Peter Augustus Filbert

In 1860 he was a 26 year old clerk living in his older brother Samuel's inn in Pine Grove, PA. He enrolled there and mustered in Harrisburg as 2nd Lieutenant of Company D, 10th Pennsylvania Infantry for 3 months' service on 23 April 1861. He mustered out with them on 31 July. He enrolled and mustered again, in Pottsville on 23 September 1861, as Captain of Company B, 96th Pennsylvania Infantry.

He "did his duty" in command of his Company in action at Crampton's Gap on South Mountain on 14 September.

After signifiant political infighting with Colonel Cake, who opposed the appointment, Filbert was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in October 1862 (to date from 30 July 1862) and mustered as such on 2 November. On 11 November he appeared before a board of examination requested by Colonel Cake to determine his fitness for his post. About 6 weeks later, on 22 December, he was discharged by order of the President - having been found unfit by the board.

He served again, as Major of the 39th Infantry, Pennsylvania Militia of 1863 mustering in on about 1 July 1863 and out with them on 2 August 1863.

By 1880 he was a merchant in Pine Grove and had retired there by 1900.

His service basics from Bates1 and the Card File,2 with post-Antietam detail from Ward.3 His work on the Campaign from Colonel Cake’s Official Report. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860, 1880, 1900-1920. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Theodosia "Dotsie" Reitzell (1838-1921) and they had 2 daughters, born in 1869 and 1878.

His brother William was a private with him in Company D/10th Infantry and B/96th.

Kurt Emerich's 2007 masters thesis at Penn State was titled Honor Is My Motto: The Union Service of Peter A. Filbert in the American Civil War, As Recorded in his Diary. Filbert's diary and other papers are in the Harrisburg Civil War Roundtable Collection at The US Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA.

11/20/1833; Pine Grove, PA

01/31/1924; Pine Grove, PA; burial in Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove, PA