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.
February 10, 1862
A beautiful splendid sunny morning Old Sol is out in all his glory This afternoon we played for the funeral of a private who Died in the Hospital he was buried with military honors Word came this evening that our Regt expected an attact at night a Rumor I suppose and nothing more a Rehearsal this evening
Check back for the next entry on February 12.
Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.
