Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-02-15
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GEN. PECK AND HIS PRAYER.

ivy SUhcA0o oih"A PuO'V6A"H" W
Gen. William R. Peck, a food Of plea
SAINT memories came rushing to the
mind of the writer. Those who knev,
and were ever intimately asseolsteo
with him, will never forget 1hat
brave soldier and accomplished gen
tlenan. When the late war broke
out, bio abandoned his extensive plan
tatisn at Milliken's Bend, raised a
company at his own expense, and
joined the Ninth Regiment which be-
came Incorporated with the First
Louisiana Brigade, Army ofNorthern
Virginia.
He was Major Of that regiment
when Dick Taylor was Colonel.
Then, after the promotion of that Of
ficer, was made Lieutenant Colonel,
and upon the elevation ofthe lament
ed Leroy Stafford to the command of
the Second Louisiana Brigade, became
Colonel. "Billy" Peck, as his friends
familiarly called him, was in some
respects remarkable man, and it
may not be uninteresting, especially
to the old soldiers from this State
who served with Gen. Lees ''incOm-
parable infantry to briefly recall
some of his distinguishing character
istics. Physically he was a Titan;
six and one-half feethigh, and weigh
ing over three hundred pounds, he
was the largest man in the army.
Notwithstanding his huge bulk, he
carried himself, whether on foot or
when mounted OH lis great black
stallion with consumate ease, grace
and dignity.
Straight as al arrow, strong and
active as an athlete, presenting a
handsome appearance and a martial
bearing-an accomplished horseman
and always neatly and elegantly
dressed, there was no officer who pro-
voKed more-if as much attention
and admiration on the march than did
Col. Peck.
Within that big, burly frame there
was heart as tender, sympathetic
and loving as ever beat in the bosom
Of the most delicate woman, aud
though rigid and stern in the time Of
battle, after the excitement of the fray
had ceased, he was ever ready with
cheering words, outstretched hands,
or open purse to alleviate human
misery and suffering.
He was o brave and lucky soldier.
Duiing three years of the war there
was not q, fight of any magnitude in
which the army of Northern Virginia
participated that he was not engaged
in, and though his towering form was
always in the forefront of the battle
he never received a serious wound.
This immunity from injury was ever
a source OF wonderment among his
comrades, very few Of whom were SO
fortunate. He would often remark
that his prayer was that he should 60
through the war without having his
skin broken by a hostile bullet, and
strange it is his prayer was fulfilled.
Though he had horses shot under
him, and his uniform Oh several oc-
casions torn by bullets, it was not un-
til the last battle of Winchester,
where Early, with less than ten thou
sand men, was defeated by Sheridan
with thirty-six thousand, that Col r
Peck received a wound of any kind.
Then a piece of spent she'll struck him
on the thigh, producing confused
wound, but not breaking the skin. ,'@
After Early's unfortunate campaign
in the Shenandoah Valley, Col. Peck
was transferred to the trans-Missis-
sippi department, where he served for
the remainder of the war, winning
the promotion of brigadier general.
Ten years ago, amid the peace and
quietness of his plantation, he sur
his life to God, who had so
covered him with His
shield in the day of battle.-N. O.
States. - 11.'|
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