Peter was born in Fredericksburg (Lebanon County), PA on May 05, 1817.
He was the son of Johannes Hauer (1787-1837) and Theresa Elizabeth Sprigman (1790-1842).
Peter married Elizabeth Fredericka Klinger in Fredericksburg on January 30, 1836.
He moved to Annville (Lebanon County), PA a short time later, and worked as a tailor.
Peter enlisted on September 27, 1861 at the age of 44, and served in Company K, 93rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
This military unit was known as the Annville Guards, and was recruited by Captain Eli Daugherty.

Peter served in the unit until November 08, 1862.
He was discharged for medical reasons. His Certificate of Disability noted that he suffered from chronic rheumatism for a period of six months prior to discharge.

Peter enlisted a second time on February 24, 1864, and served in Company A, 93rd Regiment.
He was part of this unit until the end of the War, and was discharged on June 27, 1865.
During the Battle of the Wilderness, VA, Peter was assigned to the Ambulance Corps, and carried the wounded from the battlefield .
On May 05, 1864, Peter was injured while carrying a wounded soldier from the 62nd Regiment, New York Volunteers.
He was placed in the field hospital where he was treated by the Regiment's surgeon, E.R. Umberger.
During the evening of May 06, he was transported to Capital Hill Hospital, Washington, D.C. Following his release, Peter returned to his unit, but suffered a sunstroke for which he was hospitalized again.

Personal correspondence reveals that he was hospitalized at Danville Junction, VA on April 08, 1865 and at City Point, VA on April 21, 1865.

Peter returned to Annville after the War, and continued to work as a tailor.
However, he suffered health problems which resulted from his service during the War.

Peter died of kidney disease on January 05, 1880.
His pension request was not approved until after his death. Peter's widow received a montly benefit of $12 until she passed away on April 20, 1900.

One of Peter's daughters, Louisa, married James Gates, a Lebanon resident, on January 26, 1868. During the Civil War, James enlisted twice.
On August 8, 1862, he joined Company E, 127th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
He served in this unit until May 29, 1863. James re-enlisted on August 16, 1864, and became a private in Company F, 64th Regiment, 4th Calvary, Pennsylvania Volunteers.
He served in this unit until July 1, 1865.

After the War, James served as a constable in Lebanon. He died on January 15, 1893.