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Civil War Diary: 'News Come This Evening That Fort Donelson Had Surrendered'

By Becca Costello

Posted February 17, 2019

A picture of peter matthews with the text of Gen Pillow Floyd escaped with five thousand men ten thousand were killed and disabled in the fort

(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 17, 1862

It Rained all Day spent the time at one thing or other Official news come this evening that Fort Donelson had surrendered with fifteen thousand prisoners twenty thousand s[illegible] of Arms garrenson Equipage [illegible] and two General Buckner & Johnston of Bull Run notoriety Gen Pillow & Floyd escaped with five thousand men Ten thousand were killed and disabled in the fort—All the forts near here fired salutes when the news came In this evening Gen King sent over for the Field officers and Band to go to his quarters to help them Rejoyce Although at mud almost knee Deep most all the way we went I’d be willing to go miles to here good news and especially for Gen King—Head Quarters were allumined up. We played several peaces after which we were invited in to take a “we Drop we then played some more for the companys benefit we played every thing off the Books not [illegible] them along—Before leaving they treated us to cake cigars & Punch Quite a pleasant time withal.

Check back for the next entry on February 19. 

Diary entries provided by the Monroe County History Center.

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