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 24, 1862
Calm this morning went to woods and cut a load of wood about 10 clock it began to Blow a furious gale. Pyles tent blew down also Capt. Dudley Capt. Clark and meny of the Privates: the gale continued all day: I never saw it blow so hard in all my life all night the same. The wind Blew the Su[illegible] wagon over and smashed it to Peaces the [illegible] tent went over and the Boys [illegible] to Scamper to get out of the way no body hurt I Believe
Check back for the next entry on February 28.
Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.
