2021-05 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2021
War-date Union field officer's letter, 3 1/2pp. legal size folio, written by Lt. Col. James Peckham, 8th Missouri Vols., "In Camp, Crump's Landing, Tennessee, March 21, 1862," to his mother in small part: "Here I am back in campàthe menàgave me nine hearty cheers upon my returnàI failed in the object of my resignationàyet I preferred serving my country. I left to start an emancipation paper in St. Louis, or go with Jim Lane's Expedition. Now is the time to advocate gradual Emancipation in Missouri. When the Civil War began there were in the state 110,00 slavesàthere are now [not] over 20,000. Secession has been more productive of good for the cause of free-labor than all arguments that have ever been broughtàby enlightened economists. Now, I have no sympathy with that class of men who say they are 'fighting for the Union & not for the 'Nigger' & that when it comes to fighting for the latter they will lay down their swords and go home.' The 'Nigger' is not only the pretext but the absolute first cause in the matter. It is nonsense to suppose that a mere pretext has summoned so many [Southern] men, in the field, to destroy the only really free government under the sun. It does not offend me to hear statesmen assert the 'Nigger' to be the cause and that they favor the removal of the cause. It does not offend meàthat there is a strong probability of the cause being removedàby bayonetsà [of the] Union armiesàthe crushing of the 'Institution' is an assurance of National Safety. This place is 140 miles from the mouth of the Tennessee and very near the Mississippi & Alabama rivers. Savannah [Landing is] quite a villageàfour miles northàCorinth, Miss. is a little west of Florence on the road to Memphis. At Corinth there is a large gathering of the Traitors and there will be our next battle which will be fought within the next ten days. I miss several familiar faces on my return-the faces of those who fell at Fort Donelson. Weàlost 5 killed & 30 woundedàall the chargingàwas done by skirmishers and they did it noblyàwe lost Capt. Swartout. The Traitors shot him as we wereàto his rear, he being with his company in the advance as skirmishersàbefore our men could get to him they had him stripped to his shirt, stealing even his boots & socks. He had a gold watch & 350 dollarsàwhich his men had given him for safe keeping. If they are not good at fighting the are at stealing. Union people are constantly coming into camp. They look wore & haggard[ed]àmany of them ask for guns & the privilege of going with us into the fight. Their stories are pitifulàoutside the pickets there is a long line of dusky faces-prohibited by Genl. Hallleck's orders from being received within our linesàthey are forced to wander about in the woods or go back to their masters. If they do the latter they must starve. If they do the latter, they can but work for secession, traitors, building up strong-holds like Fort Donelson for our men to storm. 'What rights have these poor Ourang Outangs' says Chief Justice Taney 'which White men are bound to respect?' 'None!' They are nothing but Niggers. Suppose, they are one of gods immortal people, what matter is that? They are 'inferior to the White man" & consequently have no rights. I can imagine this war to be a great civilizer. These awful times will not fail to be productive of great spiritual development. I feel that I am more liberal & generousàthan before I began to solve history by the light of Federal camp firesàwe are not fighting for the nigger says the timid conservative. Aye! but we are fighting about the Nigger. I am resisting the Southern Oligarch in his imprudent desire to thrust his strong-smelling nigger under my nose andàa strong stench in my nostrils. Ballots decided once for me & the traitors appealed to bayonetsàthey will get their bellys full of 'em before they get through with us, even though I should fall in the great cause of human civilizationàI am in command of the Regiment. Col. Smith being in command of the Brigade. In the coming fight at Corinth I will command the 8th Missouri. I shall do my dutyàGod bless you all & protect you is my constant prayer. affectionately your son, Jim." Peckham left the 8th Missouri in late May, 1862 after the Battle of Shiloh, but reentered the service as colonel of the 29th Missouri in September 1862 until March 1864. After the war, Peckham served as Inspector of Tobacco for the 1st District of Missouri from March 3, 1865 to June 6, 1866. Sadly, he died of complications from wounds at 39 years old on June 1, 1869. He left behind a widow and an infant daughter. Damp stained, else VG
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