A fine pair of letters, one written by Dister, and another written by Lt. Peter A. Bishop regarding Dister’s death. Peter Dister enlisted on 4/16/61 as a Captain; on 4/29/61 he was commissioned into Co. B, 1^st Ohio Infantry. Mustered out on 8/16/61 at Dayton, OH. On 10/2/61 he enlisted as a Major; on 12/2/61 he was commissioned into the 58^th Ohio. Promoted to Lt. Colonel on 10/2/62. Killed in action (shot in the head and killed instantly) on 12/29/62 at Chickasaw Bayou, MS. He is buried in Cavalry Cemetery, Kettering, Montgomery County, OH.  An informational marker has been placed next to his grave. The text reads in part:

“Peter Dister, a Lt. Colonel in the Union Army, died December 29, 1862 in the Battle of Vicksburg. He was an immigrant who had served with the German Army in his native country. He came to America in 1850 and joined the Lafayette Yager, a German military organization. Dister settled in Dayton…. Dister helped the Union Army form the 58^th regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry as their Captain. They fought in the Battle of Bull Run. Through various acts of valor he was promoted to Lt. Colonel….He led his troops in the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he fell on December 28, 1862. His brother, Lt. Joseph Dister, served in the same unit. The younger Dister insisted his brother’s body be brought home to Dayton for burial….it took several months for the body to return…”

The first letter, dated October 22, 1862 from “Camp near Pilot Knob”, is written by Dister and is entirely in German. It is signed “P Dister Lieut Col.” The letter is 1 ½ pages in length (one 7 ¼” x 9 ¾” sheet, front & back) and is in good condition; fold lines, light spots of yellowing and foxing. Certainly a translation would reveal interesting content.

The second letter, 4 pages in length, was written by Lt Col. & AQM Peter A. Bishop, a friend of Lt. Col. Dister. It is dated “Columbus [Ohio] Sunday January 18^th 1863.” and directed to his wife and children.  He relates information about the battle in which Disler was killed, listing names of officers killed and wounded, the regiment having suffered heavy casualties. Letter is in good condition with fold lines, scattered minor spots of foxing.

Relevant parts of this letter are as follows:

“….description of a letter received that the Col. B. has received from Capt. Fix of Comp. B.  The names of the officers killed are as following:

Lt. Col. Peter Dister

Capt. Kinser

“    Andrey

“    Gallfey

“  Kaufmann_______

No. of the wounded are:

Capt. F. Fix

“      Morrison

Lt. Diefenbaugh

“  Otterfield

“  Kettey

“  Haring

“  Theusher

There where but 17 officers of the 58^th in the Vicksburg Battle, and by this Report you will see that five are killed, and seven wounded, this must have been a very hard fight. Also Capt. Fix writes 114 men were killed, this must be a mistake, but if it is so the balance of the regt must all be wounded and the regiment is used up for ____ case….Adj Genl Hill is verry sorry of loosing such a good officer and man as Lt. Col. Dister was….I have not told  you that when Lt. Col. Disters corps[e] was found, was all stript off to a woolen shirt his watch and other clothing money  all was taken by the fellons Rebbels. Dister was shot through the head and died instantly. Last week one day I was at Hettisheimers to dinner the[y] all feel bad about Dister….”.

The letter is signed “…Yours every truly & effectionate Husband. Peter A. Bishop”.

Accompanied by a brief amount of research material.

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