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.
March 10, 1862
About midnight—last night—the whole Camp was waken up with Orders—to get ready to march at 3 AM Due Preparations were made forthwhith Gen Mcllellan rode through our Camp on his way Delivering marching orders personally. This keeps the Papers from the Secret and Succests so that therll be taken entirely by surprise—we started off about 4 Am and marched steadily till about 2 P.M—the roads lined with troops—Passed through [illegible] CH found it occupied by our troops miserable brest works were throwned up here by the rebels—Passed through about one mile beyond were we pitched our little tents tired and worn out with our long march of near eighteen miles carrying heavy knapsacks and all equipments even our tents After being cooped up all winter this proved severe marching we eat a scant supper and went on a journey to Dreamland
Check back for the next entry on March 11.
Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.
