Politics and the progress of the War were of great interest to Peter. He mentioned them in most of his letters. He expressed his conflicting sentiments about the war effort.
Peter commented on rumors or items he read in the newspaper. Sometimes he predicted what the Union or Confederate army might do next.
Peter reported on troop movements. Following his promotion to Sergeant and as the war progressed, Peter provided more detailed reports.
Usually Peter's writing demonstrated pride and support for the Union cause. However, he expressed sympathy for the Southern civilians who had been harmed, especially children, and decried the horrors of war.
He noted that Confederate soldiers engaged in the same activities around camp that he and his fellow soldiers enjoyed.
On return to Fredericksburg months after the battle, he saw the town in ruins and watched the occupying Confederate soldiers on the banks, noting:
'It seems so strange to me that we can approach one another so close without danger and soon we shall be trying to take one other's lives and engaged perhaps in a terrible battle.'
Many letters expressed longing or prayers for peace, but by December 30, 1863, he wrote:
'Oh, we all hope for peace this winter. But the soldiers have suffered and endured so much through the folly of Rebels, they all unite one another saying that there can be no peace until every vestige of rebellion is swept from the face of the earth...'
'The feeling is far different from what it was last winter. Then they wanted peace on any terms, but it is not so now.'
Peter reported on Lincoln's and Grant's activities, and their grand reviews of his regiment. Numerous references are made to high- ranking officers, including Meade, Burnside, Garrard, Ayres, Sykes, Rosecrans, and Casey.
He noted that 'Gen. Warren was so drunk he could hardly set on his horse...I was told by old soldiers that all of our Generals get beastly drunk to get up their courage.'
In his last letter, before disappearing in the Battle of the Wilderness, he wrote: 'I am afraid before you hear from me again there will be a hard battle fought with the [Army] of the Potomac, but wherever I may be placed I shall try to do my duty....'
| B a t t l e s | T h e m e s | ||
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| 1863-02-22.......sketch winter scene on home page Armyofthepatomic.gif, snow, tents, wood, sickness and death, froze finger, government shoes, Deming, shoemaker Dennison, Washington Birthday 02-22-1863s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1863-03-01.......Camp near Potomac Creek,diarrhea, Demming, Dave Reese, rebel prisoners grit to backbone,well dressed, Julia, ward money, says March 1 1862 (wrong year) 03-01-1863s.html |   | p: d: |
| 1863-03-04.......sending pipe, could sell for $10, they call him whittling yankee, earned 75 cents whittling, got gloves, Ed [Burbiege] Tom 03-04-1863s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1863-04-06.......sore eye Co A and Co H snowball fight, Lincoln review, copied funny Fredericksburg wedding night letter 04-06-1863s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1863-04-09.......Grand Review by Lincoln 80 thousand troops, Rebels opposite, Fredericksburg ruins, children begging, no pay, sketching for money, whittling 04-09-1863s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1863-04-17.......did not move, heavy rainstorm, sending $40 allotment pay, balloons over Fredericksburg looking for strike 04-17-1863s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1863-06-18.......rumors of another Bull Run, description Menzo Gibbs death on battlefield, sick soldiers, her idea to telegraph, beef bone ring, paired with Fragment 3 06-18-1863s.htm |     | p: d: |
| 1863-10-02.......in Camp, rumor to Tenessee Gen Rosecrans,men confined refusing arms, no exchange,Fletch, Sarah Graff, Jakes brother Fred, Gods followers, wicked men 10-02-1863s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1864-01-15.......Smith, Handwright, tries to be good to soldiers, speak well of him,whiskey New Years eve, Capt Clasgens and Lieut Dutton recruit Utica, Mosbys guerrillas 01-15-1864s.htm |     | p: d: |
| 1864-02-20.......cold spell, daily routine described, breakfast, Charlie, Sarah, George Keiser, $1100 and 30 day furlough if 146 reenlist, sacrifice all life time for few days home 02-20-1864s.htm |   | p: d: |
| 1864-03-16.......Congress transferring army to navy, asks her consent, Jackson picture, Handwright, Fletch orderly, Curran, Armstrong, sketch Capt Durkee one arm 03-16-1864s.htm |   | p: d: |