1867.] 207 [Aiiinuil Ifopoi-f. 



in this State, partlj'- at his house in Boston, at short intei-vals 

 disapiDearing from siglit for a few AveelvS or months, to rctnrn 

 Irom the extreme north or south laden witli the spoils of his 

 campaign. Of late years he made quite frequent visits to 

 the West India islands during the winter seasons, for the 

 same juirpose. 



Subject to this necessity of prolonged excursions from 

 home and an active life in the open air, the outbreak of the 

 civil war in this country found him untrammelled by profes- 

 sional bonds, and prepared by a previous experience of army 

 life to enter at once upon the arduous and responsible duties 

 of an army surgeon. It was a time when the number of 

 medical men thus qualified, in this country, was extremely 

 small, and the demand for them was the most urgent. It 

 was all the more honorable, therefore, to the subject of our 

 notice, that, uninfluenced by any pecuniary necessity, and 

 unstimulated by any professional ambition, with the leisure 

 and opportunity of devoting his time in the pleasantest way 

 to the delightful branch of natural history which he had 

 made his special study, he yet felt it his duty to come for- 

 ward early and offer his services to his country. Not con- 

 tent with the appointment which the necessity of the case 

 or the influence of friends might easily have secured for him, 

 he Avent to Washington and offered himself as a candidate 

 for the office of assistant surgeon in the regular army. As 

 might have been' anticipated the severe ordeal of examina- 

 tion to Avhich he was subjected was no obstacle to him, and 

 he returned home Avith the commission for which he had 

 oflTered himself Without waiting for the position which 

 this ajipointment might give him in the regular army, Avhicli 

 was then dwindling into insignificance in point of numbers 

 in comparison with the volunteer host which Avas mustering, 

 he accepted the appointment of Surgeon to the 20th regi- 

 ment of Massachusetts A'olunteers, and Avas commissioned in 

 that capacity, July 1st, 18G1. He was promoted to be Brig- 

 ade Surgeon, September 10th, but remained Avith his regi- 

 ment until after the disaster of Ball's Bluff" in October, AA'hen 

 he joined General Lander in the Shenandoah Aalley, and 

 served on his staff" until the death of that officer. He next 



