News, Arts and Culture from WFIU Public Radio and WTIU Public Television
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Civil War Diary: 'A Most Disagreeable Day Rain Rain'

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 30, 1862

A most Disagreeable day rain rain when lying Down in my tent the large Drops [illegible] through our Pcoket tents making it a little uncomfortable

Check back for the next entry on March 31. 

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.