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       Camp 49th Regt Pa Vol
           Near Fort Wadsworth Va
                December 28th  1864

Dear Father

            I have received your kind

and wellcome letter a few hours ago and I was glad to here from you again. There is not much news of importence in the army of the Potomac. Our commanders seeming to be waiting the result of General Sherman's operations down South as well as those of the fleet which lately sailed from Fortress Monroe, there is still considerable picket firing going on along our lines. The Rebels opened a new one hundred pounder in front of Petersburg a day or two ago, and have since been industriously engaged throwing shells at the railroad trains as they pass a certain point of the road in full view of their gunners, but as yet they have done no damage whatever. Nor are they likely to do so unless they show more accuracy then they have so far this morning. We had good news. We herd that old Jeff Davis was dead yesterday morning. A salute of one hundred guns was fired in honor of General thomases victory over rebel General Hood, and General Sherman captured the citty of Savannah with eight thousend prisoners and one hundred and fifty siege gunes and every thing that was in the citty, and we all exspect that General Grant will make another attack on the rebels brest works in front of Petersburg and Richmond and if he dose I hope we will be successful but I exspect it will be the servest battle of this war. The army are in pretty good quarters and the weather is very disagreable at present, but the army of the Potomac is still in good spiricts, and redy to fight the rebels as good as ever, and father if you was out here I could show you some thing that I dunt think you ever did see before. I could show you the bones of soldiers that were killed and never was buried, and I can tell you it looks pretty hard. I let you know that I got a letter from Cousin Caraline White and she sent her best respect to youns all. I also received them stamps and about a furlough I cant tell you wheather I come home this winter or not, but I am still in good hopes that this cruel war will come to an end till spring. And about brother Franklin back pay I cant tell you first how much it is but I will try and find it out till the next time I write to you. But I think it is little over three hundred dollars to come to him. The last time he was payed was in march some times. And now I would like to know if you got all my bounty at home or not and I herd that they would like to pay it but if I come home I will have that bounty dam soon. I think we will get payed before long and then I will sent you about fifty dollars again if I dunt get a furloug till that time. And I think I must bring my scripling to a close for this time and write soon again and let me know all the news in Snyder Co. So much From your Son

                        Emanuel Peter

Address

        Co "A" 49th Regt Pa Vol
         3rd Brigade 1st Division
          6th Army Corps
         Washington D.C.

       Emanuel Peter
                       Jacob Peter
     Susan Peter
     Sarah M. Peter
     Louis Peter
     Amand Peter
     Levi Peter
     James W. Peter
     Amelia A. Peter
     Mary C. Peter
     Harriet Peter
  I thought I would write there names all once are I'll
                                 for get them