It was about this time of year, in 1863, that a Union soldier named Isaac Peak died at Fort Pickering, Tennessee. He was a member of the 33rd Missouri Volunteers and, like many other Civil War victims, died from illness rather than battle injuries.
Before joining up with the Volunteers, Isaac Peak and his wife Elizabeth lived on a farm in the area now known as Viburnum. They had seven children and the oldest was only fourteen when his father became a war casualty. One of the children was a girl named Nancy, who later married James A. Duncan. Still living are three of the Duncan children: Mrs. Cleve (Ethel) Nolan of Irondale Route 1, James I. Duncan and Mrs. A. L. (Nettie) Laramore, both of Desloge.
Through the years, members of the Duncan family have kept remembrances of their grandfather who died at Fort Pickering 102 years ago. During a visit last week with Mrs. Laramore at Desloge, I saw a wooden chest which Isaac Peak had made in antebellum days. "New" hardware was put on the chest some fifty years ago. Otherwise it is as it was when it was ransacked by Civil War bushwackers who pillaged the family home while Elizabeth Peak and her children hid in a nearby wooded clump.
The story of Isaac Peak's illness at the fort and his subsequent death was recalled last week when Mrs. Laramore had photographic copies made of two letters cherished by the family. One is an unfinished manuscript of a letter written by the dying Isaac Peak to his wife and the other is a letter to her from a friend--telling of Isaac's death the following day. The messages, in order, follow:
Fort Pickering
April 6th 1863
Dear wife I am sorry to have to inform you that my health is very poor and I think it very
doubtful if I ever recover. I have been examined and I think I shall get my papers in a
few days but I am not able to come home at present and do not know that I ever will be. If
I never get home do the best you can with the children. I want the boys to learn the
blacksmith or some other good trade. You must watch over our girls, give good advice. They
will need all of your attention to bring them up properly in this cold and treacherous
world. You need not have any fears about me. If I die I shall go to that land of promise
that the bible tells us of where I hope to meet you all.
James Duncan I think will get his discharge in a few days and return home. He has been
very kind to me and he will assist you in any way he can in settling up my business. You
had better get Major Maning to collect my claim against the government. If I should be
taken soon I shall manage to have you informed of it but I hope the Lord will spare me
until I can see you all once more......
Fort Pickering
Memphis, Tenn.
April the 9th 1863
Mrs. Peak It has become my painful duty to inform you of the death of your husband. He departed this life about an hour of the sun on the evening of the 7th of this month.
I attended on him, to the best of my ability, throughout his sickness and was with him to the time of his death. He left some words which he wanted me to write to you, and requested me to take charge of his things and send them to you, which I have done. He requested me to tell you that death had no pangs for him but that his faith was strong, that he would soon be in that better land, prepared by the Redeemer for the blessed and that he wanted you and the children and all his friends to try and prepare to meet him there.
He said all that troubled him was the thought of leaving his family on the mercies of a cold unfeeling world without an earthly protector to assist themselves. He wished you to put your trust in God and he would not forsake you in an hour of distress, or allow you to suffer for want. He wants you to raise the children the best you can and train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Tell them how their father loved them and that he would have gladly embraced them once more in life if it had been the will of God, but that he had died in trying to help his country and he believed in a just cause. He said weep no more for him than you can help, for though you have lost a friend he hoped to be in a land of rest where sorrowing is no more.
He talked to me until his breath grew so weak that he could say no more. His walk since he has been in the service has been that of a Christian and he was highly esteemed by all that knew him.
I will send his things to you by express to Potosi, where you can get them. As soon as I get my discharge I shall be at home, which I think will be before a great while and I will then assist you what I can according to his request. Isaac's discharge was made out, but he did not get it before he died. There was fifty or sixty dollars due him, which you will get probably when you get his descriptive roll.
I can think of nothing more to write at present, but when I see you I will tell you all that I can.
Respectfully,
James Duncan
With the new mine and community development, the area of Viburnum is vastly changed since the Union soldier left to return no more--but the hills remain. And, through modern means of reproduction and preservation, the last written words of Isaac Peak will endure and inspire generations as yet unborn.
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