Private George Peter Dreisbach, 67th Pennsylvania Volunteers

Private George Peter Dreisbach, born May 21, 1840, at Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, was the first child of Aaron and Mary Ann Stocker Dreisbach. On February 8, 1862 at Hamilton Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, Peter enlisted in Company H of the 67th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for three years and was mustered February 15. A farmer at the time of his enlistment, Peter was 5' 9", had brown hair, hazel eyes, and a dark complexion. The 67th served guard and provost duty

at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland until February, 1863, at which time they were transferred to garrison and guard duty at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. After several weeks, the 67th was transferred to Berryville, Virginia and attached to the 3rd Brigade under General Robert Huston Milroy. Captured along with many other men of the 67th during the 2nd Battle of Winchester on June 15, 1863, Peter was confined at Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia on June 23 where he remained until July 19. Paroled at City Point, Virginia, Peter was sent to Camp Parole, Maryland. Declared exchanged October 11, he rejoined his regiment October 13. On February 14, 1864, in winter quarters at Brandy Station, Virginia, Peter reenlisted as a veteran volunteer and was mustered February 19. His bounty for reenlistment was $100. As a result of his reenlistment, Peter was given a veteran's furlough and rejoined his regiment at Washington DC in April. Captured June 20, 1864 during a skirmish at White House Landing, Virginia, Peter was taken to Richmond and from there on June 22, sent to Andersonville Prison Camp at Sumter County, Georgia. Peter died at Andersonville November 1, 1864 of scorbutus (scurvy). In Andersonville records, he was listed as Peter Trespan. His stone, grave #11754, at Andersonville National Cemetery reads Peter Driesbach. Andersonville Prison Camp, Georgia

George Peter's brother, Thomas Francis, three years his junior, enlisted in the 67th Pennsylvania on February 11 but is listed in Samuel Bates' History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers as having deserted February 15. Following is a letter written by Peter March 10, 1863 to his brother and in it, he shows no sign of knowing of Thomas' desertion. Peter writes of getting paid, Stonewall Jackson, and of the defenses at Harpers Ferry at the time the letter is written.

I am very grateful to a cousin I found on the internet for sending me a copy of this letter and also a transcript which someone did of the letter many years ago. This first version of the letter is the transcript which, while not entirely accurate or complete, gives a good idea of the letter and its meaning.

I let you know that I well at present time and I hope this few lines will find you the same health by receiving this letter and further you must excuse me for not writing sooner. I have so much to do I couldn't write sooner and further I let you know that I like it better here than in Annapolis and I have plenty to eat and drink and good clothes and I think we get paid on 1st April next month for four months. We get paid and the clothes bill gets settled off. I have to pay on the clothes bill for a year $11.00, and that they take out of the four months pay. Then I get $41.00.

Now Mr. Thomas my brother if you get this letter, let my father know that I am well and that I sent a letter to you and further I let you know that Mr. Lincoln, the President, wants 600,000 more men immediately in the field to battle the Rebels. I think it will take some of you fellows around that place. If you have to go you better enlist than be drafted. The drafted men have it harder than the volunteers the way that I hear, but you might do what you think is best for you.

The war news is not much to write for this time but we did hear that Stonewall Jackson, the Rebels general, wants to eat his dinner in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, on the 1st of April.

I think he find a bigger joke if he come again, and further I let you know that around that place at Harpers Ferry, Virginia has 15 Regiments, and on the Big Hill they have good Battery with big guns that can strafe the shoals and balls fire 8 miles and three regiments artillery. That place is hard to take if the men do their duty and the weather is bad, it snows a little and is very muddy. The weather is bad since we are on that place on Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

Now I let you know that I did send a letter to my Father about two weeks ago and have no answer yet.

Now as soon as you receive this letter, write me back again and write me the best news that you know from all my good friends.

Now I will close my letter to you all - my good friend and write soon.
Peter Dreisbach"

This is the complete letter as originally written by Peter. In the original, with all of the common misspellings of the time, Peter's Pennsylvania Dutch heritage is very evident. If anyone has any additional information on George Peter, photographs, or other letters, I would be very grateful to receive a copy. Please e-mail me.

Mr my Dear frint Thomas Drisbach I let you know that I welle at Present Time ant I Hope this fue lins wille fint you int the Sam Helts by receivt this letter ant Forther you mos Exquse mea fore not rite Soner. I Have So moch to Due I Guten rite Soner ant forther I let you Know that I like it Bather hear then in Annapolis ant I have plenty to Eat ant to trink and gute gloas and I Sink vea git pate on 1st April nacht month for four month vea git pate ant the gloas bill get Sethelt of it Have to pay on the gloas bill for a year $11.00 Dollers ant that the take out the four month pay then I git $41.00 Dollers. Now Mr. Thomas my Brother if you git this letter let my Father know it that I welle ant that I Sent a letter to you Ant forther I let you Know that Mr. Lingoln the Prestent want Six Honthert Thousent more men meatyathly in the field to Bathel the Rebels I sink it wille take some of you fellers rount that Pleas if you Have to goe you Bather list then bea trafted the trafted men Have Herther then wallenteer the wae that I dit hear bat you mite Due wat you Sink is the best fore you the ware News is not moch to rite fore this time bat vea Dit hear that Stonwall Jachsien the Rebels Ginrel want to Eat his Dinner in Harpers ferry Virginia on the 1st April. But let him Come vea wille give him Sober to get out a scoothein overgote milre is not ther that time he is Kilt he Dit Sole that Eleven Thousent men that time fore 10 Doller a hete or apeas I Sink he fint a biger joke if he Com agin ant forther I let you Know that rount that Pleas on Harpers ferry Virginia las 15 Rithment ant on the Big hill the have a gute Bathry with big guns the cen Stroc the Shalls ant bols Stre 8 mils ant three Rithment attilry that pleas is hart to Take if the men Due his Dutty ant the wather is bath it Snows a littel ant is verry mothe the wather is bath Sins vea on that Pleas on Harpers ferry Virginia Now I let you Know that I Dit Sint a letter to my Father about two weeks agoe ant Have no anser yet Now as Sone as you receivt this letter rite mea back agin ant rite mea the best News wat you Know from awl my vir Griat frint Now I wille gloas my letter I Sint my Best Respect to you awl my grite Frint ant rite Son
Peter Drisbach"

This Memorial Awarded to:

George Peter Dreisbach

of Co H, 67th PA Inf, U.S. Army.

Died a Prisoner of War on

November 1, 1864, in captivity at:

Andersonville, Georgia

To receive a Confederate/Federal POW Website Memorial
or Virtual CSA Purple Heart Award visit:
The Virtual WBTS Memorial Website.

Photos of Libby Prison and Andersonville Prison Camp from the National Archives Collection