Newspaper man Peck decides to join the army and was told by the recruiter that it was safe as the war ('64) was just about over. Never having ridden a horse, he jines the calvary. The book is full of stories of his misadventures and will keep you in stitches. The first time he "mounts" his horse, he climbs a fence but the horse pulls away. He hires a "negro" to hold his horse for him. Naturally, the boys play numerous tricks on him including inducing him to wear a breastplate backwards. They then simulate an attack and flee leaving behind a few who proceed to pelt Peck with small rocks to convince him that he is under fire. Pecks canteen is bust and water runs down his boot, convincing him that he is shot and dying.
Even the chaplain takes advantage of him and trades his honery mule for Peck's horse and makes Peck pay him $20 atop of it.
Three weeks of service and Peck becomes homesick. He is told to go to the General and treat him as a familiar and entreat him to grant a furlough. Peck does and the General throws him out and places him under arrest. Peck is made to carry the rail until the General was told about the joke on the "idiot." The Generals laughs it off and dismisses Peck.
One day the Chaplain leaves to visit another chaplain. He borrowed Peck's coat. Peck joins the boys when they go to town and thinking nothing of it, borrows the Chaplain's coat complete with shoulder straps. He rides into town and rides into a bar. He starts to raise h*ll there when his horse places both front hoofs atop the bar as if demanding a drink. He also shoots pool from horseback. The town is scandalized and the next day the chaplain is placed under arrest by the Colonel. Peck finally confesses to the Colonel.
Peck eventually is made brevet corporal and given a special mission. He selects ten men and they find their task is to unload a boat. They refuse to stating they joined the calvary to ride horses and not work as stevedores. They agree to hire ten "Negroes" to unload the boat for fifty cents each. Of course, Corporal Peck must pay the $5 for them. On top of that, they convince Peck to take them to town for one day's R&R. Naturally, this results in them returning drunk.
You're not going to learn about great battles, strategies in Peck's book. However, you'll learn what it's like to be a recruit and constant butt of jokes in the army. I highly recommended.
A friend from Lexington, Mo has a copy of this book. It is called HOW PVT. GEORGE W. PECK PUT DOWN THE REBELLION.
I am in the process of rewriting the chapters and putting them on the 'net for the general viewing of any and all who are interested in reading them. So far I have 15 Chapters posted. The book is very brittle, so I have been rewriting each word, but I have been able to scan a few images from the book.
To view the pages, please go to: http://dogandponyshow.freeservers.co...tm/Peckpro.htm
Again, the site is free to view. Enjoy, but beware of a few annoying, but harmless pop ups.
Why Robert, that is very noble of you. Besides dealing with an acid rich environment (cheap wood pulp based paper as opposed to linen paper) evidenced by crumbling pages (mine had to be handled very gently too - wash your hands thoroughly before handling and keep two small bags beneath the cover so you don't crack the spine), it's probably a hard book to type as his stories are hilarious.
Guys, please use clean white 100% cotton gloves when you touch old documents. It keeps the dirt and oils from your fingers off the pages. I have transcribed several diaries and have several books from the 1860's. I read them but on go the gloves when I do.
For old books, be sure to have acid free objects to place beneath them so the spine won't have to lay flat. It should be opened from 135 degrees to about 150 degrees and the lesser the better (depending on the book, age and condition). Old glue cracks and you can break the book's spine if you lay it flat.
If you don't have cotton gloves, wash your hands with hot, soapy water and dry thoroughly first.
Also no drinks including water around these old books. Spills left untreated can cause mold.
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