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Civil War Diary: 'Band Played At Col Quarters At Night'

(Becca Costello, WFIU/WTIU News)
(Becca Costello, WFIU/WTIU News)

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 13, 1862

Ajt Wood returned today this has been a very pleasant Day Willis Reid and me Put up another Exersise Bar Band played at Col quarters at night

Check back for the next entry on February 15. 

Diary entries provided by the  Monroe County History Center.

Becca is a digital producer and reporter in the newsroom. She is from Cincinnati, OH, and is completing a Master's degree in Journalism at Indiana University.