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.
December 7, 1861
At the Brigade Review to-day meny visitors were in attendance Our Band played while the whole Brigade passed the Gen—although the 2 nd & 6 wis were with there Reg t there had nothing to Do—The Gen invited us to his Quarters to Play after Brigade Review was ocer—We took a little [illegible] or rather whiskey the Gen and Aides invited us to go to the City with them-- in the evening we rode down in a wagon to willowes Hotel wen we serenaded Gen Mansfield & Judge Smith from Wisconsin also Gov Morgan of New York—at Browns Hotel Gov Morton of Ind we next serenaded—He complemented us highty for the honor of the music and made Several remarks to the crowd he was followed by Kellog M.C. from Ills—he made a slavery Speech Colfax & others followed but we went in the meantime and had a good supper at the national saloon we then serendaded the Genl friends Started for home at 2 a.M. they were building the Long Bridge & would not allow the wagon to return till it was repaired but then allowed us to cross on foot we walked to Camp and got there in the morning
Check back for the next entry on December 8.
Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.
