Everett Peabody facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Everett Peabody
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| Born | June 13, 1830 Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Died | April 6, 1862 (aged 31) Shiloh, Tennessee |
| Place of burial |
Massachusetts
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1862 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held | 25th Missouri Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | civil engineer |
Everett Peabody (born June 13, 1830 – died April 6, 1862) was an American civil engineer and a brave soldier. He graduated from Harvard University and worked on railroads. He is best known for his important role as a colonel in the Union army during the Civil War, especially at the Battle of Shiloh.
Contents
Everett Peabody: A Civil War Hero
Early Life and Career
Everett Peabody was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1830. He went to college and later graduated from Harvard University in 1849. After college, he started working in the railroad business in Massachusetts.
He then moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, for a job with the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. By 1859, he was a chief engineer for another railroad company. This meant he was in charge of designing and building train tracks.
Joining the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Missouri was a state with divided loyalties. Everett Peabody quickly showed he was loyal to the Union. He joined the army and was first made a major in the 13th Missouri Volunteer Regiment.
On September 1, 1861, he became a colonel of the regiment. His unit was sent to guard Lexington, Missouri.
Battle of Lexington
Colonel Peabody played an active part in the First Battle of Lexington. During the fight, he was hit twice. First, a bullet hit his chest, which was painful but not serious. While being carried off the field, he was hit again in the foot. These injuries kept him from fighting for several weeks.
After the Union army surrendered on September 20, 1861, Peabody and his soldiers were taken prisoner. He was later released in December 1861. Because his regiment had been captured, it was removed from the official list. Peabody then worked to rebuild his unit, which was renamed the 25th Missouri.
The Battle of Shiloh
In March 1862, Peabody and his 25th Missouri regiment joined the Army of the Tennessee at Pittsburg Landing. They were part of the Sixth Division. Since Peabody was the highest-ranking officer, he took command of the 1st Brigade. Most of his soldiers were new recruits, but Peabody was an experienced fighter from the Battle of Lexington.
A Crucial Warning
Peabody's and General William T. Sherman's divisions were camped at the very front lines. On the night of April 5, Union guards reported seeing Confederate activity in the nearby woods. However, both General Sherman and General Benjamin Prentiss (Peabody's commander) did not believe these reports. Sherman even said no Confederates were close by.
Colonel Peabody, however, was sure that Confederate soldiers were indeed nearby. He decided to act on his own.
Peabody's Patrol
Early on the morning of April 6, Peabody sent out a patrol led by Major James Edwin Powell. He told Powell to "drive in the guard and open up on the reserve, develop the force, hold the ground as long as possible, then fall back." Peabody hoped this would slow down the Confederates and, more importantly, warn the Union army in time to get ready for a big attack.
Major Powell's patrol soon met the Confederates, who were already lined up for battle. Fighting quickly broke out. Peabody sent more soldiers to help. General Prentiss soon arrived, angry, and told Peabody he would hold him "personally responsible for bringing on this engagement." Peabody bravely replied that he took responsibility for all his actions.
By starting the fight early, Peabody disrupted the Confederate's surprise attack plan. He gave the Union army a warning, even if it was a short one, allowing Sherman's and Prentiss's camps to prepare.
A Hero's Sacrifice
Before the battle, Peabody had written to his parents, saying, "if I go under, it shal' be in a manner that the old family shall feel proud of." As the battle grew, Peabody led the rest of his brigade against the Confederate brigade.
Even though the Union soldiers were not fully prepared, Generals Prentiss and Sherman quickly reinforced Peabody's regiments. Many of Peabody's soldiers had already run away. Peabody himself was hit three times. A fourth shot hit him directly in the face, killing him instantly. Major James Edwin Powell also died that morning.
On April 9, Peabody was buried near his headquarters. The Peabody Monument at Shiloh National Military Park marks this spot. Later, his body was moved and reburied in his hometown at the Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts.
