Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-03-21
II OBJ TUARY |
Observation-Disclosures



| noon at $3.50 o'clock.
| General Peck had not been in good
health for many months, having suf-
Tered from rheumatism and kindred
ailments. and since the death of his
wife. November Is last, following a
long and trying Illness. he failed hap
Idly.
1t may be said without qualification
that for many years there has been no
| better known resident of Burlington.
Although actively interested in the
city's affairs he was particularly
concerned In everything that pertained
TO the military and the GRAND Army and
his old comrades in arms OF COM
| handing presence and the most courtly
OF manners, General Peck was known
to all and won a legion Of friends by
reason Of his Kindness Of heart and
never-failing sympathy IN time Of
trouble.
Theodore Stafford Peck was born in
Burlington March q. 1s43, son of Theo-
dore Augustus and Della Horton (Safford)
Peck. His early education was acquired
at the public schools preparatory to en-
tering the University of Vermont. He
was but IS years OF age when the Civil
war opened, and at once enlisted as n
private in the First Regiment, Vermont
Cavalry. September 1. 1861. He was mus
tered into the United States service
November 1. 1851; promoted regimental
quartermaster sergeant Ninth Vermont
Infantry. June 25. 1862: second lieutenant
January 4 1885, first lieutenant June 10,
1854; acting regimental quartermaster and
ad5utant. also acting assistant adjutant-
general. aide-de camp and brigade quar-
termaster. second brigade, second division
18th army corps, appointed captain and
assistant quartermaster United States
Volunteers. March II, 1885, and assigned
to the first brigade, third division, Nth
army corps. He served on the STATS Of
General Stannard. General Wistar, Gen.
Joseph H. Potter, General Donohue and
Gen. e. H. Ripley. Present in action at
Middletown and Winchester, Va, May "a
and %. 1862. with the Vermont Cavalry;
at Winchester in August. and at Har-
per's Ferry September, 1862. with the
Ninth Vermont Infantry. At the latter
place, with his regiment, he was cap
tured and paroled; at the siege Of Suf-
folk. Nansemond, Edenton Road and
Blackwater. May. 1863: Yorktown and
Gloucester Court House. Va, July
and August, 1858; Young's Cross Roads,
N. c., December, 1858; Newport Bar
| racks. February 2. 1864. where he re-
ceived medal Of honor from Congress
for distinguished gallantry in action;
Swansboro and Jacksonville, N. c., May,
1884, served with his command from
August to the latter part Of September
1854. on the Petersburg and Bermuda
Hundred Fronts in Virginia. in the Armies
OF the Potomac and Of the James; Fort
Harrison, Va, September $780, 1864, where
he was wounded; Fair Oaks. Va. October
%. 1854; special duty commanding a bat
talon Of the Ninth Vermont Regiment,
November 1, 1864. in New York city, a
riot duty during the second election Of
President Lincoln; in the trenches at the
siege and capture Of Richmond, winter
and spring Of 1s64-65. and with the Third
Brigade. Third Division, Ath Army Corps,
was among the first to enter Richmond,
Va. at the surrender. April 3, 1866 He was
mustered out of service June %. 1866. At
the close Of his volunteer service he was
offered three commissions in the regular
army. which were declined.
Upon his returned to his home in ver-
mont he was appointed chief Of stan
with rank of colonel by Governor John
w. Stewart. In July. 1866, he was APP
pointed major and assistant adjutant-
general Of the First Brigade, Vermont
Militia, and upon its muster-out he was
elected May 10. 1868. first lieutenant of
the light battery. and captain COM
manding February 16. 1869. Septem-
Der l. 1869, he was elected lieutenant
colonel commanding battalion of the
LIST regiment Vermont National Guard
and colonel of the LIST regiment Of the
brigade of Vermont National Guard,
September 10, 1870. Upon the CONSOLE
dalton Of the brigade to one regiment
April IA, 1873. he was elected colonel of
the same. and held command for eight
years until appointed adjutant general
OF Vermont. with rank of brigadier
general in 1881 by the Governor of
Vermont. Hon. Roswell Farnham. From
this time to 1901 he was unanimously
elected by the joint assembly of the
Vermont Legislature at it's several BIZ
ennial sessions as adjutant general, and
was promoted to the rank of major
general by brevet in 1894, for faithful
and meritorious service. He served the
nation and State almost continuously
for forty years, and was chief of stan
/ for the following governors of YER
mont; Farnham. Barstow. Pingree,
Ormsbee. Fuller. Page, Dillingham;,
Woodbury.. Grout and Smith. until Oc-
tober, 1901, when he was placed upon
the retired list.
In 1869 he was made assistant adj
jutant-general of the Grand Army Of
the Republic. department of Vermont.
, and in 1879 was elected senior vice.
commander and department commander
in 1876-77.
He was secretary of the Vermont
commission. appointed by Governor
Fletcher. to erect the monument and
bronze tablet In honor of the LIST YER
mont cavalry and it's commander, Major
Geperal William Wells, on the battle
field Of Gettysburg on July 3, 1913. so
years after the battle.
He was charter member of the
Vermont Commandery, Military Order
of the Loyal Legion of the United
States, and was it's commander in 1902
| 3. Was vice-president general, also
historian general of the National So
| ciety, Sons of the American Revolution.
first governor OF the Vermont Society
Of Colonial Wars; June 10, 1910. an
pointed deputy governor general for
the State of Vermont. General Society
of Colonial Wars; commander of the
Medal of Honor Legion of the United
States in 1SS9-1s0o. In 1891 he was
appointed by President Harrison a
member of the board Of visitors at the
United States Military Academy at
West Point. N. Y While adtutant-
general Of Vermont, in 1898 he mobil-
lied. armed and equipped the list re9i-
ment Infantry, Vermont Volunteers.
which rendezvoused on the State per-
manent camp ground near Fort Ethan
Allen, VT, between the 4th and 7th Of
May. 1898, and was mustered into the
United States service May 16. 1898, pro-
ceeding TO Chicamauga. Ca. on the
1 TAD 49,.