The Battle of the Wilderness was Peter's final battle, after which he was listed as missing in action. A year later a letter from Clara Barton confirmed that another soldier had seen him killed.
Peter was well aware that a major battle was imminent, with rations being limited and mail stopped. He described massive troop movements, including '10 thousand negro troops.'
He commented on a dream Clarinda had that he was in danger, and reassured her that he was fine and healthy.
Peter and a number of others had applied to join the Navy, where he felt he would be in less danger, but his approval paperwork never came.
In his last letter, written days before he disappeared in battle, Peter said:
'Dear Clara, 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 as well as I can.'
'I hope the Lord will spare us to meet again on earth.'
'Take good care of yourself and our little ones. Give my love to all my folks and may heaven protect us evermore.'
| B a t t l e s | T h e m e s | ||
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| 1864-04-01.......Col Navy papers, Brig Gen Ayres, now 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corp, Gen Warren, Sykes like a father, left, target practice, preparing for terrible conflict 04-01-1864s.htm |   | w: |
| 1864-04-14.......Thursday the 14th, 1864- probably April- scans used to say mm-14-1864, warm, Spring campaign, drills,not transferred to Navy, Clarinda living downtown, Lotty, downhill worst 04-14-1864s.htm |     | w: |
| 1864-04-23.......afraid did not pass Navy exam, preparations, officers on soldiers rations, bread and molasses, no communications after 26th, her dream is wrong, he is well 04-23-1864s.htm |     | w: |
| 1864-04-29.......mail stopped, Burnside 40 thousand men looked worn out, 10 thousand negro troops, fear hard battle, hope Lord spare us to meet again on earth, heaven protect us all 04-29-1864s.htm |   | w: |
| 1865-06-19GC.......George C. Carter to Clarinda, brief notice husband officially reported deceased 06-19-1865gcs.htm |  | w: |
| 1865-06-20GC.......George C. Carter to Clarinda, reliable news received from Army decease has been established, proceed with claims on government 06-20-1865gcs.htm |   | w: |
| 1865-07-03.......Off. of Correspon. w friends of Missing Men, informed PLD killed at Wilderness, May 5 1864,Charles Y Jones, Clara Barton, per RGP 07-03-1865CBs.htm |  | w: |