Peter Oswald, son of John Oswald of Slatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, was a private in Co. H, 209th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Peter was of German extraction and his father was probably born in Germany. The 209th Regiment was organized in September 1864, went to the City Point (Virginia) area for guard and garrison duty for several weeks and in November moved to Petersburg and remained there until April 1865, when it joined in the pursuit of Lee. After Lee's surrender, the regiment returned to City Point and from there, in late April, it proceeded to the vicinity of Washington where it was mustered out in May, 1865. Peter was hurt in early December 1864 while carrying a log and had to go to the hospital, first at City Point and then in Washington (Harewood Hospital). He did not get out until the latter part of March, in time to take part in the breakthrough near Petersburg and the pursuit of Lee to Appomattox.
From the description of Peter Oswald correspondence, 1864-1865, [photocopies]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78277653
