James McPeake the only Irish soldier of the 69th. Pa Vols. who we know for sure returned to Ireland and lived out his life in the same place he was born and grew up in. James McPeake was born in Derrygarve townland in Artrea parish Newbridge area of Co. Derry as far as can be determined in 1830, the son of John McPeake and Mary McGrogan. His parents farmed about 6 acres close to Lough Neagh where it joins the Upper Bann river close to the town of Toomebridge on the Derry Antrim border. The inhabitants of this rural area were primarily small holding Catholic tenant farmers/labourers mostly existing on a small allocation of land indeed many scratching a living from 1 or 2 acres. Many augmented their income by weaving and some fishing in the nearby Lough Neagh. Looking at the Griffiths Valuation of 1859 the McPeake's had 6 acres and 20 perches. The few Protestant farmers in the area generally had much more land. Their tenant rent in the case of the McPeake's was paid to Robert Dawson the local landlord. In the Irish famines of the mid 19th century the local population did not seem to have suffered starvation diets primarily due to the fact that in the case of the McPeake's their land was on alluvial soil which had probably been at a time the flood plain of Lough Neagh. Fish would have been available from close by Lough Neagh and river Bann where many of their neighbours fished. As far as can be gleaned from old parish records James had no brothers but a sister called Jane.
As to why James emigrated it is not easy to find a specific reason. He along with his parents could probably have survived through the "bad" times prior to the mid century famine. He was as far as is known the only son and given that he came home after the war it may suggest that what money he had gathered with his military service may have been used to purchase additional land. James would appear to have received a very basic education though he is noted as being unable to read and write in both census returns after the war and on his war papers. I have found these comments unreliable as it was kind of wise to avoid using ones signature!! I have found in my research in old Civil War papers that much use was made of the insertion of an "x" in place of a full signature. Possibly the person making "his mark" thought perhaps that it was not really legal and there was an opt out!. Not so, generally those cute recruiting sergeants countersigned the "x" and hey ho you really were in the Army.
I feel that because so many of the names in the 69th companies relate to the S. Derry area James may well have joined a group of his friends in his home area looking in some instances for excitement in the newly opening America but mostly to better themselves. If one looks at the names in the Regimental companies one sees numerous names from around the S. Derry area where he came from. Names such as McAnally, Cassidy, Higgins, Diamond, Stinson, Henfey, O'Neill, Bradley, Devlin, Donnelly, Mulholland, McNamee, Murphy etc. I have no doubt whatsoever if the descendant folks in the area as now knew their family history back to their gt grandfather they would soon find Union army soldiers and even the odd Confederate.
One source available to me states that James left for America aged 18 mid summer 1849 on the ship Venilia from Derry and arrived in Philadelphia 13th July 1849. He was listed as passenger No. 160 on the ships manifest. (Sourced Pa-2696 Co.147 District of Philadelphia documents).
What kind of city did he find himself in on his arrival as a very young and indeed raw immigrant?. Philadselphia was a city with a history of many problems between the incoming Catholic Irish immigrants and the "native" American Protestant population "nativists", themselves immigrants from earlier waves of immigration but considering themselves to be the "real" Americans!. If he had already relatives or close friends in the city from earlier emigrant groups he would be in a fairly secure environment. If not he would soon find his way into the various Irish taverns and bars in the city where he could quickly make friends and get help. Many of the bars and taverns in the city also acted as focal meeting places for the newly arrived immigrants. Many of the officers to be in the 69th Pa. when the Civil War started were members of leading tavern families people like the O'Kanes, Heenans and Duffys.
As the unrest between Catholics and Protestants in the city got worse many militia companies were formed up for the protection of the various wards of the city. Exactly what James McPeake did in America after he arrived until we find his joining the Meagher guard militia circa 1852 we cannot be sure. One source suggest he was employed as a weaver. This could be correct as he may well have had learned the trade back home in Derrygarve. He was most certainly in Philadelphia and settled there by 1852 when one of the newly forming up Militia units called The Meagher Guards was forming up in the city. Many of the militia units were named after Irish patriots of the era eg Montgomery Guards, Hibernian Greens, Emmett Guards, Shields Guards, Patterson Guards etc. No doubt James was inspired by feelings he brought with him from Ireland and probably flagged up his politics by joining one of the militia units. The clouds of the Civil war were still some eight years away. It is supposed that being a member of the Meagher Guards was a part time venture and he also held down a job either as a weaver or labourer. As war clouds gathered and 1860 approached the various militia companies evolved into what was to become the 69th Pa. Volunteer Infantry the so called Paddy Owens Regulars. It was into this regiment that James McPeake would find himself along with many many other Co. Derry and Tyrone men, many probably known to him in Ireland. In the 1860 census he is listed as a weaver living with a family headed by a Mary Corr in the 17th ward (Census page 765). One document records him as having lived on 2nd St. prior to his war service. The area where he was living in 1860 was close to the area of Kensington where the old St. Michael's chaple had been burned to the ground in the vicious anti Irish Catholic riots by the "nativists" in 1844. Perhaps he thought when he left Ireland he was putting such feelings behind him. Not so in the pre-war Philadelphia. However by 1860 James war would soon start. He would serve the Union cause like so many of his countrymen in his case in Co. D of 69th Pennsylvania Volunteer regiment.
In August 24th 1861 he enlisted for 3 years. He was aged 30.This is confirmed in his army enlistment file which confirms he enlisted in Philadelphia for 3 years in Company D of the Regiment and he had been enlisted by Capt Harvey. In the Co. D Descriptive Book he is noted as being aged 30, 5ft. 5ins. in height, nine and half stone weight, dark complexion, grey eyes brown hair and born in Derry Co. Ireland.
Perhaps the best way to record James war service or what is known of is to examine the written information existant on him. The Co. D Muster-in roll of the 69th dated Oct 31st 1861 at Camp Observation Md. the muster-in date is noted as being Aug 23rd 1861. James McPeake is noted as joining for duty Aug 26th 1861. He is paid an initial bounty of $100 dollars.
In the Co. D Muster Roll for July and Aug 1862 he is noted as being "present".
The next time he appears in a Muster Roll nearly a year later is for May and June 1863 where he is marked a being "present". However for July and August 1863 he is marked as being "absent" and in the remarks column as being "absent since June 1863." In the Co. D. Muster Roll for Sept and Oct. 1863 he is noted as being "absent" and in the remarks column of the roll as "sick at Camp Convalescent Va. since June 28/63." This camp situated at Alexandria Va south west of Washington D.C. In the Company muster roll Jan-Feb 1864 he is noted as being "sick at Camp Convalescent Va. from June 28/1863.". (See image left). Also the lower image to the left is of the prison sheds at Elmira. (Note the prisoners lined up along the walkway awaiting mealtime.)
In the Company muster roll Feb 29 to April 29 1864 James is also noted as being "sick in the General Hospital Washington D.C."
This is a notable date in James McPeak's history.It appears he had been transferred from Camp Convalescent Va and moved to the General Hospital in Wash D.C.two changes being flagged up he was nearing the end of his initial three year enlistment and his long term health was being assessed in the Wash. D.C. Hospital. It looks like he was deemed well enough now perform light duries as allowed to join the Vet. Res. Corps. He was fit enough to serve in Capt H. D. Norton's Company of the 1st Regt. Vets Reserve Corps. He enlisted for three years on April 14th 1864. It should be noted that when he was in hospital in Washington nearing the end of his initial enlistment period the Army could have discharged him as no longer fit for duty on medical grounds as happened many men in such circumstances. In his case he was obviously deemed fit enough for the V.R.C. and if he wanted to re-enlist he could do so. This he did. He is later noted as mustering out of the Vet. Res. Corps at Elmira New York Nov 14th 1865 under War Office G.O. 155. He had served approx. eight months in the V.R.C. including an extra 3 months after the war ended in July 1865. James would appear to have been involved in the operation of the regiment from its initial muster in, and as the war gathered momentum he took part in the various skirmishes and battles of the Peninsular campaign, the battle of Glendale, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Maryes Heights then finally wintering at Falmouth and readying for the main confrontation at Gettysburg in the early days of July 1863. He would have survived some two years of dreadful conditions and some fierce confrontations. He would have fought in many of the great battles of the Civil War. He would be battle hardened and carried its mental and physical scars. He would have seen many of his comrades fall or die from disease and wounds.
Note: The Invalid Corps and The Veterans Reserves Corps, (the V.R.C). The Invalid Corps was set up by the U.S. Army by G.O. 105 of the War Dept April 28th 1862. This was primarily to use the services of soldiers who had been wounded or had illnesses they had recovered from to some degree.Though not fit for full front line combat they could carry out such tasks as escort duties, guard functions etc. However The Invalid Corps was superceeded by The Veterans Reserve Corps by G.O.111 of The War Dept March 18th 1864.
James McPeaks war files are very difficult to follow many having contradictory dates. In such a war at the time it should be noted that numerous clerks were charged with keeping and updating files from a fluid situation. There are numerous mistakes on the old records so a general overview is requied to try and follow his army service.
The fact that he ended up in Wash D.C. as a member of the Vet Res Corps ties up with what generally happened to many such men. It is I think likely he probably served in a limited capacity doing guard duties etc around the Wash D.C.area and later at Elmira in up state New York. It is possible James McPeake did guard and general duties at Elmira prison. Elmira prison was noted as being a "death camp" where Confederate prisoners were held in dreadful conditions. Several thousand died there. Some historians see it as a "revenge" prison for Andersonsville Ga. where thousands of Union prisoners were held and where so many died of disease and starvation diets, many amongst them men from the 69th Pa. James McPeake would have dreadful memories of his service in Elmira. Elmira prison closed in late 1865 James being discharged Nov 14th. 1865 from Elmira and he wasted no time in heading home from New York. He would have served a term of four years and three months. He was honourably discharged as seen from his records. I feel it is unlikely he ever went back to Philadelphia after he was mustered out.
Some questions have been raised over James McPeake's service especially if he fought at Gettysburg on July 2nd/3rd 1863. This question seems to be raised by the fact that his name is on the panel for Co. D on the 69th Pa panel on the Pennsylvania monument at Gettysburg ( See image to left) and statements he made in affidavits after the war when he applied for a pension.
As to whether James was or was not at Gettysburg is a moot point. James by June 28th 1863 had done his front line duty in the battles already fought. He continued his duty to the Union Army and the United States by joining the Vet Reserve/Invalid corps and rendering his services as best he could considering his state of health.
James like most of the Civil War soldiers suffered the dreadful conditions, poor food, numerous hazardous experiences during his term of service. His health would never be the same again. On return home in 1865 or early 1866 James lost no time in finding a bride and married a Mary Ann Lagan at Bellaghy (Ballyscullion) on 9th May 1866. They were married by a Father Rogers. James probably commenced to rework the small family farm in Derrygarve. This union produced three children Bernard born in 1868, Mary Ann in 1869 and Isabella in 1872.
The Pennsylvania monument was erected close to the famous "Wall" at Gettysburg by the State after the war. It has numerous bronz panels mounted on its walls naming the various Pennsylvania regiments who fought in the war and thousands of names of the soldiers who took part. However not all names were recorded. As always politics got involved and there were numerous examples of the embossed names being chiselled off when deserters or those who were dishonourably discharged or perhaps their papers simply lost were identified after the monument erected.There would no doubt be mistakes. The section with Jame's name on it is see to the lower left. Clearly there had been no action taken to remove his name. Looking at some other plaque sections spaces are clearly seen where chiselling has taken place. Also where a soldier had been killed during the war there is an embossed asterix beside his name. I am of the opinion that soldiers who were still enlisted and in good standing the the regiment at the end of the war and who were honourably discharged as James was, merited their names remaining on the Pennnsylvania Monument broze name panels.
Like so many ex soldiers getting back to civilian life James McPeake started to look to getting a pension for his war service. There would be many twists and turns in trying to get this pension. It should be noted that it was only by an Act of June 1890 when the United States allowed pensions to be given to non-Americans who had served in their army. It is recorded that he first filed for a pension on May 12th 1891.There would be no quick response or agreement on the settling of this application which dragged on for years. Bureaucracy had kicked in. By being a foreign national in the United States army he had already lost years of pension benefit.
Affidavit copies from James McPeake to the U.S. pension Office and their replies make interesting reading. In an affidavit signed by him 15th July 1892 and witnessed by a friend of his, Michael Hurl he makes application for a pension based primarily on his suffering from varicose veins which seem to have developed by long marches. He states that the problem started when the regiment were laid up at Harrisons Landing Va.in June 1863 just before Gettysburg . This would appear to have been his main ailment that effectively ended his active service. With a long period of rest and treatment he was able sometime in mid April 1864, about 10 months after his initial sickness started at end of June 1863 to serve in the V.R.C. until Nov 1865. However it is noted that apart from varicose veins he also complained that he had been plagued by severe rheumatism in his later life which he first experienced in his mid war years. From the limited information on hand it would appear he eventually got his pension of $12 per month sometime after 1905.
James McPeake died 20th. Feb 1913 his son Bernard being present at his death. He was buried in St Trea's cemetery 22nd Feb, 1913 a Father P.J. Moore C.C. officiated at his funeral.