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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Bradley Glasebrook.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Emmanuel Peter Letters, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase
Processing Information:
Processed by Bradley Glasebrook.
Biographical Information:
Emmanuel Peter and his brothers Franklin Peter and Orlando Bingham Peter served in the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Franklin Peter was mortally wounded June 1, 1864. Emmanuel was wounded slightly and returned to service. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
Letters written primarily by Emmanuel Peter while serving in the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteers and mailed to his family. Includes letters from war camps near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Other locations include Fairfax, Chickahominy, Warwick County, Harrison's Landing, Berryville, Belle Plain, White Oak Church, Rappahannock River, Brandy Station, Petersburg (Weldon Railroad, Fort Hell, Fort Wadsworth), Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Middletown, and Richmond in Virginia. Letters written from Hagerstown and Fort Gaines, Maryland are also present.
The collection contains letters from Emmanuel's brother, Orlando Bingham Peter, also serving in the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Includes letter announcing the death of Franklin Peter. Subjects include camp life and the Third Battle of Winchester as well as skirmishes near Rappahannock Station and Petersburg. Typescripts of letters are located at the end of the collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Battle of Opequon (Third Battle of Winchester), 1864
- Correspondence
- Second Battle of Rappahannock Station, Nov. 1863
- Siege of Petersburg, Va. (Richmond-Petersburg Campaign), 1864-1865
- Typescripts
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Container List
The folder contains the following letters:
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1861 September 5.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1861 September 26, Washington City (D.C.)
Emanuel and Franklin Peter, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1861 September 31.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1861 December 9.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1862 February 4.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Chickahominy, circa 1862 March 29.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Warwick County near (Yorktown?), 1862 April 14.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1862 May 16. Battle of 5 May. Franklin's illness.
Letter to Reuben Klose, 1862 July 17.
Letter from Emanuel Peter to Christian Gross, Camp near Harrison's Landing, 1862 August 3.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1862 October 8. Needs boots and shirts. No blankets. Cold at night.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Bell Plains, 1862 December 8.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp 49 in the woods, 1863 January 21. Bears drawing of soldier and flag.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp White Oak Church, 1863 February 23. 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 almost two years."
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp on Bank of Rappahannock River, 1863 April 30. Yesterday morning's fight.
Letter from Emanuel Peter To Matilda (Sarah M. Peter), 1863 November 15. Battle 7 November Rappahannock Station.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1863 November 19.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1863 November 21. Battle near Rappahannock Station.
Letter from Emanuel Peter To Matilda (Sarah M. Peter), Camp near Brandy Station, 1863 December 4. Right on other side of Rapidan.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1863 December 11.
Letter from Emanuel Peter To Amanda, Camp near Brandy Station, 1864 February 17.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1864 April 21.
Letter from Orlando Bingman, 1864 June 25. Wounding of Franklin and Emanuel. Death of Franklin. Franklin wounded June 1, died June 8.
Letter from Orlando Bingman, 1864 July 24. Franklin's pay.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Fort Gaines, Maryland, 1864 July 24. Wounded in ear and was at hospital in Baltimore.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Fort Gaines, 1864 July 26.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Harper's Ferry, 1864 August 9. $1.00 for my brother James Willson.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, 1864 August 27. Fighting here last Sunday and everyday since. 49th not involved. Comments on Lincoln.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, On picket duty near Berryville, 1864 September 18.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp at Winchester, 1864 October 7. Describes battle on 19th September (Third Battle of Winchester).
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Winchester, Virginia, 1864 October 26. Fight on October 19, 1864. New flag for bravery at Winchester. Accused others of being copperheads.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Middletown, Virginia, 1864 November 6.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1864 December 3. On move from Winchester to Washington to Fortress Monroe (on board boat in Chesapeake Bay).
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp near Fort Wadsworth. To sister Amanda, 1864 December 6.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Near Fort Hell [Fort Sedgwick], Virginia, 1864 December 17.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Near Fort Wadsworth, 1864 December 28. 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.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1865 January 14. Sends 13 photographs including his Colonel who was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Camp at Weldon Railroad, 1865 February 2.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, Weldon Railroad, 1865 February 19.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1865 March 5.
Image of Emanuel Peter, 1865 March 17. Cartes-de-visite.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1865 May 6. Marched 130 miles in 4 days and we fought 2 hard battles at close of war. Brother Edward paying for a substitute is cowardly.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, 1865 May 21. Richmond.
Letter from Emanuel Peter, near Washington City, 1865 June 3.