Gen. John J.
Peck
John James Peck (January 4,
1821-April 21, 1878) was a United States soldier who fought in the
Mexican-American War and American Civil War.
Civil War
The outbreak
of the Civil War brought Peck back into the army. He accepted a
commission as brigadier general of volunteers on August 9, 1861. He
was given command of a brigade defending Chain Bridge and the
Northern defenses of Washington at Tennallytown and soon after
joined George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac in Virginia. He
commanded the 3rd Brigade, (55th NY, 62d NY, 93d Pa, 98th Pa &
102Pa) Couch's 1st Division, Keyes' IV Corps during the Peninsula
Campaign. He served in the siege of Yorktown, and distinguished
himself in the battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks. He was placed
in command of the 2nd Division, IV Corps during the Seven Days
Battles where he again distinguished himself. On July 4, 1862 he
was promoted to major general of volunteers for his services in the
Battle of Malvern Hill.
Suffolk
When McClellan's forces began evacuating the peninsula, Peck was
left in command of a Union garrison stationed at Yorktown. In
September he was given command of all Union troops in Virginia
south of the James River. In 1863 during James Longstreet's
Tidewater Campaign the attention of both armies in southern
Virginia turned to the city of Suffolk. Suffolk guarded the western
land approaches to the naval yards at Portsmouth and Norfolk which
were in Union control. Peck took command of a force designated the
Suffolk Detachment, VII Corps. This force would eventually amount
to three divisions commanded by Michael Corcoran, George W. Getty
and George H. Gordon. Peck received a captured message informing
him of the Confederate intentions against Suffolk with enough time
to take appropriate measures. Longstreet's besiegers gained some
initial advantages during the siege of Suffolk at the battle of
Norfleet House cutting off the Union supply route. Yet Peck mounted
a counter offensive and retook the lost positions in the battle of
Hill's Point. The Confederates lifted the siege, and Longstreet's
corps returned to northern Virginia for the upcoming Gettysburg
campaign. Peck received the praise of his superior, General John A.
Dix for his competent defense of Suffolk.
In the summer following the siege of Suffolk, Peck was transferred
to command the District of North Carolina where he was involved in
little action. Due to health reasons he went on sick leave. At the
request of General Dix, he returned to command the Canadian
frontier for the remainder of the war. His Chief of Staff was
Colonel John Watts de Peyster Jr., son of a prominent New York
family.