes about the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862,
“. . . we were exhausted when we got to the front, we were exposed for a quarter mile to a murderous fire of Grape, Canister, Solid Shot and Shell . . .”
This primary resource is a treasure trove of information for historians, Civil War enthusiasts, and students of all ages. A copy of this document is located on microfilm at the Delaware Public Archives and a transcription can be found in the General Reference Collection.
This is one of numerous projects that the Delaware Public Archives is starting to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. To view the Civil War resources of the Archives online check out the website at archives.delaware.gov. For more information about events, programs, and other activities that are planned to commemorate the Sesquicentennial in Delaware, go to CivilWar.delaware.gov.
For more information about the Delaware Public Archives, please visit the website at http://archives.delaware.gov. You can also become a follower of the Archives Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives), and read the Archives blog (http://archives.blogs.delaware.gov/) to learn more about events and other items of interest at the Archives.
The Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover. The Mabel Lloyd Ridgely Research Room is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. On the first Saturday of every month the research room is open from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
