FROM OUR OLDEST MEDICAL GRADUATE
In the April issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE the oldest academic graduates of the College were listed. Since this compilation word has been received from the oldest medical graduate, Dr. B. C. Brett, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, of the class of 1860. In the combined list of academic and medical graduates Dr. Brett would rank second, being exceeded in age only by Samuel H. Jackman '60. Of the other senior graduates of the medical school Dr. William Child of the class of '57 is still living in Bath, New Hampshire, and Dr. Charles A. McQuesten of the class of '64 is a resident of San Francisco. The information about Dr. Brett is contained in a letter to Leon A. Freedman, Jr., the secretary of the. Dartmouth Alumni Association of Wisconsin:
April 3, 1927,
Dear Comrade Friedman: Enclosed herewith, I am sending my record, type-written by myself, because I have no' one else to call upon, and thought it necessary that you should have my reply early.
At the close of the medical school term when I had been examined for the degree of M. D., I left Hanover for New York City where I was engaged in post-graduate work. I had formerly supposed that my diploma was dated 1860, but today I wished to be very certain of the date, and on scrutinizing my diploma, which was dim from once having been waterstoaked, I found the date to be MDCCCLIX which, as I read it, means 1859.
After I had completed my post-graduate course in New York City, I came to Wisconsin and commenced general practice in the lead-mining town of Highland, lowa county. In October, 1862, I received a Commission from Governor Soloman as Assistant Surgeon of the 21st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, which was then near Nashville, Tennessee, in General Rosecrans army. I am relating this because, in my suit-case was my diploma and my Commission which had an interesting experience. At the Battle of Stone River in the latter days of December, 1862, when an engagement was imminent, I was placed in charge of five hundred sick men who were judged unable to participate in the fight. We were all captured and everything of mine was destroyed or retained by the enemy except my horse and myself. The men were paroled. They all started back for Nashville. I was taken to General Joe Wheeler and introduced by a rebel Lieutenant as the Surgeon with whom he had just had the pleasure of swapping horses. The General replied: "Not without his full consent, sir." I replied that I preferred my own horse. The General said: "Get off from his. horse and give him all you have taken from him." He gave me back my horse but, of course, everything else I had was in the tent which was burned. My suitcase contained my diploma from Dartmouth and my Commission which, being worthless to the Confederates, was thrown out and thoroughly soaked by rain. I was set free and next day found my regiment. A few weeks later, I received my diploma and my Commission. Somebody had found them and kindly mailed them to my address in the army.
An apology is due you, Comrade Friedman, for the lengthy account I have given you of the history of my Dartmouth diploma and its rough treatment. I keep it hanging in my room as a reminder of both Dartmouth and my army experience.
I am now nearly ninety-four years old. I have lost my ability to use a pen or pencil; am also handicapped by loss of hearing and inability to read, except the coarsest print. I can still pound out letters on my machine but use one finger most of the time. I have not attended any of the meetings of the Dartmouth Alumni because of inability to travel without an attendant. I do not know as I should meet a single Dartmouth graduate whom I should recognize, with exception of Mr. Howard Eldred of Milwaukee, with whom I am well acquainted.
I hope you will have a very pleasant and successful meeting on April 5th and I wish to send my cordial greetings to you and the other Dartmouth Alumni.
Yours very truly,
