TABLE OF CONTENTS


Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection


Peck Civil War Collection

Westfield Athenaeum

Finding Aid for Edwin L. Peck



Overview of the Collection

Repository: Westfield Athenaeum6 Elm Street Westfield, MA 01085
Creator: Peck, Edwin L.
Title: Edwin L. Peck Civil War Papers
Dates: 1862-1890
Quantity: .25 cubic feet;1 box
Abstract: Civil War military papers, photographs, maps, and a scrapbook.
Identification: A6.2007
Language: Materialsare entirely in English..

Biographical Note

Lieut. Edwin L. Peck, son of Capt. Noah Peck-a former officer of the State militia from Rehoboth, Mass.,- was born at Seekonk, Mass., Feb. 10, 1839. In 1859 he attended the Westfield Normal School, graduating in 1860. At age 25, he entered service on Nov. 1863 at Newport News; Edwin quickly rose through the ranks in 1864 to become a first lieutenant and brevet captain. Lieut. Peck was engaged in many major battles (Drewry's Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and captured at South-West Creek March 8, 1865. After the war, he returned to Westfield and married Pauline Kempter, dying years later on March 14,1898. He is buried in Pine Hill Cemetery.

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Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the military artifacts and papers of Edwin L. Peck as a soldier in the American Civil War. Although this collection has a variety of personal artifacts, the content is largely factual.

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Arrangement

Materials are arranged by physical type and then by chronology in folders.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Materials are available at the Reference desk during normal operating hours.Caution must be taken as some of the materials are fragile

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Related Material

Edwin Smith Historical Museum has a variety of artifacts that Peck has listed in his catalog "Relics of the War of Rebellion".

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

Abbot, John
Barber, Thomas
Caffee, Patrick
Conwel, P.
Cooley, Sherman P.
Dodge, John May
Grey, Charles
Huntoon, Reuben
Mansfield, James
Moore, John W.
Peck, Edwin L.
Peck, L. W.
Pendleton, Edward
Richards,Walter

Family Names:

Peck

Places:

Cold Harbor (VA), Battle of 1864
Westfield (MA)

Subjects:

New Bern(NC)--History--Civil War 1861-1865--Maps,Manuscript
Soldiers
United States History Civil War 1861-1865
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Battlefields
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Campaigns Maps.
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Caricatures and cartoons
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Casualties
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Food supply.
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Maps
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Military Equipment and supplies
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Pictorial works
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Prisoners and prisons
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Veterans

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Edwin L. Peck Civil War Collection Westfield Athenaeum, Westfiled MA

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Detailed Description of the Collection

1 1 Writing and Thread Case, 1862 8.5 x 6 inches
2 Mess Account Book, 1864-1865 5.75 x 3.25 inches
This account book largely describes the food bought during various campaigns from Oct. 1864-Feb. 1865 and includes notations of letters written, bills receivable and notes paid. It does not contain any actual letters. This account book was made by Peck and Lieut. Sherman P. Cooley. for Major John W. Moore who was the commander of this company.
3 Military Papers, 1864
3 Letters requesting pass 1864
Pass for Private P. Conwell to go to Kingston North Carolina on personal business and the May 25th request which has numerous notes on the reverse
3 Countersigners, October 31, 1864
Orders for Countersigners and the Countersigners' signals for October 31, 1864 Newberne N.C.
3 Peck Equipment, September 1, 1864
List of clothing camp and garrison equipage transferred to Lieut. Edwin L.Peck.
3 Casualty List, June 30, 1864
List of casulties of Company F 27th Regiment Mass Volunteers qualify for the 2nd quarter ending June10, 1864
4 Military Papers,1865 1865
Predominantly papers identifying members of the F company of the 27th Infantry, but other companies are mentioned.
4 Description Lists 1865 9 papers
Description lists of men who joined the 27th Infantry with the dates of their enlistment: John Abbot, Walter Richards, Thomas Barber, Reuben Huntoon,John May Dodge, Patrick Caffee, James Mansfield, Edward Pendleton,Charles Grey.
4 Company F Muster Roll April 30, 1865
4 Final Company F Muster Roll
Added notation on this copy reads " made hastily and incomplete"
5 Maps and Miscellaneous, supplied 1864
The maps are hand-drawn of unknown author, although probably a member of the 9th New Jersey Volunteers since both maps detail that group. Peck's company fought in the same area.
5 Maps of North Carolina, 7 x 8.5 inches. cartographic records.
One map title reads Jones, Craven, and Carteret Counties lying on the A[S?] N.C. R.R. showing the position of the Picquet [line?] of the 9th Regt of N.J. Vol. Scale is 4 miles to inch and map gives orientation and has a border. A less formal map with no boarders or scale is on the reverse. Its title reads Newport Barracks and the county immediately adjacent
5 Leaves from Fort Ticonderoga,
An envelope contains leaves. The note on the envelope reads "Leaves from Fort Ticonderoga in covered way where Ethan Allen entered."
5 27th Reg. Reunion Ribbon,
6 Scrapbook, 20 pages. 10.5 x 7 inches.
Created on L.W. Peck's 1887 "Montana Wool Grower" catalog, this scrapbook consists of newspaper illustrations about the Civil War with no notes or comments.
7 Published Materials circa1886
7 Newspaper Articles 1886
Although Peck collected the Republican newspaper articles. The North Star article is a recent copy of Peck's 1886 article.
Springfield Republican July 5,1886 "War Memories XIV Charge of the Star Brigade at Cold Harbor" written by Derby, William P. William P. Derby
Springfield Republican September 20, 1886 "War Memories XXV The Investment of Petersburg:Adventures of the Star Brigade" written by Derby, William P. William P. Derby
North Star July 1886 "War Memories XIV Charge of the Star Brigade at Cold Harbor" written by Edwin L. Peck
7 Published Items,
Includes Peck's Catalog titled "Relics of the War of Rebellion" and a published list of Company F detailing who deserted, resigned, died, or was transferred or discharged.
8 Photographs, 1862-1888
The collection contains copies of the actual cabinet cards showing Peck. The originals are in the Edwin Smith Historical Museum G.A.R. cabinet.
Carte-de-visite of young woman, title "Evangeline" purchased by Peck in New York July 4, 1863.
Carte-de-visite of unidentified officer-reverse reads NewBerne N.C. Aug 13th, 1863.
Edwin Peck as a young officer.
Edwin Peck older, perhaps at a reunion.