A Collection in the
Manuscripts and Rare Books Department
Collection Number Mss. Acc.
2001.1
Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and
Mary
Special Collections Earl Gregg Swem Library College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8794 USA Phone: (757) 221-3090 Fax: (757) 221-5440 Email: spcoll@wm.edu URL: http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any
materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of
Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the
copyright, if not Swem Library.
Preferred Citation
Emmanuel Peter Papers, Manuscripts and Rare Books
Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Emmanuel Peter and his brother Franklin Peter served in the
49th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Franklin Peter was mortally
wounded June 1, 1864. Emmanuel was wounded slightly and
returned to service.
Letters from Civil War camps near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
Washington, D.C. and in Virginia (Fairfax, Chickahominy,
Warwick County, Harrison's Landing, Berryville, Belle Plain,
White Oak Church, Rappahannock River, Brandy Station,
Petersburg [Weldon Railroad, Fort Hell, i.e., Fort Sedgwick,
Fort Wadsworth], Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Middletown, and
Richmond) and Maryland (Hagerstown and Fort Gaines) to his
family.
Letters to father Jacob Peter as well as to other family
members from Emmanuel Peter but includes letters of his
brother Franklin Peter, also serving in the 49th Pennsylvania
Volunteers. Includes letters of Orlando Bingman concerning the
death of Franklin Peter.
Subjects include camp life and the Third Battle of
Winchester as well as skirmishes near Rappahannock Station and
Petersburg.
Emmanuel Peter to Christian Gross, Camp
nr. Harrison's Landing,
3 August 1862.
Folder 2
Emmanuel Peter,
8 October 1862.
Needs boots and shirts. No blankets. Cold at
night.
Folder 2
Emmanuel Peter, Camp nr. Bell Plains,
8 December 1862.
Folder 2
Emmanuel Peter, Camp 49 in the woods,
21 January 1863.
Bears drawing of soldier and flag.
Folder 2
Emmanuel Peter, Camp White Oak Church,
23 February 1863.
Franklin is on provoguard duty. "This thing of
killing people I would not mind quitting for a while
as we have been engadged [sic] in it for allmost
[sic] two years."
Folder 2
Emmanuel Peter, Camp on Bank of
Rappahannock River,
30 April 1863.
Yesterday morning's fight.
Folder 2
Emmanuel Peter To Matilda (Sarah M.
Peter),
15 November 1863.
Emmanuel Peter, Nr. Fort Wadsworth,
28 December 1864.
News of Sherman's success. "I could show you the
bones of soldiers that were killed and never was
buried and I can tell you it looks pretty hard." Tell
me news of Snyder County. Lists members of his
immediate family.
Folder 5
Emmanuel Peter,
14 January 1865.
Sends 13 photographs including his Colonel who was
killed in the Battle of the Wilderness.
Folder 5
Emmanuel Peter, Camp at Weldon Railroad,
2 February 1865.
Folder 5
Emmanuel Peter, Weldon Railroad,
19 February 1865.
Folder 5
Emmanuel Peter,
5 March 1865.
Folder 5
Emmanuel Peter,
17 March 1865.
Cartes-de-visite.
Folder 5
Emmanuel Peter,
6 May 1865.
Marched 130 miles in 4 days and we fought 2 hard
battles at close of war. Brother Edward paying for a
substitute is cowardly.