Born in Bromberg, Prussia, on the 31st of May, 1824. When sixteen years of age he was sent to the University of Halle where he received a thorough military education. At the age of twenty he entered the Prussian army and in 1847 served against the Poles in a revolution. In 1849 he emigrated to America and coming to Iowa located at Burlington where he became a merchant. When the Rebellion began he was the first man in Iowa and the United States, to tender a military company to the National Government. He was captain of Company D, of the First Iowa Volunteers. In July, 1861, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth Infantry and upon the death of Colonel Worthington was promoted to the command of that regiment. At the Battle of Iuka his regiment was in the thickest of the fight and lost two hundred seventeen men. In April, 1863, Colonel Matthies was promoted to Brigadier-General for his gallant services in several battles.