[412]
The Doctor was very cool throughout the whole business. The principal surgeon reported that Dr. Mason wanted to fight when he was captured, and that he refused to give up his pistol until he was ordered to do so by Dr. Dana, his immediate superior, who expressed great admiration of his assistant. Dr. Mason told me, when he made his report, that he would apply to Governor Andrew for a position in the line, and that I would soon lose the power of ordering him to the rear. He asked me to give him a letter of recommendation, and to state in it that I thought he would do better in the line than as a surgeon. . . . . I gave him as good a letter as I knew how to write. It was certainly my opinion that he would make an excellent line officer.Dr. Mason, on writing home, said that Colonel Greene had given him a very handsome letter of recommendation. After an absence of about three weeks, the regiment returned to Fort Albany, much to the disappointment of Dr. Mason, which disappointment was enhanced by the resignation of Colonel Greene, which took place shortly afterwards. Early in December, however, he received an order from Headquarters to serve as medical director on the staff of Colonel Cogswell, acting Brigadier-General; but in January, 1863, Colonel Tannett, the new commander of the Fourteenth, ordered him to Maryland Heights to look after four companies of the Fourteenth, which were stationed there. He then wrote to his father:—
I had long wished to make a change and to obtain if possible a commission in the First Massachusetts Cavalry, when my present position as medical director was offered me. I accepted it with pleasure, and desired to retain it as long as possible, hoping that something might turn up in the mean time; but now that I am compelled to return to my former position and go to Harper's Ferry, this wish of mine is strengthened, and I have decided to write an application to the Governor, desiring him to transfer me from the medical staff, and commission me as a line officer in either the First or Second Massachusetts Cavalry. I am afraid you will consider this step as rash and ill-advised. I am sorry on your and mother's account to feel compelled to take it, but I am not satisfied to remain as Assistant Surgeon in my present situation for the rest of the war, attending only to the sick, and without any opportunity
