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John Peter Wolfhope

John Peter Wolfhope was born on the 21st of February 1839 in New Baltimore, Allegheny Township, Somerset County, PA. His father was Hermann Heinrich Wolfhope and his mother was Maria Anna Brockhage Wolfhope. He was baptized at Saint John the Baptist RC Church, New Baltimore, Allegheny Township, Somerset County. His godparents at his baptism were Peter Topper and his wife, Maria Topper.

John died on the 4th October 1864, at 25 years of age at Andersonville Prison Camp, at Andersonville, Sumter County, Georgia.

John Peter Wolfhope enlisted in the Northern Army in 1864. On the 2nd of March, 1864, he volunteered to serve for a period of three years. John was physically described as having blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, and as being six feet, two inches tall. His occupation was described as farmer. Interestingly enough he volunteered at Williams Township, Northampton County which is quite some distance from his hometown in New Baltimore, Somerset County, and which is where years before Captain Andrew Topper volunteered for service in the American Revolutionary War. John was mustered into Company A of the 184th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, at Harrisburg, PA.

I always presumed that John was named after my great, great grandfather, Peter Andrew Topper, who was named as his godfather. The Wolfhope family was closely connected to the Toppers in the New Baltimore community. Anna Frances Wolfhope, daughter of Bernard and Adeline Miller Wolfhope wed Francis Topper, the son of Peter and Mary Lucken Topper.

John saw action in the Civil War at Petersburg, VA, Jerusalem Plank Road, VA and a skirmish at Ream’s Station, VA. He was captured at Petersburg, VA on June 22nd, 1864, confined at Richmond, VA on June 25th and sent to Lynchburg, VA on June 29th, 1864. From there he was sent to Georgia where he was confined at Andersonville, GA (no date given). From there, he was admitted to the Hospital at Andersonville, GA on October 1st, 1864, where he died of dysentery on October 4th, 1864. John was buried at Andersonville Prison Camp in grave number 10315.

I love John’s letter home, to his brother Henry. To me the letter seems so real, so honest, right down to asking for a loan of five dollars. In many ways it seems like a letter that could have been written just yesterday. And the letter also shows what a kid John was, right down to playing games with the cows around the camp. John describes the activity at Camp Curtain, “We have great times.” He’s concerned about life back in the Bottom, the affectionate name for Harmon’s Bottom, or New Baltimore, and inquires how everyone is doing. But you get the idea, that maybe there is not enough training going on for this kid going off to war, and who within less than six months would be dead.

John wrote the following letter to his brother Henry Wolfhope:

Camp Curtain

May the 7th, 1864

Dear Brother,
I sit down to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well at present hoping all is well at home. We are not organised yet and I can’t tell when we will. We had battalion drill yesterday and the Colonel told us we would not get our pay until we would leave here and that when we get our pay we may look out to go to the front. They are making great preparations at Fort Washington across the river from Harrisburg and they are expecting and they said the report is the rebels are in Cumberland. There are so many reports, there will be something done before long. There are only three regiments in camp now. It is very warm here. The woods are very green. There is plenty to eat. We will have chicken to eat for dinner today. We have milk in our coffee every day. There are plenty of cows running about camp if they wont stan we catch them and hold them. We have some great times. I was in town on duty last night me and five others we brought in fifteen of our men and put them in the guard house.

Henry, I want you to send me five dollars I have not got a cent of money. Most of our company is out of money. It may be a month more before we get our pay. I loaned Bohn eight dollars until he gets, paid. We’ll be all right when we get paid. I want to get a hat, some other things send it as soon as you can. I had written to you and Barny but got no answer. I want you to let me know all the news in the Bottom. How the Shuck Shop is getting along. How the girls are getting along. Whether it is true about William or not and let me know whether you got my clothes.
Nothing more at present.

Your affectionate brother John Wolfhope
to Henry Wolfhope

Original of this letter belongs to Henry P. Wolfhope, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124 as of September, 1981.

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