[251] In the spring before his Class graduated he made up his mind that it was best that he should prepare himself for the military service of his country, feeling that he was needed there, and believing that he could be more useful as a soldier than in any other position in life. He obtained the consent of his relatives, and of the Faculty of the College, who at the next Commencement conferred upon him, in his absence, the Bachelor's degree; and on April 25, 1861, he went down to Fort Independence to drill with the Fourth Battalion. His classmates Hallowell and Holmes went to Fort Independence at the same time. He soon enlisted in the Second Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was then being recruited by Colonel George H. Gordon, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in that regiment, May 28, 1861. His regiment was in camp at Camp Andrew, in West Roxbury, until July 8th, when it received marching orders. Lieutenant Robeson had been assigned to Company F, of which Charles R. Mudge was Captain and Robert G. Shaw First Lieutenant, and performed his duties in camp with fidelity and success. He was much praised for his readiness and determination in suppressing some acts of insubordination on one occasion very soon after his arrival. On July 8th the Second started for Virginia, after some interesting presentations of flags at Camp Andrew and an enthusiastic reception in Boston. Another cordial reception greeted them in New York. They were first stationed at Martinsburg, Virginia, under the command of Major-General Patterson. They were afterwards stationed for more than a month at Harper's Ferry, and subsequently at Darnestown. At the latter place, on September 12, 1861, Lieutenant Robeson, with Lieutenant Howard, having been selected for the purpose from four officers of the regiment by examination, was detached for signal duty, and ordered to the signal camp at Georgetown, D. C. He wrote home on September 14th:—
Since I wrote to you I have been detached from my regiment for signal duty. There have been two officers taken from each regiment in our division (or rather from those regiments that had
