James Peacock to J.E. Boos

James Peacock to J.E. Boos

James Peacock provides an account of his Civl War service to J.E. Boos. Peacock also relates a lengthy anecdote describing Booth's expression of anti-Union sentiments at a New Orleans dinner party and the argument that ensued as a result. Peacock allows a large left margin in his manuscript with a note that it has been left blank for binding.

Peacock, James

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

1914-02-25

pdf

en

300517

T1914.02.25-MISC

[in pencil] Top of Sheet---I want to keep this space blank for binding.

Massillon, Ohio

Feby. 25th 1914

J.E. Boos 20 Dudley Heights. Albany N.Y.

Dear Sir & Comrade.

Your request of Jany 26 ult. has remained unanswered, because of illness. Having passed my 78th milestone on the 4th inst. I am not as spry as I was.

I served in the 8th Indiana Infantry (Co. A) enlisting in the 3 months service, as a private re=enlisted Aug. 20.1861 and again as a Veteran Dec. 31, 1863. Mustered out as 1st Lieut. and Adjutant August 1865. In 3 mos. service in W. Virginia under Rosecrans and McClellan---3 years service in Missouri until April 1863. first under Fremont afterwards Hunter---then Halleck. Then transferred to Tennessee under Grant for the Vicksburg campaign. After that New Orleans under Banks---served in Texas. After veteranizing we returned to the Gulf Dept. until latter part of July---transferred to Shenandoah Dept under Sheridan---in the Shenandoah campaign. Then early in Jany 1865 to Savannah, Ga. arriving just as Sherman entered the City of Savannah where our Division remained when Sherman crossed the river to S. Carolina---Up to Augusta, Ga. capturing the Arsenal; back to Savannah until the war closed---thence to Hawkinsville, Ga.---until the end of July 1865 when we were mustered out.

Not being at any time in the Army of the Potomac, I never saw the President.

I can relate an incident which may however interest you. When en route on Veteran Furlough we were detained at New Orleans, to be paid off by the Pay Master over two weeks, during

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which time I visited the St Charles Theater, where I found an old Buffalo friend---Thos. W. Davey Manager Was at his house frequently and during that time J. Wilkes Booth played an engagement there. I met him once at my friend Davey’s house at dinner Booth and I were in the parlor. The dining room door being open and the table laid. He was very violent in his talk as to Pres’t Lincoln, and called the Union soldiers all manner of vile names which was more than my young blood could stand. It eventuated in my calling him a dirty-mercenary, cowardly dog, because he had just come from Mobile, taking from the Confederate soldiers what money they had, and then over to New Orleans to gather in what we had. If he had one spark of manhood in him he would be in the Confederate ranks with a gun on his shoulder, where I could respect him. This enraged him so that he attempted to draw a pistol from his hip pocket. I had no weapon of any kind---but jumped into the dining room and seized a large carving knife and told him if he attempted to draw a pistol on me I would eviscerate him. Davey and his wife came in then and quieted him down. He was too cowardly to attempt to shoot me, because I was prepared for him. So it ended. When I learned at Savannah that he had assassinated Lincoln---I felt that I had not done my duty in sparing his life in New Orleans, and so continue to think, even now.

Do not know whether this will be of interest to you or not, but perhaps it may, so send it to you.

Yours in F.C. & L.

James Peacock 1st Lieut. & Adjt. 8th Ind. Infy V. Vols

Complete

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paper and ink

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23 x 17 cm