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 27, 1862
Another review today of Kings & Franklines Divisions the Day was beautiful & ground excellent. Gen McDowell was attended by Lord Lyons and several English (illegible) Colonels Gen McClelan and intire staff and Corps next followed. Cheer after cheer for George B M greeted him as rode past Our Hoosiers Boys did not cheer according to rule but went at it with regular Yells As Gen McClellen rode past our Regt he remarked to some one near him that that was his 19th Ind” that “the Hoosiers were great fellows to Scatter” “you find them every where and you always here from them—about 3 P.M. we passed in review part of the 2 Wis Band joined us for the occasion Our Brigad Passed in Splendid Style Our Regt never marched so well the Boys in good Spirits this morning
Check back for the next entry on March 28.
Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.
