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ease was rapidly developed, and he died at Havre, November 17, 1865, at the age of thirty-one. A life of great promise of usefulness was thus early quenched. The unfeigned sorrow of his former companions and of the entire community was freely expressed. It was felt by all that a bright and shining light had been extinguished, and that no greater sacrifice had been made during the war than that of this true and noble life.

The members of General Burnside's staff have been generally fortunate in their freedom from casualty and death. They were exposed in every battle. All won their promotion by their uniform daring and coolness. Some, with great fearlessness, like Loring, Cutting, Richmond, Pell, Goddard, Parke, Lydig and Harris, distinguished themselves on different fields, and gained brevets to higher rank of one, two, and even three grades. But with the exception of the wound of Lieutenant Benjamin and the death of Major Morton, they escaped uninjured. Captain George W. Gowan, who was on General Parke's staff while in front of Petersburg, was transferred to the command of the 48th Pennsylvania, and was killed while serving in that capacity. He was a brave and good officer. Captain Robert A. Hutchins, of General Willcox's staff, a particularly faithful and gallant soldier, was very severely wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. For a time, his life was despaired of, but he recovered, to be of good service afterwards. Captain Brackett, an officer of excellent promise, was wounded in the action on the Tolopotomoy.

The officers of the staff, subjected to the exposure and privations, which they endured in the course of the war, were not free from their influence after its conclusion. Some suffered from illness; no less than three have died. One of the best and most faithful of this company of friends was James Lyman Van Buren, highly esteemed and even dearly beloved by his comrades and his chief. He was born June 21st, 1837, graduated at the New York Free Academy in 1856, remained awhile as resident graduate, and then began the study of law, spending three years in preparation for the profession. He

visited Europe in the summer of 1860, and returned in January, 1861. Soon after the outbreak of the war, he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 53d New York, known as the D'Epineuil Zouaves. At Annapolis, he was transferred to the signal corps, and was assigned to duty on the staff of General Foster. At the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern, he served as aide de camp, and received the merited commendations of his superior.

On the 23d of March, 1862, Lieutenant Van Buren was transferred to the staff of General Burnside, and acted in the capacity of Judge Advocate. When Governor Stanley arrived in North Carolina, he applied for the services of Lieutenant Van Buren, who was appointed his military secretary. On the 7th of July he was promoted to Major, and was assigned to duty with the Ninth Corps as aide de camp to its commander. On the 1st of December, 1862, Major Van Buren was taken dangerously ill, and thus was unable to participate in the battle of Fredericksburg. Partially recovering, he accompanied General Burnside to Cincinnati, when assigned to the Department of the Ohio. In all the stirring scenes that followed in Ohio, Kentucky and East Tennessee, he was on active and constant duty. Through the arduous campaign of 1864, though physical weakness might well have excused his absence, he was always at hand, attentive and especially faithful in the discharge of every duty. For his services in this campaign, he was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel, and afterwards to brevet Colonel. Subsequently to General Burnside's retirement from the corps, Colonel Van Buren served with General Parke, remaining upon the staff until the close of the war. For his faithfulness in this respect, he received the brevet of Brigadier General. When General Parke was placed in command of the Southern District of New York, General Van Buren was assigned to duty on his staff. While in this position, he was struck down by sickness, in August, 1865, and died, after much suffering and pain, on the 13th of April, 1866. He was a man of singular pure mindedness,

modesty and integrity of character. He acquired the entire confidence of all his associates, and was beloved by his friends with a peculiarly strong affection. A man of great gentleness

and fearlessness, he was also a man of much practical sagacity. His connsel was always wise, and his rare manliness gave unusual weight to the opinions which he expressed. He devoted the prime of his early manhood to the service of his country, and though he died unwounded, it was as complete a sacrifice as though he had fallen on the field of battle.

There are, in an army, positions and duties, which are not brought prominently into view, but which are especially necessary for the efficiency of all military operations. It is not often that the medical department receives particular notice, or the highest commendation. The glory of war is supposed to belong to illustrious deeds on the field, rather than to patient fidelity in the hospital. Yet whoever rightfully values the character of genuine faithfulness and true heroism, must acknowledge that the medical officer who thoroughly performs his duty, is filling one of the most important positions that can be named. The post of the Surgeon is not always one of great danger. It does not usually require personal exposure to the missiles of death, but it does demand the most watchful care, a wise discretion, and most scrupulous and, at times, laborious fidelity. The preservation of the health of an army while lying in camp, the proper treatment of wounds after a battle, and the recuperation of strength after exhausting labors and marches, are certainly duties of the greatest consequence. The commanding general is indebted for the effectiveness of his military movements, more than he may sometimes think, to the silent and unobtrusive labors of his corps of Surgeons. The health of the soldiers is necessary to their morale, and their morale is an essential element for their achievement of victory. Physical and moral feebleness is the sure condition of defeat.

The Ninth Corps was fortunate in its medical officers. Doctors Church, McDonald, Rivers, Harris and Dalton, were all men who were skilful in their profession and trustworthy in

their character. Doctors Rivers and Harris were engaged in the war through almost its entire course. They served under General Burnside when he was Colonel of the First Rhode Island, and they continued with the Ninth Corps during their subsequent terms of service. Doctor Harris was taken prisoner at the first battle of Bull Run, having preferred to stay with the wounded to following the retreating army. He remained a captive until the sick and wounded prisoners of the First and 2d Rhode Island were beyond the need of his services, when he was released on his parole. Having accomplished an exchange, he was appointed Surgeon of the 7th Rhode Island, and in that capacity joined the Ninth Corps. He served with the Corps until the close of the war, passing through the several grades of brigade and division Surgeon, until he became Medical Director. In every position, he exhibited the characteristics of a remarkably diligent and devoted officer. A former experience in the Russian army in the Crimean campaign gave him a great advantage in his profession, and enabled him to be of the utmost service in every position which he filled. He retired to civil life, bearing with him the esteem and confidence of all his associates.

Dr. Rivers served from the commencement of the war until near its close, as Surgeon of the First Rhode Island, of the 4th Rhode Island, of the third brigade in North Carolina, of the third division of the Ninth Corps; as acting Medical Director of the corps, as Surgeon at headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, and of the Department of the Ohio; as Surgeon in chief of Kautz's cavalry division during the campaign of 1864. He proved himself an able and efficient medical officer. After finishing his term of service, he resumed the practice of his profession in Providence.

Dr. Dalton entered the service as Surgeon of a New York regiment, and served in the Peninsular campaign under General McClellan. He continued with the Army of the Potomac, gradually rising in rank and in the confidence of his superior officers, until, in the autumn of 1864, he was assigned to

duty in the Ninth Corps as its Medical Director. A gentleman of great skill and wide attainments in his profession, a man of a high and honorable spirit, a genial companion, and a faithful officer, he won largely upon the respect of his brother officers, and left the service with the kindest expressions of interest and friendship from all his companions in duty.

Since the close of the war, Doctors Church and McDonald have fallen victims to disease. William Henry Church was born in Angelica, Alleghany County, New York, June 6, 1826. His father was Hon. Philip Church, and his grandmother was a daughter of General Philip Schuyler. Educated at Canandaigua and Geneva, he chose the profession of medicine, commenced the study in 1846, graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the spring of 1849, and entered upon practice in the city of New York in the year 1851, with every prospect of abundant success. He was appointed Surgeon of Volunteers August 3, 1861, and, upon the organization of the North Carolina expedition, was assigned to duty as Medical Director of General Burnside's army.

Dr. Church served with General Burnside when in command of the Ninth Corps, of the Army of the Potomac, and of the Department of the Ohio. Highly valued and always trusted, he shared the tent of his commanding general while in the field. In this intimate relation, he became more like a confidential friend and adviser than a subordinate officer. His physical health was never strong, and it was seriously impaired by the hardships and privations to which he had been exposed. On the 26th of October, 1863, he was obliged to resign his commission as Medical Director of the corps. General Burnside's estimate of his character and value of his services can be understood by the language, which he used in accepting Dr. Church's resignation. In an order dated December 5, 1863, the commanding general said, that he could not "part from an officer who has been so long prominently associated with him, without some public expression of his acknowledgment of the laborious and important services, which Dr. Church has per

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