Peter Dibean

On the left in the photo
(Listed as Peter Dibeau in the Michigan records) Company D, 5th Michigan Infantry

Peter was from Oakland County, Michigan enlisted August 23 1861 at Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan for 3 years at the age of 48. He took the muster oath on August 28, 1861. He was discharged for disability at Fort Ward, Virginia on September 24, 1862. In November 1862 he then enlisted in the 8th Michigan Cavalry, serving in both Company "C" and "D". It was while serving in the 8th Michigan Cavalry in Georgia on the "Stoneman Raid", August 3, 1863, that he was taken prisoner and later confined to the infamous Andersonville Prison. He remained a prisoner at Andersonville Prison until December 1864 when he was released, probably with a pardon. He returned to Pontiac Michigan about January 1, 1865. When he was released from Andersonville he weighed only 68 pounds and was not able to walk and had to be carried home from the train station, as affidavits in his Civil War Pension File testify to. At the time of his release he was ill with various diseases that were prevalent at the time. On 14 January 1865, Peter died at his home in Pontiac, Oakland County. He was buried on 16 January 16, 1865 in the Mt Hope Catholic Cemetery in Pontiac. His Civil War Headstone has his name spelled Peter Dibion. As a result of Peter's diseases being passed on to other family members, his wife, Mary Till, died on February 4, 1865 and a daughter, Julia, died on March 13, 1865. The remainder of the family was then placed with other families or other family members.