The June issue of Maryland Life has a piece I did about an old, previously unknown diary penned during the Civil War. As the troubled year of 1864 passed slowly by the manager of the C & D canal faithfully recorded his fears, hopes, and worries on those browning pages. Day-by-day, the canalkeeper confided many things in that little book including concerns about President Lincoln, the 1864 election, his attitude toward the federal government, and fears for the safety of the canal (it was an important route). Old diaries are fascinating, especially one that addresses important periods in the nation’s history and has never been seen before. It was a window to the past, seeing those thoughts written so long ago, in a far different, troubled era at the top of the Eastern Shore.
