USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Historical sketch of the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622-1884 > Part 16
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III. MARY W., born Oct. 17, 1841.
IV. LYDIA K., born March 19, 1845.
V. ANNA M., born Sept. 18, 1848.
VI. HELEN M., born June 11, 1852.
VII. JOSEPHINE H. D., born July 13, 1856.
VIII. FANNY H., born Nov. 6, 1858.
IX. WILLIAM T., born March 25, 1861.
The family circle is still unbroken (1884).
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTHI.
DR. GEORGE FORDYCE FIFIELD, son of Dr. Noah and Hannah Fifield, was born in Weymouth, April 18, 1822. He pursued his academie studies in the town, and received his degree, A. B., from Harvard College in 1841. He then eommeneed the study of medicine, and in due time entered upon its practice with his father. After giving promise of a useful and sueeessful eareer he died, Nov. 15, 1846, of lumbar abseess, and is buried . in the family lot in the village cemetery.
DR. CHARLES COFFRAN was born in Thomaston, Me., about the year 1817. He studied medicine with Dr. Jackson, of Boston, and held a degree from the Harvard Medical School. He came to Weymouth in 1845, and after practising here about five years, removed in May, 1850. He resided in the South village. Two children, a boy and a girl, were born to him here. On leaving the place he went to his native town, and, after living there for a time, removed to Riverside, Cal., where he died in 1879.
DR. DANIEL LEWIS GIBBENS was born in Boston, Jan. 29, 1824. He studied in the Boston sehools, and was graduated from the Harvard Medical School in 1847. He praetised for a short time in Wrentham, and came to Weymouth in 1847, loeating at the North Vil- lage. He joined the Massachusetts Medieal Society, the sueeeeding year. He remained in Weymouth five years, and then removed to New Orleans, where he died Dee. 3, 1865. He married Eliza P. Webb, daughter of Christopher, Esq., and Susan ( White- Webb, of this town, in 1847.
Their children are: -
I. ALICE, born Feb. 6, 1849.
II. MARY, born June 10, 1851.
III. MARGARET, born Feb. 15, 1858.
=
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
DR. JOSIAH BALL was born at Milford, Mass., in 1828. He pursued his academic course at Holliston Academy, and graduated in Boston at the Harvard Medical School. He married, in 1846, Sarah Taylor, of Mattapoisett, Mass. He came to Weymouth in 1847, and commenced the practice of medicine, and also had charge of the drug store, more recently occupied by Messrs. White & Ambler. After practising here for three years, he died in 1850, leaving a widow. They had one child, who died in infancy.
DR. IRA H. PERRY was born March 23, 1819, in Natick, Mass. He graduated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1842; studied medicine in Buck- land, Mass., and received his degree of M. D. from Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass., in 1845. From 1845 to 1856 he practised medicine in West Med- way and Weymouth, Mass. In 1857 and 1858 he, with four others, founded the town of Zumbrota, Minn. In 1862 and 1863 he was assistant surgeon in United States army, in Virginia and Washington; from 1863 to 1866, was assistant surgeon Ninth Regiment, United States colored troops; in 1866 and 1867 was surgeon, with rank of brevet major, United States Volunteers.
He married, April 26, 1849, Joanna Bullard, of Wayland, Mass.
His children are: -
I. MARIAN E., born March 31, 1850.
II. BERTIE, born April 3, 1852 ; died in August, 1852.
III. HELEN A., born Oct. 14, 1853.
IV. SELIA E., born Sept. 19, 1855.
V. ORRIN J., born Feb. 14, 1858.
VI. MINNIE A., born May 20, 1860.
His present address is Galeta, Santa Barbara County, California.
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
DR. HERVEY E. WESTON was born in Weymouth, Mass., June 21, 1817. He graduated at Yale College in 1839. He afterwards studied medicine in Boston, and received his diploma from the Harvard Medical School. Later he pursued his medical studies in Paris, returning to Weymouth in 1847. He practised medicine there for several years, and afterwards, for a short time, in Boston.
In 1859 he joined members of his family, then resi- dent in Italy, returning in 1861. He had at this time given up practice. A few years later there came a dceided failure of health, which resulted, finally, in an obseure spinal malady. He was for some years a con- firmed and, for a part of the time, a helpless invalid, but he retained his vigorous intellect to the last, and his wonderful patienee, eourage and resignation never gave way for a moment.
Those who have known him as a physician will never forget his personal devotion, thoughtfulness and sym- pathy, nor will the suffering poor, to whom he was some times nurse as well as doctor, ever cease to remem- ber his kindness.
He was a good classical scholar, and very fond of archæologieal and numismatic rescarches, and to these, when in Italy, he devoted considerable time. He died unmarried, July 21, 1882.
DR. EPHRAIM LEWIS WARREN was located for some years at Weymouth. He was born in Lunenburg, Mass., in 1823. He received his preparatory training at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and was gradu- ated from the Berkshire Medical College in 1849, receiv- ing his degree, M. D.
He came to Weymouth the succeeding year, and at that time was admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society.
In October, 1861, he entered the army as surgeon in the
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Twenty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and was honorably discharged June 10, 1862. He re- enlisted Dec. 10, 1862, in the Fifth Rhode Island Vol- unteers, from which he was discharged for physical disability, Dec. 7, 1863. He occupied, also, the posi- tion of inspector in the Sanitary Commission, with the rank of major. He was appointed medical examiner in 1876. After leaving the army he returned to Wey- mouth, where he practised his profession for a few years and purchased the " Weymouth Drug Store," which he held under his control for a time. He then removed to Medford, Mass., which is his present address.
While in Weymouth he married the widow of Dr. Josiah Ball, by whom he had one child, a daughter: - I. ANNA A., born Jan. 11, 1870.
DR. JOHN HENRY GILBERT was a native of Atkin- son, N. H. He was born Nov. 11, 1826. His aca- demic education was received at Atkinson Academy, his medical education at the Harvard Medical School, where he was graduated, receiving his M. D. in 1853. In the same year he came to East Weymouth, where he remained for three years. He then removed to Hunt- ington, Mass., stopped there for about a year and a half, and then returned to East Weymouth in 1857, where he continued his medical practice for five years. He then went to Quincy, Mass., where he is now settled (1884). He was admitted a fellow of the Massachu- setts Medical Society in 1854.
He married Jane Copeland, of Huntington, Mass., Nov. 27, 1856, and they have one child: -
I. JOHN H., born Sept. 3, 1870.
DR. GEORGE WYMAN FAY was born in Grafton, Mass., Feb. 9, 1834. His preparatory education was
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
obtained at Leicester Academy, and he was graduated from the Harvard Medical School in 1863. Hc came to East Weymouth in 1857, and has continued in prac- tice there ever since. He was admitted to the Massa- chusetts Medical Society in 1866, and was one of its councillors for some years. He was for two years president of the Union Medical and Surgical Asso- ciation. He married, March 21, 1857, Jane Louise Mowry, of Worcester, Mass.
Their children are: -
I. FRANK G., born Feb. 1, 1859.
II. GEORGE W., born Jan. 6, 1861.
III. FLORENCE J., born June 30, 1864.
IV. BLANCHE M., born Dec. 16, 1865 ; deceased.
V. E. LOUISE, born June 10, 1870.
VI. M. FANNY, born Oct 12, 1871.
DR. WILLIAM CRANCH BOND FIFIELD was the younger son of Dr. Noah Fifield. He was born in Weymouth, Aug. 27, 1828. His preliminary academic education was obtained in the town schools and in Exeter, N. H., Academy.
He graduated from the Harvard Medical School in 1848; also from the Royal College of Surgeons, England. He was house officer in London Hospital, and licentiate of the Royal Oph- thalmic Hospital, and member of the American Medical Society, Paris. He is member of the Obstetric Society, and honorary member of the Improvement Society, Boston, and surgeon on the staff of Boston City Hos- pital. He was admitted a fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1858, and was at one time president of the Norfolk District Medical Society. After grad- uation he practised for a time with his father, but removed to Dorchester, Oct. 21, 1861, where he still resides.
He married Emily A. Porter, daughter of Thomas B. and Emily ( Vining-Porter, May 13, 1856.
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
Their children are: -
I. MARY S., born March 29, 1857.
II. GEORGE F., born July 1, 1859 ; died September, 1860.
III. CHARLES B., born Sept. 5, 1861 ; died March 4, 1877.
DR. LEMUEL FULLER was the son of Dr. Lemuel Fuller, of Attleborough, Mass., where he practised many years. He was born in Marlborough, Mass., April 2, 1812, but in infancy his parents removed with him to Attleborough.
He had the ordinary advantages of an English edu- cation, and was graduated in medicine, receiving his degree, M. D., from the Vermont Medical College.
At Concord, Mass., June 6, 1844, he married Cath- erine Pallisseuir Barrett.
He practised for a time at Milton, Mass., and re- moved to North Weymouth, on receiving a call from a committee of the citizens of the village, Jan. 9, 1853. He remained in this village for ten years, when sick- ness necessitated his temporary absence, and he died in Harvard, Mass., Nov. 8, 1864.
He had no children.
DR. CHARLES CARROLL TOWER was contemporary with Dr. Howe for a time, and afterwards his successor. He had the advantages of a preparatory course of study under private instruction, and entered Harvard College in 1852. He received his degree of A. B. from that institution in 1856, and immediately commenced the study of medicine in the Harvard Medical School, from which he received his degree of M. D. in 1859. He came the same year to South Weymouth, and entered upon the practice of his profession, and, with the excep- tion of his service in the army, has been there ever since. From September, 1862, till January, 1863, he served as assistant surgeon, U. S. A., on duty at Emory
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Hospital, in the vicinity of Washington, D. C .; after which he resumed the duties of his profession in South Weymouth.
He has filled the position of medical examiner for some years.
He married, Nov. 29, 1860, Clarissa Lothrop Pratt, of Cohasset. They have four children: -
I. CARRIE A., born July 18, 1862.
II. CHARLOTTE B., born Nov. 22, 1863.
III. HELEN M., born Aug. 8, 1868.
IV. RUTH N., born Nov. 15, 1873.
DR. JOSEPH CORLIEU was a practising physician in South Weymouth from about 1856 to 1862. He came to Weymouth from Millbury, Mass., and after leaving town returned there, where he died a few years since.
He had two children: -
I. JOSEPH.
II. MARY.
DR. FRANCIS FLINT FORSAITH was born May 8, 1824, in Deering, N. H. He received his academic. education in the schools of his native town, and in the academies of Hancock and Francestown, N. H. He entered Dartmouth College in 1843, and received his degree of A. B. from that institution in 1847.
After teaching for a time in the Alstead High School and Francestown Academy, he entered on the study of medicine, and received his degree of M. D. from the Vermont University in 1852. He came to Weymouth in 1861, and still continues in practice there.
He was admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1856, and for some years was one of its councillors. For two years he was president of the Union Medical and Surgical Association. He married Sarah Jane Dickerman, of Providence, R. I., Nov. 25, 1851.
209
SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
Their children are:
I. FRANK L., born Feb. 13, 1854.
II. WALTER G., born Oct. 20, 1865.
III. EVA M., born Sept. 13, 1869 ; died Oct. 26, 1877.
DR. OLIVER PERRY PIPER was born in Northum- berland County, Pa., April 18, 1848. He received his degree, A. B., from Princeton College in 1868, and that of M. D. from Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Pa., March 9, 1872. He practised one year at Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and came to North Weymouth, March 1, 1873. After remaining there about three years, he returned to Schuylkill Haven in September, 1876, and is now in practice there.
He has twice been appointed physician-in-chief to the Schuylkill County Hospital, and is a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Association and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. He married Anna Eliza Eshleman, and they have one child: -
I. ELEANOR G., born Oct. 29, 1878.
DR. MOSES REUBEN GREELY was born Aug. 13, 1826, in Hudson, N. H. His academic education was acquired at the schools of Nashua, New London, Pembroke, and Hancock, N. H., where he fitted for college.
His medical education was obtained from the Harvard Medical School, from which he graduated in March, 1850. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1850. In September, 1862, he was commis- sioned assistant surgeon in the Third Regiment Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry; was on detached service in charge of hospitals at Helena and Little Rock, and was acting surgeon on General Shaler's staff during the last six months of the late war. He came to South Wey-
14
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
mouth, June 17, 1869, and still continues in practice there. He married Sarah Robie Peirce, at East Boston, Mass., June 17, 1852.
Their children are: -
I. CHARLES R., born Oct. 23, 1853.
II. MARY L., born Sept. 11, 1855.
III. WILLIAM H., born Nov. 27, 1858.
IV. LLEWELLYN, born Dec. 11, 1861.
DR. GRANVILLE WILSON TINKHAM was a native of North Bridgewater, Mass., and was born May 21, 1848. He received his academic education in the town schools, and was graduated from the Harvard Medical School, with degree of M. D., March 8, 1871. He came to Weymouth in June of the same year, and has practised there ever since. He was admitted a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1872. He married, Oct. 20, 1874, Augusta Louise Trask, of Weymouth. Their children are: -
I. MAUDE C., born Oct. 12, 1876.
II. OLIVER G., born June 22, 1879.
DR. ROSCOE ELLSWORTH BROWN was a native of Lynn, Mass., where he was born May 18, 1851. He obtained his preparatory education in Bridgton High School and Bridgton Academy, Bridgton, Me. He spent a year in the Portland Medical School and the Maine General Hospital, and received his M. D. from the Medical School of Bowdoin College in July, 1876. He came to North Weymouth in September of the same year, and has since removed to East Weymouth, where he still practises. He joined the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1879. He married, Feb. 2, 1877, Mary E. Wilson, of Brunswick, Me. They had one child: -
I. ROSCOE B., born Sept. 11, 1882 ; died Feb. 9, 1884.
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
DR. JOHN CHISHOLM FRASER was born in Antigo- nish, N. S., Aug. 2, 1853, and received his A. B., from St. Francis Xavier College of that place. He acquired his medical education at Harvard and at Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, where he received his M.D., March 1, 1876, and came to East Weymouth in the same year. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1880, and is at the present time the president of the Union Medical and Surgical Association. He mar- ried, July 20, 1880, Mary Ann Boyle, of East Wey- mouth.
Their children are: -
I. MARY G., born July 18, 1881.
II. ARCHY M., born May 22, 1883.
DR. WILLIAM ABRAM DRAKE was a native of Con- cord, N. H. He was born Oct. 22, 1849. His aca- demic education was obtained in Augusta, Me., at Cony Academy. He was graduated from the Medical De- partment of Bowdoin College in 1879, after having had some clinical hospital experience and served as hospital steward. He came to North Weymouth, March 15, 1880, and continues there at the present time. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1883. He married, Feb. 17, 1880, Rose Horn, of Norway, Me. They have no children.
ECLECTIC PHYSICIAN.
DR. JOSEPH PORTER HODGDON was a native of Kensington, N. H., where he was born June 9, 1825. He obtained a common-school education, and graduated from the Eclectic Medical School, Worcester, Mass. He came to Weymouth in 1852, and remained seven years.
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTHI.
HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS.
DR. NORTON QUINCY TIRRELL succeeded Dr. Gib- bens at North Weymouth. He occupied a house on Commercial Strect, on King Oak Hill, commanding a magnificent view of Boston Harbor and the surround- ing country. His academic education was obtaincd at Warren Academy, Wilbraham, Woburn, Mass., and Gil- manton, N. H. As to medical education he was a grad- uate of no college; he " obtained it in the regular pro- cess of study." He began practice in Sharon, Mass., but removed to this town in January, 1852, and for many years his practice was large and lucrative. During the latter part of his life he practised homœopathy. His medical lifc covered a period of thirty years. He mar- ried Susan Jane French, of Loudon, N. H., May 12, 1842.
Their children are as follows, viz .: -
I. FREDERIC N., born June 30, 1843.
II. CHARLES Q., born Dec. 10, 1844.
III. NATHAN T., born March 22, 1847.
IV. CLARA J., born July 23, 1849 ; died April 13, 1876.
V. NORTON, born March 2, 1855.
VI. GEORGE E., born Aug. 4, 1856.
Hc was born Nov. 20, 1817; and died Oct. 19, 1882, at his home in East Weymouth, having removed to this village some ycars previously.
DR. WILLIAM FALES HATHAWAY was born Oct. · 4, 1843, at Northbridge, Mass. He received a high- school preparatory education, and graduated in medicine from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa., March 4, 1869. He was in the battles around and at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss. Hc was appointed hospital steward of the Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He came to Weymouth in 1871, and still
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practises here. He married Elizabeth Stansbury, of Philadelphia, Pa., March 17, 1869.
Their children are: -
I. FLORENCE, born Dec. 19, 1869.
II. HARRY S., born July 6, 1872.
III. MARIE L., born Dec. 12,1874 ; died June 13, 1881.
IV. WILLIAM FALES, born Jan. 19, 1878.
DR. JUDSON L. BECK was born in St. John, N. B., in 1836. He graduated from the Boston University, and came to East Weymouth in 1879. He married Miss E. S. Malcom, of Halifax, N. S.
They have two children: -
I. FRED, born April 25, 1872.
II. BERTHA M., born May 2, 1874.
FEMALE PHYSICIANS.
MRS. DR. TUCK, a resident of South Weymouth, has, for several years, been practising medicine at her own residence and at her office in Boston. She is the widow of the late Lorenzo Tuck of the South village, and for- merly of North Bridgewater. She has one son.
MRS. DR. TIRZAH E. GOODWIN is the wife of Mr. John Goodwin, of Weymouth, and daughter of Mr. Royal Norton, of the same village. She is a graduate of Boston University, and has for several years been practising in this and other places. She has two children.
MESSRS. FORREST, FITZGERALD, GUPTIL, ANDREWS, and possibly some others have practised medicine for a very short time in some parts of the town, but scarcely long enough for them to acquire real estate or to be considered permanent residents.
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SKETCH OF WEYMOUTH.
CHAPTER XII.
Rebellion Record - Twelfth Regiment - Thirty-fifth Regiment -Forty- second Regiment - Fourth Heavy Artillery - Soldiers' Record.
REBELLION RECORD, 1861-5. - The following rec- ord of soldiers sent by the town of Weymouth, Mass., into the Union service during the great Rebellion of 1861-5, with the exception of a few errors corrected by the compiler, is taken chiefly from the town archives, kept in accordance with acts of the Massachusetts Legislature, approved March 7 and April 29, 1863, and is believed to be substantially correct. There are, doubt- less, errors and omissions, as it is almost necessary there must be in such compilations, judging from the universal experience of the past. Names are extremely liable to error, since there are so many ways of spelling the same. Dates also are sources of difficulty, as all know who have ever attempted to verify them. Defec- tive memories are exceedingly fruitful in mistakes in matters that are not made the subject of record at the time of their occurrence.
Much care and labor have been bestowed upon this list, yet it claims to be at best but a good basis upon which to rest a full and thorough history of Wey- mouth during the Rebellion, and is perhaps sufficiently accurate for ordinary purposes.
A great many of the men here enumerated served in other organizations during the war than that to which they are credited; to name them all would extend the work too much for the general purpose; that here given
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is usually the one in which the first enlistment was made. The rank named is the highest held during the term of service, without regard to the organization in which it was held. When no State is named, Massachusetts is understood, and the alphabetical arrangement has been used to facilitate reference. The necessary abbrevia- tions will be readily understood. The name being first given, then the rank, afterwards the branch of service, and last, casualties where any occurred.
Weymouth having sent into the war four full com- panies in as many different regiments, and all of them bearing an honorable record, a brief sketch of the oper- ations of these organizations cannot fail to be of interest in a work of this character; and much care has been taken that the following brief histories shall cover in outline, and correctly, their several careers as they passed through their terms of service.
Two of the regiments, the Twelfth and the Thirty- fifth, were pre-eminently fighting regiments, known and acknowledged as such through the length and breadth of the land. The remaining two, the Forty- second and the Fourth Heavy Artillery, although not so favored in that respect, were noted for their drill and discipline, and for their prompt and faithful per- formance of every duty they were called upon to do; and there can be no question that, had the opportunity offered, they would have shown as good a record in the battle-field as their more celebrated comrades.
The materials for these sketches have been drawn from official records or other authentic sources of in- formation, and may be relied upon to give a faithful account in brief of the varied services in which they were engaged from the time of their "muster in " until they were honorably discharged from the service of the United States.
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TWELTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.
The first movement looking to the enlistment of men for eompanies, which were afterwards organized as the Twelfth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, was made under a call from Fletcher Webster, son of Daniel Webster, bearing date of 20th of April, 1861, soon after the attack upon Sumter and the eall of President Lineoln for volunteers. This was on Satur- day, and a meeting was held on the next day, Sunday, in State Street, Boston. Enlistments were begun on Monday, the 22d, and so rapidly did the work progress, that by the 7th of May the regiment was organized with its full eomplement of officers, and also furnished with arms and uniforms, and named the Webster Regiment, in honor of him who had done so mueh to bring it into being.
The officers were, Fletcher Webster, eolonel; T. M. Bryan, Jr., lieutenant-colonel; and Elisha M. Burbank, major. The first five companies were recruited in Bos- ton, and commenced drilling in Faneuil Hall, Clinton Street, and Summer Street; Company F was gathered in North Bridgewater; Company G, in Abington; Com- pany H, in Weymouth; Company I, in Stoughton; and Company K, in Gloneester; and the regiment removed during the first week in May to Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, where it was actively engaged in perfeeting its organization and drill during the next few weeks.
The regiment was aeeepted June 14, and on the 26th, eight hundred and fifty men were mustered into the service of the United States, and the remainder of them on the 11th of July. From some unknown eause the movement of the regiment was delayed from time to time, and it did not take its departure for the seat of war until July 23, when it left Boston, 1040 strong;
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reached Baltimore, via Harrisburg, at noon the 26th, and started immediately towards Harper's Ferry, arriv- ing at Sandy Hook, Md., on the morning of the 27th, where it was assigned to Abercrombie's brigade, Banks's division, and commenced active duty, and where it soon obtained the reputation of being the best drilled regi- ment in the brigade.
During a whole year its strength was spent in the irksome duties of the camp, and in marches and coun- termarches through Maryland and Virginia, between Frederick, Winchester, and Fredericksburg, with hardly the face of an enemy in sight. Its ill luck at com- mencement seemed to follow it, and it had no oppor- tunity to test its courage, skill, and endurance in battle. Its reputation as a fighting regiment was yet to be established, and a lurking suspicion begun to be felt that it was not sceking that service. But its severe schooling was not without result, as was fully shown when the test was applied.
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