PVT Peter W. Bridges was born about 1828 in Gloucester County, Virginia. He was the eldest of 4 children born to Thomas and Sarah J. Bridges. The family farmed near Matthews, Virginia.
Peter enlisted on 5 Dec 1863 at Matthews mustering with F Company 5th Virginia Infantry. PVT Bridges was with the unit at The Wilderness and at Spotsylvania Court House where he was captured with many others in the 5th Virginia on 12 May 1864 and sent with them to the Prisoner of War camp at Fort Delaware. PVT Bridges contracted small pox and died at Fort Delaware on 13 Apr 1865. He was buried on the eastern shore of the river in what is now the Finn's Point National Cemetery in Pennsville, New Jersey.