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 14, 1861
We all had the Privelege of goin to the City today but the most of us staid at home I Did
I Put in the Day Resting and Strolling around Some six of the 4 th Con Band Paid us a visit to-Day them appears quite Sensible
Some of them seen a Diserter from the Lincolin Cavelry who he (the Deserter) passed our Pickets successfully coming across a Col. and some Scouts he supposed them belonged to the Seccest Army
he told the Col. he had some good information about the Damd Yankees
the Col asked to look at his Revolver wich the fellow handed to him he then cocked it and told him he would take him into Camp
he was there tried and shot a diserving death for such a man.
The Yankee Col was to cute for him Earl saw a man in the city drop down dead today while in the city hart Devisions it was supposed
Check back for the next entry on December 15.
Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.
