b. 1848 Bridgeport, Connecticut. d. 23/10/1906 Norton Heights, Connecticut.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 24/04/1862 Forts Jackson and St Philip, Louisiana.
Born in 1848 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Peck was still living in that city when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a second class boy on the USS Varuna. At the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip near New Orleans on April 24, 1862, Varuna was rammed twice by the Confederate steamer CSS Governor Moore (formerly known as the Charles Morgan) and eventually sunk. Peck acted as a powder boy and “served gallantly” throughout the close-range fight. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on April 3, 1863.
MOH CITATION:
Peck served as second class boy on board the Varuna during attacks on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, 24 April 1862. Acting as powder boy of the after rifle, Peck served gallantly while the Varuna was repeatedly attacked and rammed and finally sunk. This was an extremely close-range action and, although badly damaged, the Varuna delivered shells abaft the Morgan’s armor.
BURIAL LOCATION: SPRING GROVE CEMETERY, DARIEN, CONNECTICUT.
ROW A, GRAVE 56.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
