General John Peck & his "Female Aide de Camp"

Item CDV-10373

Description

CDVs of General John Peck & Georgiana Morris "Female Aide de Camp"

Peck, John James, major-general, was born in Manlius, N. Y.,
Jan. 4, 1821, and was graduated at the United States military
academy in 1843. He took part in most of the important
engagements of the Mexican war was promoted 1st lieutenant,
Aug. 20, 1847, brevetted captain for gallantry at Contreras and
Churubusco, major for meritorious conduct in the battle of
Molino del Rey, and on his return to New York the citizens
presented him with a sword. He subsequently served on
scouting, frontier and recruiting duty, resigned his commission
in 1853, and was then treasurer of the proposed railroad from
New York to Syracuse via Newburg, and cashier of the Burnet
bank, Syracuse, N. Y. He was commissioned brigadier-general of
volunteers, Aug. 9, 1861, and served in the defenses of
Washington and then in the Peninsular campaign. He engaged in,
the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Williamsburg and Fair
Oaks; in the operations of the Seven Days' battles before
Richmond, and on the change of base to the James River, June
26-July 2, 1862, he commanded the 2nd division of the 4th
corps. He was promoted major-general of volunteers, July 4,
1862, and commanded a division at first composed of 9,000 men
and afterwards augmented to almost 25,000, embracing all the
Federal troops south of the James River. He was engaged in the
operations about Suffolk, Va., and rendered valuable service by
his brilliant defense of Suffolk against a superior force under
Longstreet. He was in command of North Carolina 1863-64, of
the Department of the East with headquarters in New York, 1864-
65, and was mustered out Aug. 24, 1865. He then returned to
Syracuse, N. Y., and organized at that place the New York State
life insurance company, of which he was president until his
death. He died in Syracuse, N. Y., April 28, 1878.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8