History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 55

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854


USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 55


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The Sixteenth Ohio was finally quartered in and about West Union, in what was termed "Camp Kelley," awaiting the consummation of General MeClellan's plan of attack against the rebels who were stationed at Beverly. While at this point, Colonel Irvine sent the following let- ter to the ladies of Springfield, Ohio, who had presented the Sixteenth Ohio with a stand of colors for their gallantry at the Philippi engage- ment :


HEAD QUARTERS OF SIXTEENTH REGIMENT, O. V. M. CHEAT BRIDGE, July 3, 1861.


At the time of the receipt of the splendid stand of colors which the ladies of Springfield presented our regiment, I was on the sick list. I beg leave to assure the patriotic ladies whose kind regards were so well expressed in what is now the regi- mental banner of the Sixteenth, that the mem- bers of my regiment with one heart, and as with one voice, took an oath that the honor of that flag should never be sullied while a single arm re- mained to raise in its defense. I beg to assure you that the ladies of Springfield will be grate- fully remembered by many brave men while memory lasts, and by none more gratefully than by


Your obedient servant, J, IRVINE.


Colonel commanding Sixteenth Regiment.


The Romney skirmish, Philippi engagement, and the defeat and capture of Colonel Pegram's forces had the effect of consolidating the rebels under General Garnett, north of Laurel Hill near Philippi. Upon learning of Pegram's defeat and surrender, General Garnett endeavored to escape to Richmond by plunging into the wild roads of the Alleghenies, and was rapidly descending the Cheat river when he was overtaken by the Union forces. Finding escape in vain without a battle, General Garnett looked anxiously for a com- manding position, He came to a ford in the river which was approachable over an extended meadow, smooth as a Hoor, and waving with young corn. On the opposite side of the river, and commanding the ford, there was an almost. perpendicular bluff eighty feet high, fringed with laurel, presenting a perfect screen for his batte- ries and his men to lie in ambush. Here he stationed his army. The Sixteenth Ohio, en- camped at West Union, was sitting down to its breakfast when the call to arms came, and the boys were forced to leave without a mouthful and make a hurried march to a point known as Red-house (so called from the position of a red house situated at a defile in the mountain ), at which they were placed as a guard in the event the enemy made an attempt to escape by this route. Colonel Steadman, with the Fourteenth Ohio, first charged upon General Garnett's position, followed immediately by the entire body of the Union troops. For some time the battle raged with no decisive results, until Colonel Dumont, with the Seventh Indiana, crept under the right flank of the foe, when they turned and fled only to meet the outlying Union posts at every defile of the mountains. General Garnett was killed and left unattended by his troops.


On the call to march coming so unexpectedly to the Coshocton boys at West Union, they left so suddenly that a tall Irishman was continued on picket guard alone, with no troops in the vicinity except the corporal in charge of eamp equipage. Upon being questioned afterward as to his cour- age, he remarked. " I felt as safe as if I was in God's vest pocket as long as the eorperler was with me." The corporal in charge was a mere boy.


After this engagement the Sixteenth Ohio was


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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.


ordered back to Oakland and was assigned the duty of guarding the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, until the time of its enlistment had expired when it was ordered to Columbus about the middle of August and returned home.


Coshocton was changed from the time "the boys" had enlisted; then they were the only sol- diers in the town, while at the time they returned soldiers and war matters absorbed every thought of the people. The Coshocton Age says of that time:


Our quiet town has been in a continual round of excitement on account of the movement of troops. First, last week, came the Sixteenth In- diana Regiment on their way to Washington. Its cry was " Ho for Manassas!" Two days thereaf- ter came the Twelfth Indiana for the same city Sunday, Lew Wallace's Indiana Zouaves return- ing from Harper's Ferry, Monday the First and Second Ohio passed through. Captain Given's company has recently left ; other companies are forming, and now the Coshoction companies of the Sixteenth Ohio have arrived at home. There was a big crowd at the depot and the welcome was warm and earnest as the gallant boys sprang from the cars. Bob Richardson gave the com- pany colors to the breeze to let it be known they had come back unsullied by any dishonorable act.


As the war progressed, and its necessities be- came more apparent, Coshocton county did not . fail to respond. A military committee was formed and issued the following circular :


AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTIC CITIZENS FOR AID FOR OUR SOLDIERS.


In accordance with the proclamation of the Governor of Ohio, the undersigned military com- mittee of Coshocton county would respectfully but earnestly call upon her citizens to come to the relief of our suffering soldiers. This is no idle call. If you have but one blanket to spare, bring it along. The articles will be received and receipted for at the store of Rand H. Hay, in Coshocton, or Hiram Beall's store, in Keene.


HENSTON ILAY, SETH MCCLAIN, A. L. CASS, R. LANNING, GEO. W. PEPPER. Military Committee for Coshocton County.


appointed in every township in the county. The ladies all over the county were enthus astie in their support of war measures The young ladies of the county organized a society for the purpose of inspiring the enlistment of all able-bodied young men, and published the following resolu- tions in all the papers in the county :


At a meeting of the young ladies of Coshocton county, held for the purpose of promoting war measures, in was unanimously resolved,


That it is the duty of every young unmarried man to go to war;


That all who are physically unable to go are physically unable to support a family ;


That we have no further need of home guards; That young men have but one reason for stay- ing at home-they fear battle more than they love liberty ;


That the young man who fails to do his duty in this hour of our utmost need is not worthy the smiles of the ladies of this vicinity;


That we will marry no home guard ;


That he who is not true to his country is not true to his God, nor woukl he be true to his wife.


It is supposed that these patriotic resolutions had the desired effect, as the young men of Co- shoeton went promptly and rapidly to the front during all those dark years.


CHAPTER XXXVI.


WAR OF THE REBELLION-CONTINUED.


Organization of "Given's Rangers"-Their Assignment 10 the Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Departure to the Field-Sketch of Josiah Given-Organization-Captain W. M. Stanley's Assignment to the Thirty-second Ohio, and Departure for the Field-Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second at Cheat Mountain-Twenty-fourth in the Field and Mustered Out- Thirty-second in the Field and Mustered Ont.


W "HILE the two three-month companies of Coshocton boys were making their rec- ord, the martial element at home was growing more and more formidable. The first three years' company was recruited by Josiah Given. The _ige, of date June 6, 1861, says : " Josiah Given established a camp at this place, and raised a company of volunteers for three years service. The camp is in the county fair grounds, named Camp Burt, and the company is a very fine one. The boys expect marching orders this week. This makes three full companies from Coshocton


The issue of this circular called forth from the liberal citizens of Coshocton such large quantities of all articles needed, that sub-committees were | county. Two of them are now in the heart of


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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.


Virginia, on the enemy's soil, and this one will give a good account of itself."


The following is the muster-roll of the eom- pany :


OFFICERS.


Josiah Given, Captain.


James L. Inskeep, First Lieutenant.


Gabriel B. Stitt, Second Lieutenant.


A. J. Garrison, First Sergeant.


George McConnel, Second Sergeant. William Knowlden, Third Sergeant. George Johnston, Fourth Sergeant.


Andrew Davis. Fifth Sergeant.


J. G. Butler, First Corporal.


Edward Sterman, Second Corporal.


A. D. Green. Third Corporal.


R. U. Chapman, Fourth Corporal.


A. Pocock, Fifth Corporal. R. A. Campbell, Sixth Corporal. David Horton, Seventh Corporal. J. C. Almack, Eighth Corporal.


T. J. Cunning. First Musician.


D. R. Norris, Second Musician. George Mahew, Wagoner.


Privates-Michael Adams, J. P. Almack, Charles Baker, Daniel B. Barnes, John Babcock, Francis Bigelow, S. J. Boggs, Edward E. Bryan, George Carpenter, Joseph Carpenter, Matthew Camp- bell. Albert B. Campbell, John Corbit, Jacob Cockran. P. L. Cooper, John Cox, Archibald Curtis, William M. Clute, George G. Clark, Wil- liam Darnes. William Douglass, Samuel Deeamp, Jacob Evans, John Endermshley. Linneus Fes- senden, R. R Fox, Samuel Farquhar, Robert J. Gardner, Conrad Ginther, Phillip Ginther, Sam- uel House. David Hagans, Joseph HI. Hagans, John H. Hooker, L. Johnston, William A. John- ston, R. L. Johnston, Charles Johnston, John Johnston. John Jennings, Armstead Kitchen, John King. Francis Kiggins, Lewis Lent, Rezin Lovitt, Gideon Lovitt, Robinson Mardis, Amos Mardis, Francis Martin. Michael Mang, John Miller, AAdolphus Musgrove, Martin Neighbor, Joseph F. Powell. Griffith Plummer. Thomas B. Rose, William R. Richards, Hamilton Smith, Isaac Schoonover, William F Schoonover, Bain- hart Schort, J. L. Stricker, William H. Sills, J. H Shaw, Samuel M. Salyards. John N. Thomp-


son, Reuben G. Tumblin, James Trott, John Allen Trott, Daniel Trainer, Chauney Trimble, Rolla Timmons, John E. Wiggins, Andrew Van- siekle, John Vankirk, William A. White, Wil- liam Watson, Joseph Wackerby, Edward E. Wells, Joseph Wirr, John Wirr, John Zook.


A short sketch of Josiah Given, the captain, will be appropriate in this place, in view of active service and rapid promotion. He was commis- sioned June 12, 1861, as captain of Company K Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; August 17,1861, ranked as lieutenant-colonel of the Eigh- teenth Ohio, commissioned November 2, 1861. Appointed colonel of the Seventy-fourth Ohio May 16, 1863; commission issued June 2, 1863, Colonel Given commanded the Seventy-fourth Ohio from the time of its movement towards Chattanooga, June 23, 1863, participating in the battle of Hoover's Gap, June 24; Dug Gap, Georgia September 11,and Chickamanga, Sept. 19 and 20. arriving at Chattanooga, Sept. 22, 1863. IIe also commanded the Seventy-fourth in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, Nov. 23, 24 and 25, 1863. On the 7th of May, 1864, Colonel Given commanded his regiment as it started with the army on the Atlanta campaign. For one hundred days and over the regiment was under fire almost daily. At Buzzard's Roost and at Resaca the regiment, under Colonel Given, stormed those strongholds with heavy loss, and on the 27th of May received the following com- mendatory notice from the division commander :


HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, NEAR DALLAS, GEORGIA, May 28, 1864.


COLONEL JOSIAH GIVEN :- General Johnson de- sires to express to you his high appreciation of the gallantry exhibited by the noble troops of your regiment in the night. engagement of the 27th inst. The admirable spirit displayed by the regiment on that oocasion is, above all things, desirable and commendable Soldiers animated by such courage and fortitude are capable of the very highest achievements.


[Signed,] E. T. WELLS, A. A.


The regiment, still under Colonel Given's com- mand, was engaged in the performance of the most perilous and arduous duties at Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, and in front of Atlanta. At the battle of


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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.


Jonesboro, Colonel Given led the regiment in three distinct charges, on the afternoon of Sep- tember 1, and shared in the general compliment- ary notice to all those engaged in that part of the fight, as follows :


HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, JONESBORO, September, 186-1.


CIRCULAR-" The general commanding the di- vision congratulates officers and enlisted men of the Second and Third brigades on the success of their splendid assault on the enemy, September 1, 1864. They charged a strongly intrenched double line, passing over swamps and through thickets under a murderous fire of musketry, dragged the enemy out of his works at some points, and drove him out at othors. The troops opposed to them were the most celebrated for obstinate fighting of any division of the rebel army. The conduct of all was gratifying to our commanding general, and the day should be re- membered and celebrated by every soldier en- gaged in battle.


" By order of Brigadier General W. P. Carlin. "(Signed) G. W. SMITH, A. A. G."


The Atlanta compaign ending here, Colonel Given resigned, and returning to Coshocton, as- sisted this county so well in its management of its draft quotas that it had them filled with little or no trouble. Colonel Given is now a citizen of Iowa, and is engaged in the practice of the law.


June 13, 1864, Captain Given's company left Camp Burt for Camp Jackson at Columbus. The Age of that date says: "Given's Rangers are gone. He has a spendid company and the boys will give a good account of themselves. Last week the Coshocton ladies presented each soldier with a neat needle book, fully equipped. S.ttur- day the Roscoe ladies and gentlemen, preceded by a band, invaded the camp with five wagons loaded with provisions. On Saturday Parson Hickmans held divine service in the camp." The company, after reaching Columbus, was as- signed to the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteers Infantry; was know as Company K, and was quartered at Camp Chase. As illustra- tive of the character of the Coshocton citizens whose fortunes were cast with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, the following extract from the Age, dated June 27, will speak for itself: "The members of Company K, Twenty-fourth Regiment, Captain Given of Coshocton, have started a Sabbath-school


in Camp Chase, and not satisfied with the good start have organized a social circle, and are deter- mined to live temperate lives while battling for the maintenance of the stars and stripes."


The Twenty-Fourth left Camp Chase on the 26th day of July, 1861. They went first to Bel- laire, and then started to Washington, but, after getting sixty-five miles east of Pittsburgh, received orders to return, came back and proceeded to Clarksburgh, and were compelled to shovel dirt for two days and a night, on account of a land slide about forty miles from Clarksburgh, finally reaching Cheat Mountain Summit August 14, 1861. Here they joined the Fourteenth Indiana, which had been on duty at this mountain pass for some weeks.


The Twenty-Fourth Ohio was thus finally in the field. Another company occupied Camp Burt as soon as Captain Given's company left. Wilson M. Stanley of Newcastle township, im- mediately commenced recruiting a company, and, at the date of the arrival of the Twenty- Fourth at Cheat Mountain Summit, the Lige speaks of Captain Stanley's company as follows : "Captain Wilson ME. Stanley's company is in camp at the fair grounds or at Camp Burt. He has or- ders from the government to subsist his men her until the company marches to Colonel Ford's camp at Mansfield." The company, by this order, was assigned to the Thirty-Second Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was known as company I.


The muster roll of the company which was mustered into the service August 31, 1861, is as follows:


OFFICERS.


Wilson M. Stanley, Captain.


C. C. Nicholas, First Lieutenant.


George T. Jack, Second Lieutenant.


Adam Carnes, First Sergeant.


John McDonald, Second Sergeant.


Elias W. James, Third Sergeant.


Henry Matheny, Fourth Sergeant.


Adamı Morgan, First Corporal.


George W. Seward, Second Corporal.


William Coggins, Third Corporal. Charles Murray, Fourth Corporal.


John Lynch, Drummer. W'm. MeNabb, Fifer.


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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.


Privates .- John Arney, Cornelius Austin, Wil- liam W. Bassett, Joseph R. Berry, John Beall, Henry G. Bassett, Alfred Baeby, R. L. Barcroft, Edward Barrett, Samuel Clark, Nelson C. Carr, Jefferson Carnes, John D. Cooper, Thomas G. Cochran, William Crago, M. D. Cochran, E. Campbell, R. Courtright, William Cox, Hiram Croft, E. U. Campbell, John W. Conley, J. V. Crago, Samuel Crawford, C. P. Crawford, S. Campbell, James Davis, William Dusenberry, W. C. Daringer, Alexander C. Ellis, Henry Fisher, Morgan Felver, D. A. Gonder, John C. Gonder, E. Hays, John T. Hays, Thomas K. Hess, Webster Hogle, Andrew Jack, W. H. Jennings, Benjamin James, Joseph Kitchen, Robert Levitt, J. B. Lindsey, J. W. McChris- tian, Jacob Matock, J. McComber, Joshua Mus- ser, William Mathias, L. McElfresh, S. II. Mc- Lain, Francis Norris, R. Marchman, Patrick O'Brien, James Porter, J. H. Pigman, John Por- ter, G W. Pierce, Levi Porter, John Baire, James Robison, Martin Shulty, T. C. Seward, Daniel Schoonover, John Sondells, A. B. Stricher, W. Smith, H. Smith, J. H. Sobringer, J. W. Sipes, J. W. Stanton, Warren Shaw, J. Tompkins, John Thompson, George Tuttle, James Tubbs, David Tracy, William Ruter, C. P. Vankish, Wilson Wells, Edward Woods, William Wise, S. Wel- ling, P. Williamson, D. Welling.


This company remained in Coshocton until the Thirty-second Ohio left their camp at Mans- field and went into Camp Dennison, where the regiment was completed and Company I with the others was equipped and sent to the field under the command of Colonel Thomas H. Ford, for- merly Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. On the 15th of September, 1861, the regiment left Camp Den- nison for West Virginia. As was the case with most, if not all, of the first regiments from Ohio, the men were poorly equipped, and were armed with the almost useless old smooth bore muskets of a by-gone age. The regiment was moved by railroad, arrived at Grafton September 18, and marched the next day for Beverly, West Vir- ginia, where it arrived on the 22d.


At this point Colonel Ford reported for orders to Brigadier-General Reynolds then commanding the District of Cheat Mountain, with headquar- ters at Huttonsville, and was assigned the com-


mand at Cheat Mountain Summit, with Colonel Nathan Kimball of the Fourteenth Indiana com- manding the post. Having followed the Thirty- second from its organization, so far as the Co- shocton part of the regiment is concerned, until it reached the same field in common with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, it would not be amiss to inquire into the whereabouts and doings of that regiment in the interval. When the Twenty- fourth Ohio arrived at Cheat Mountain Summit on the 14th of August the rebels with a superior force lay in front about fifteen miles, and almost every day attacked the pickets, giving fre- quent opportunities for skirmishing, requiring the regiment to be ready for battle day and night and making it necessary to strengthen the posi- tion by felling trees, preparing abattis and throw- ing out heavy pickets to prevent surprise and to be prepared for any emergency. The position being considered important and the enemy in front enterprising, the camp was reinforced by the Twenty-fifth Ohio. The night of September 11 was stormy, with heavy rain. The raw pick- ets, not yet taught the importance of special vigi- lance at such times, were careless; and at break of day on the 12th the camp was surrounded by a largely superior force of rebels. Fortunately the abattis on the left of the camp of the Twenty- fourth Ohio proved efficient, caused delay in the movements of the enemy and gave time to form the troops for battle, which was done promptly. In this, their first engagement, the Twenty- fourth Ohio gave indications of that coolness and discipline for which the regiment at a later period was distinguished. After a combat of three hours the rebels abandoned the attack and fled, leaving on the field many blankets, arms, etc, losing some prisoners and some killed. The loss of the Twenty-fourth was only two wounded. In the next battle the Twenty-fourth and Thir- ty-second, with some other of the forces at Cheat Mountain Summit, were engaged. The Thirty- second had been hurried to the field without dis- cipline; in fact it was hardly organized. Here, upon the rugged heights of Cheat Mountain, amid the wild scenery of the Alleghenies, the regi- ment received its first lesson in the art of war.


On the. 3d of October, 1861, the Thirty-second, under orders, made a forward movement and led


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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.


the advance of the army against the enemy at Greenbrier, through the mountains and pines of that region, by midnight, while the Twenty-fourth was exposed to a heavy fire of shell, grape and canister, but stood firm, The Age, of date October 10, publishes a letter from one of the Coshocton participants, as follows :


CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT, October 3.


This morning, at 1 A. M., a portion of the brigade of Brigadier-General J. J. Reynolds, consisting of three Ohio regiments, the Twenty-fourth, Twenty- fifth and Thirty-second and portions of six Indiana regiments-Seventh, Ninth, Thirteenth, Four- teenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth, together with detachments of Bracken's Indiana, Robinson's Ohio and Greenfield's Pennsylvania Cavalry, and detachments of Howe's United States, Loomis' Michigan and Daum's Virginia Artillery, num- bering in all about 5,000 men, left Cheat Mountain Summit to make a reconnoissance in force in front of the enemy's position on Greenbrier river, twelve miles distant. Colonel Ford's Thirty-second Ohio was sent forward to hold an important road, the possession of which prevented the enemy from flanking our main column. The expedition arrived in front of the enemy's fortification at S A. M., their pickets retreating after firing an in- effectual volley. Kimball's Fourteenth Indiana was immediately sent forward to secure a position for Loomis' battery. Colonel Ammen's Twenty- fourth Ohio deployed as skirmishers on the south slope of the mountain. Loomis' battery, getting position, supported by the Seventeenth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Wilder commanding, opened the battle. The shot was immediately responded to by a volley from the enemy, concealed in bushes, who were soon routed by the Fourteenth Indiana, with a loss of seven killed and a large number wounded and prisoners. Howe's battery, supported by the Thirteenth Indiana, then moved forward, taking a position 300 yards nearer the enemy's fortifications and opened a brisk fire. The firing on both sides was almost incessant for one hour, our artillery doing execution, judg- ing from the shrieks of the enemy's wounded. Their batteries did but comparatively little injury, being too much elevated. Our guns effectually silenced three of theirs. While observations were being made of the enemy's fortifications, occupy- ing three more hours, an irregular artillery fire was kept up, occupying the enemy's attention. During this interval the Twenty-fourth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana rendered very effectual service scouting the mountains. The reconnoissance proved entirely successful, affording information relative to the enemy's strength.


The loss of the Twenty-fourth Ohio was two


killed and three wounded. The Thirty-second Ohio remained at Greenbrier during the fall of 1861, engaged in watching the movements of the enemy, then commanded by the afterwards re- nowned rebel, General Robert E. Lee.


The Twenty-fourth Ohio, on November 18, 1861, marched from Cheat Mountain, under or- ders for Louisville, Kentucky; reported at that place on the 28th of the same month, and was assigned to duty in the Tenth Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio. February 25, 1862, it reached Nashville, Tennessee, and remained there, in camp, until March 17. when the Fourth Division took up the line of march for Savannah and Pittsburgh Landing. The bridge over Duck river, at Columbia, Tennessee, having been burned by rebels, and the stream being very high, the army was detained some days, repairing the bridge. Before this was done (the river having fallen) the Fourth Division was ordered to ad- vance. It waded the river March 29, and hurried on to Savannah, on the Tennessee river, which place it reached on Saturday, April 5, and went into camp. As the swamp on the right bank of the Tennessee was deemed impassable, boats were to be sent to transport the troops to Pitts- burgh Landing, twelve miles up the river. On Sunday morning, April 6, the roar of the artillery at Pittsburgh Landing was heard at Savannah. The troops were immediately put in readiness to move. No boats arriving, to transport them, at one p. M. the brigade to which the Twenty- fourth belonged started through a swamp on the march to the battlefield, the other brig- ades of the division following, and after a hard march, through mud and water, it reached the opposite bank of the river. The Federal army had gradually retired to the river. The last horrible tragedy of this day seemed about to be consummated. The rebels occupied all the camps of the Federal army. The latter were crowded in wild confusion around Pittsburgh Landing. The arrival of the gunboats and Buell's forces changed the face of affairs. It was at this time, on Sunday evening, the brigade containing the Twenty-fourth Ohio came upon the scene and took part in the battle, on the extreme left. During the hours of that memorable night, while a furious tempest raged and a deluge of




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