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W.R. Peck
(1818 - 1871)
Home State: Louisiana
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 9th Louisiana Infantry
Before Sharpsburg
A Louisiana state legislator and prosperous farmer before the War, he originally enlisted in the 9th Louisiana Infantry as Private on 7 July 1861. He was promoted Captain soon after, and Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment on 24 April 1862.
On the Campaign
He took command of the Regiment at Sharpsburg when Colonel Stafford succeeded to command of the Brigade (when General Starke was killed on 17 September).
The rest of the War
He frequently commanded the Regiment and was appointed Colonel on 8 October 1863. He was promoted to Brigadier General in January 1865, and was paroled at Vicksburg, MS on 6 June 1865.
After the War
He returned to his plantation in Madison Parish, but died less than 6 years after the War.
References & notes
Bio details from Warner1. His photograph from a CDV sold at auction in 2012 by Case Antiques. At about 6 feet, 6 inches and 330 pounds, he was one of the largest Confederate Generals.
Birth
01/31/1818; Mossy Creek, Jefferson County, TN
Death
01/22/1871; Milliken's Bend, LA; burial in Westview Cemetery, Jefferson City, TN
1 Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray, Lives of the Confederate Commanders, Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1959, pg. 231 [AotW citation 13199]