USA > Tennessee > Williamson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 58
USA > Tennessee > Maury County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 58
USA > Tennessee > Rutherford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 58
USA > Tennessee > Wilson County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 58
USA > Tennessee > Bedford County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 58
USA > Tennessee > Marshall County > History of Tennessee, from the earliest time to the present; together with an historical and a biographical sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford and Marshall counties, besides a valuable fund of notes, reminiscences, observations, etc., etc. Vol. 1 > Part 58
USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present , together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, reminiscences, etc., etc. V. 1 > Part 58
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FPOM PHOTO BY THUSS, KOELLEIN & GIERS, NASHVILLE
WILLIAM G. BROWNLOW
50%.
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
until June 10, 1865. Companies F and G of this regiment were not or- ganized until February, 1865. Company K was organized in June, 1565. Company L was never fully organized. It numbered fifty-one men. and was stationed as a guard on the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad. Sixty-three men comprising Company M were mustered into service in October, 1864, under William H. Hampton as first lieutenant. They served during the campaign against Hood as provost guard and escort company. Company A was detached from its regiment on April 26. 1864, and assigned to duty at Springfield, Tenn., where it remained until August, after which it was with Gen. Gillem in his campaign in East Tennessee.
The recruiting for the Eleventh Union Regiment of Tennessee Car- alry was begun at Camp Nelson, Ky., where the greater part of five companies was raised. August 16, 1863, Isham Young, Reuben Davis and J. H. Johnson, the last two of whom had already organized the above companies, were commissioned by Gov. Johnson to raise a regiment of cavalry to be designated the Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry, and by Oc- · tober 21 all the companies except Company MI, which numbered only forty-six men, had been filled and organized. On that date Col. Young received his commission, and the organization of the regiment, then at Knoxville, was completed, with R. A. Davis, lieutenant-colonel; James H. Johnson, first major; Alexander D. Rhea, second major, and Edward Black, third major. The regiment remained at Knoxville until after the siege, when it was ordered to upper East Tennessee. There five compan- ies, under Maj. Black, were sent to Morristown, and the remaining five companies, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Davis, were stationed at Cumberland Gap. They did scout duty along the Virginia line until February, 1864, when nearly the entire command was captured. The remainder of the regiment remained in East Tennessee until consolidated with the Ninth Regiment.
The Twelfth Union Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry was organized by companies, the first of which was mustered into service August 24, 1863. February 22, 1864, six companies had been mustered, and George Spalding was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. The regiment was then assigned to Gen. Gillem's division, and was placed on guard duty on the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad, where it remained until April, 1864. During the remainder of the year the regiment was in active service al- most continuously. It was one of the most efficient regiments in oppos- ing Wheeler on his raid through Middle Tennessee, and had. several se- vere engagements with portions of his command. In the latter part of September it marched to contest the approach of Gen. Forrest, with
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whom it was several times engaged with considerable loss. It was also active in the campaign against Hood, participating in the battles at Law- renceburg, Campbellsville, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. From Nashville the regiment was in the advance in pursuit of Hood, and fired the last shot at the enemy as he crossed the Tennessee River at Bain- ' bridge. February 8, 1865, the regiment went into camp at Eastport, Miss., where it remained until May 11. It was then transferred from the Second to the First Brigade under the command of Byt. Brig .- Gen. George Spald- ing, who had been commissioned colonel upon the completion of the regiment, August 16, 1864, and ordered to St. Louis. It was there re- mounted and refitted and sent to Fort Leavenworth, at which place, after having performed some escort and scout duty through northern Kansas and southern Nebraska, it was mustered out October 7. It returned to Nashville, and was there finally paid and discharged October 24, 1865.
The Thirteenth Union Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry was organized by Col. John K. Miller, of Carter County, at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., in September, 1863. It was not fully equipped, however, until it reached Camp Nelson, Kentucky, in the month of December. It was there mounted, and soon after ordered to Nashville, where it remained until the spring of 1864. It was then ordered to Gallatin, where it did post- duty until August 4, when it was attached to what was known as the "Brigade of Governor Guards," commanded by Gen. Gillem. With this command it operated in East Tennessee against the Confederate cavalry under Gens. Morgan, Vaughn and Breckinridge; and under Lieut-Col. William H. Ingerton acted a conspicuous part in the killing of Morgan and the rout and capture of his force at Greeneville, Tenn. Morgan was killed by Andrew Campbell, of Company G, of this regiment. This regiment formed a part of the command under Gens. Stoneman and Gil- lem, which did such signal service in southwestern Virginia in Decem- ber, 1864, and was also with the former general on his raid in the spring- of 1865, participating with credit in the engagement at Salisbury, N. C. In June, 1865, it returned to Knoxville, moved from there to Lenoir's Station, then to Sweetwater, and finally back to Knoxville, where it was mustered out September 5, 1865.
Bradford's battalion of Union Tennessee Cavalry was raised by Maj. W. F. Bradford in December, 1863, and January, 1864. It consisted of four companies organized at Union City, Tenn., and was at first incor- rectly designated the Thirteenth Cavalry. It remained at Union City until February 3, 1864, when it was ordered to Fort Pillow, where it arrived on the Sth. Recruiting at that point did not progress very rap- idly, and it was not until April 1 that the fifth company was ready for
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muster into the United States service. Before this was done, however, the fort was captured, and it together with the other four companies was nearly annihilated. With the capture of Fort Pillow the history of this battalion terminates. Hardly a nucleus of the command remained after the massacre. Only three commissioned officers were left, and two of them died soon after. A little detachment of men, who at the time of the fight were absent from the several companies on duty, were on August 18, 1864, consolidated in one company designated as Company A of the Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry. This company on February 14, 1865, was consolidated with the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry, and was known as Company E.
The First Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was organ- ized by Lieut .- Col. Abraham E. Garrett in the early part of 1864, although a portion of the companies were not completed until the end of the year. The regiment served principally in the northeastern part of Middle Tennessee, where it had frequent and severe encounters with guerrillas.
The Second Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was recruited principally in the vicinity of Wayne, Hardin, and Perry Coun- ties. Company A was mustered October 2, 1863, and by February 1, 1864, the date of the organization of the regiment, seven companies had been completed. Two more companies were added in April, and Com- pany K in June. John Murphy was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in February, and promoted to colonel upon the completion of the regiment.
The Third Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was a three months' regiment, and was never fully organized.
The recruiting of the Fourth Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was begun in August, 1864, and the last company was mustered into service the February following. Its members were principally from the eastern portion of Middle Tennessee. It was placed under the com- mand of Joseph H. Blackburn, who was commissioned lieutenant-colonel November 26, 1864.
The Fifth Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was recruited and organized in the fall of 1864, at Cleveland, Tenn., by Col. Spencer B. Boyd, and Lieut .- Col. Stephen Beard. He was chiefly engaged in scouting through lower East Tennessee, northern Georgia, western North Carolina and northern Alabama. It had frequent encoun- ters with Gatewood's and other guerrillas, one of which occurred at Spring Place, Ga., and another at Ducktown, Polk Co., Tenn. The regi- ment was mustered out at Nashville in July, 1865.
The Sixth Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was or-
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ganized in Hamilton County, October 24, 1864, with George A. Gowin as lieutenant-colonel; William H. Bean, major; Eli T. Sawyers, adjutant, and William Rogers, quartermaster. It was employed for some time by Gen. Steadman, in scouting the Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee and northern Georgia, after the guerrilla bands which infested that re- gion, and had several severe engagements with the bushwhackers. In March, 1865, the regiment was turned over to the commander of the de- partment, and was soon after placed under Gen. Judah, commanding at Decatur, Ga., where it continued its scouting until the surrender of the Confederate Army. It was then ordered to Resaca. On June 18, 1865, it was ordered to Nashville, and on the 30th of that month was mustered out.
The Seventh Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was recruited during the latter part of 1864 in Anderson, Knox, Campbell, McMinn, Meigs and Monroe Counties. It was organized at Athens, Tenn., in the spring of 1865, with the following field and staff officers: James T. Shelley, colonel; James J. Dail, lieutenant-colonel; Oliver M. Dodson, major; George W. Ross, quartermaster; James R. Gettys, ad- jutant; Enoch Collins, assistant surgeon; Rufus Thompson, sergeant- major; John T. Rider, quartermaster-sergeant; James H. Baker, com- missary-sergeant; T. L. Farrell, hospital steward. During the greater portion of its service it was stationed at Athens, and was actively em- ployed in hunting guerillas, with whom it had frequent engagements.
The Eighth Union Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Infantry was not organized until April, 1865. It was recruited in the vicinity of Macon and Smith Counties, and was under the command of Lieut-Col. William J. Cleveland. Having been organized so late the regiment saw but little service.
Five Batteries of Light Artillery were also organized, but after the most persistent effort little could be learned concerning their movements. All were recruited and organized during 1863 and the early part of 1864. A few men were also recruited for Battery F, but the company was not completed, and they were transferred to Battery A, in April, 1864.
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CHAPTER XVI.
CONFEDERATE MILITARY HISTORY-VIEWS ON THE QUESTIONS OF STATE SOV- EREIGNTY AND SECESSION-THE REFUSAL TO HOLD A STATE CONVENTION -- THE GREAT LACK OF MUNITIONS OF WAR-THE CONSIDERATION OF THE QUESTION OF COERCION-THE EXCITEMENT ATTENDING THE SURRENDER OF FORT SUMTER-THE REFUSAL TO FURNISH FEDERAL TROOPS-THE EXTRA- ORDINARY CELERITY OF DEFENSIVE MEASURES-GOV. HARRIS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY-THE ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA-THE ACT OF SECESSION-THE PROVISIONAL ARMY BILL-THE MILITARY LEAGUE-THE ADOPTION OF THE CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION-MILITARY APPOINTMENTS-THE JUNE ELECTION-THE MANUFACTURE OF ORDNANCE, ETC .- SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETIES-THE TRANSFER OF THE STATE FORCES TO THE CONFEDERATE SERVICE-SKETCH OF THE FIELD CAMPAIGNS-THE NEU- TRALITY QUESTION-FEDERAL INVASION OF THE STATE-COMPULSORY EVAC- UATION-OFFICIAL ARMY MUSTER ROLLS-THE HORRORS AND HARDSHIPS OF INTERNECINE WAR -GENERAL MOVEMENTS OF THE GREAT ARMIES - SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPAL ENGAGEMENTS --- OUTLINE OF REGIMENTAL SERY- ICE-CLOSE OF THE WAR.
A MAJORITY of the people of Tennessee, prior to the fall of Fort Sumter and the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers, was warmly in favor of maintaining the Union of the States so long as it could be done without infringing the sovereign rights of any State. It had for years been the settled conviction of many Tennesseeans that the individual States of the Union were sovereign under the constitution and would not, so long as their rights were not invaded, take any steps to sever their connection with their sister States; but they claimed the right, as a nec- essary consequence of the doctrine of State sovereignty,* to withdraw peaceably and establish a separate and independent government, when- ever it was demonstrated that their rights, liberties or institutions were in danger of limitation or abrogation. But notwithstanding these views, and notwithstanding the bitter hostility of the abolitionists of the North to the institution of slavery, the citizens of Tennessee looked with moist- ened eyes at the "Stars and Stripes," and remembered the ties of many bloody battles of the past in a common cause which bound the " Volun- teer State" to the Federal Government. The utterances for maintaining the Union were widespread and sincere. As soon, however, as the South- ern States began to enact ordinances of secession, and the severe views of the North in newspapers and public assemblies on the subject of coer- cion became known, many expressed the opinion that the only course for
*"J have for many years advocated, as an essential attribute of State Sovereignty, the right of a State to Becede from the Union."-Speech of Jefferson Davis upon leaving the United States Senate.
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'Tennessee to pursue was to sever her relations with the Union, and, as a means of security, enter into a league with the Confederate Government. Others opposed this course except as a last resort, while still others, particularly in East Tennessee, discountenanced every movement toward secession. Tennessee thus became a sea over which surged the wild waves of tumultuous emotions and conflicting opinions.
As early as February 27, 1860, the governor of Tennessee transmitted to the Legislature a special message, enclosing resolutions from the States of South Carolina and Mississippi, proposing a conference among the Southern States for the purpose of taking into consideration the relation of these States to the Federal Government. In the discussion of this proposal, the greatest divergence of opinion was developed in the Gen- eral Assembly. The ideas of the times on State relations were under- going a revolution. In November, 1860, Tennessee gave John Bell, the constitutional Union candidate for the Presidency, a plurality of 4,657 votes, which result was regarded as showing in a measure, the strength of the party which favored the Union. In December, 1860, Gov. Harris called a special session of the General Assembly to be held at Nashville, commencing January 7, 1861. In his message, among other important statements, the Governor said: "Previous to the adoption of the Federal Constitution, each State was a separate and independent Government-a complete sovereignty within itself -- and in the compact of union, each re- served all the rights and powers incident to sovereignty, except such as were expressly delegated by the constitution to the General Government, or such as were clearly incident and necessary to the exercise of some ex- pressly delegated power." After reciting at length the grievances of the South over the questions of slavery, state sovereignty, etc., he recom- mended the passage of an act calling for an election to determine whether delegates chosen at such election should meet in convention at the State capital, to ascertain the attitude of the State toward the Federal Govern- ment." As it was instinctively felt, if not positively understood, that the convention might follow the example of South Carolina and enact an ordi- nance of secession, it came to be recognized by tacit admission that those who should vote "convention," would favor disunion and vice versa, and, therefore, intense interest was felt in the result. The discussion of the question whether such a convention should be held, was conducted with ficry energy in the Legislature. On the 9th of January a resolution introduced against holding such a convention was lost by a vote of sixty-six to five. On the 19th of January, a bill was passed calling for an election to be held February 9, 1861, to determine whether such a convention should be held, and to select the necessary dele-
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gates. It was also provided that the convention, if decided upon, shouldl meet on the 25th of February "to adopt such measures for vindi cating the sovereignty of the State and the protection of its institutions as shall appear to them to be demanded;" and it was further provided that no act of the convention, severing the State from the Federal Union, should have any binding force until ratified by a majority of the qualified voters of the State. The election" was duly held, but the result was against holding the convention by a majority, according to the best ac- counts, of over 60,000 .* This was considered a strong victory for the Unionists.
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The General Assembly at this session, pursuant to the recommenda- tion of Gov. Harris to reorganize the militia of the State, passed an act for the formation of all white male inhabitants between the ages of eighteen and forty-five into companies, regiments, brigades and divisions ; assigned numbers to the regiments of all the counties of the State, and made ample provision for musters, etc. This was thought necessary "in view of the present excited state of the public mind and unsettled condi- tion of the country." The militia of the State, with the exception of a few volunteer companies in the thickly settled localities, had been disor- ganized by the recent repeal of the law requiring drills and public parades, so that the State was practically without military organization or equipment. There was not an arsenal or piece of ordnance in the State, and the poverty of the quantity of public arms was shown in the following report:
NASHVILLE, January 4, 1861.
HIS EXCELLENCY, ISHAM G. HARRIS, GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE.
Sir : In obedience to your order I have the honor of submitting the following report of the number, character and condition of the public arms of the State. There are now on hand in the arsenal 4,152 flint-lock muskets, in good order; 2,100 flint-lock muskets, par- tially damaged; 2,228 flint-lock muskets, badly damaged; 185 percussion muskets, in good order; 96 percussion rifles, in good order; 54 percussion pistols, in good order; 350 Hall's carbines, flint-lock, badly damaged; 20 cavalry sabres, with damaged scabbards; 132 cavalry sabres, old patterns, badly damaged; 50 horse artillery sabres, in good order; 1 twelve-pound bronze gun, partially damaged; 2 six-pound bronze guns, in good order; 1 six-pound iron gun, unserviceable, and a large lot of old accoutrements mostly in bad or- der. Since having charge of the arms I have issued to volunteer companies, as per order, 80 flint-lock muskets; 664 percussion muskets; 230 rifle muskets, cadet; 811 percussion rifles; 228 percussion pistols; 170 cavalry sabres; 50 horse artillery sabres. The above arms were issued with the necessary accoutrements, with but small exceptions, and of them the 80 flint-lock muskets, 50 horse artillery sabres and 14 cavalry sabres have been returned to the arsenal. Respectfully,
JOHN HERIGES, Keeper of Public Arms.
*The newspapers published in Nashville at the time gave the majority at nearly 14,000; Greeley in The American Conflict, gave it at 67.054 ; the returns in the office of the Secretary of State give it at nearly 9,000; while in the new and excellent work entitled Military Annals of Tennessee it is given at "nearly or quite G6,000." The majority is as various as the different accounts.
€
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The Assembly also passed a joint resolution asking the President of the United States and the authorities of each of the Southern States to "reciprocally communicate assurances" to the Legislature of Tennessee of their peaceable designs; and also passed a resolution expressing pro- found regret as to the action of the Legislature of New York in tendering men and money "to be used in coercing certain sovereign States of the South into obedience to the Federal Government," and directing the Governor of Tennessee to inform the executive of New York "that it is the opinion of this General Assembly that whenever the authorities of that State shall send armed forces to the South for the purpose indicated in said resolutions (passed by the New York Legislature ) the people of Tennessee, uniting with their brethren of the South, will, as one man, resist such invasion of the soil of the South at any hazard and to the last extremity." The expression of these resolutions was tantamount to the sentiment of secession, and illustrates the position of the Legislature and of the Executive.
Time passed and the Southern States one after another adopted or- dinances of secession.# Finally, early in February, 1861, seven of them, represented by delegates, met in convention at Montgomery, Ala., and established a Confederate States Government. This action was not lost upon those in Tennessee who favored a separation from the Federal Gov- ernment, and who redoubled their efforts to induce Tennessee to follow the example of those States which had seceded from the Union. All felt that momentous events were transpiring, though few who knew the wis- dom of calmness and moderation could successfully resist the wild and - impetuous spirit of the hour. In the inaugural address of President Lincoln many saw coercion, an invasion of the sacred rights of state sover- eignity, and a direct menace to slavery foreshadowed, and advocated the immediate passage of an ordinance of separation. Others sought dili- gently and vainly for a compromise that would preserve both the Union and the rights and established institutions of the South. The masses in the State were loth to dissolve the Union under which they had lived and loved so long, and were, in a great measure, in darkness as to the real is- sues pending and the real course to pursue. In this bewildering and doubtful maze of governmental relations, wherein a clear head and strong will could direct public action, Isham G. Harris, governor of Tennessee, proved to be the right man in the right place. This was the state of pub- lic affairs when the startling news came that Fort Sumter had surren-
*Ordinances of secession were adopted as follows: South Carolina, December 20, 1860, without dissent; Mis - sissippi, January 9, 1861, yeas 84, nays 15; Florida, January 10, 1861, yeas 02, nays 7; Alabama, January 11, 1861, yeas 61, nays 39; Georgia, January 18, 1861, yeas 208, pays $9; Louisiana, January 26, lefl, yeas 103, Days 17; Texas, February 1, 1861, yeas 166, nays 7; Arkansas, March 22, 1861, yeas 69, nays 1: Virginia, April 24, 1861; North Carolina, May 20, 1861; Tennessee, June 8, 1861. Confederate Government formed February 9, 1861.
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dered and civil war commenced. Immediately succeeding this, while the public pulse was surging and public brain reeling, came the call of Presi- dent Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers and the following telegram for Gov. , Harris from the War Department:
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 15, 1861. TO HIS EXCELLENCY ISHAM G. HARRIS, GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE:
Call made on you by to-night's mail for two regiments of militia for immediate service.
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War
Gov. Harris was absent from the city upon the receipt of this dis- patch, but upon his return on the 17th he promptly wired the following reply:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, NASHVILLE, TENN., April 17, 1861.
HON. SIMON CAMERON, SECRETARY OF WAR, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Sir : Your dispatch of the 15th inst. informing me that Tennessee is called upon for two regiments of militia for immediate service is received. Tennessee will not furnish a single man for purposes of coercion, but 50,000, if necessary, for the defense of our rights. and those of our Southern brothers.
ISHAM G. HARRIS, Governor of Tennessee.
Immediately succeeding the fall of Sumter and the curt refusal of the Governor to furnish volunteers for the Federal Army, intense and long- continued excitement swept over the State. In almost every county the people assembled and, in mass-meetings and conventions, denounced the course of the administration in levying war upon the South and invading her sacred and sovereign rights. Many, who had previously expressed strong Union sentiments, were easily led to espouse the doctrine of seces- sion, now that the policy of the Federal Administration was seen to be coercion. It became so evident at this period that the advocates of seces- sion were in the ascendency, that the Governor and his supporters re- solved to adopt heroic measures to separate the State from the Union, set up an independent government, unite for greater security with the Confederate States, and place Tennessee in the best possible condition of defense, or to resist the encroachments of the Federal Army within her borders, thus anticipating the eventual adoption of the ordinance of se- cession. It had been hoped that, in case of a war between the Federal and the Confederate Governments, Tennessee might be permitted to maintain a neutral position, either as a member of the Federal Govern- ment or as an independent State in case of separation; and a correspon- dence, with that object in view, had been held between Gov. Magoffin of Kentucky and Gov. Harris; but the gigantic preparations for war by both the North and the South immediately succeeding the bombardment of Fort Sumter, unmasked the fact that the State would in all probability be overrun by the armies of both sections, would become a battle-ground
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