ooklet which were said to have been written while Edgar was only twelve and thirteen. In Tamerlane, there was some vague similarities of Edgar’s own life experiences. In 1827, Edgar had decided to join the United States Army. He enlisted under then name “Edgar A. Perry” and stated his age as twenty-two (really only eighteen). Many say his reason for joining the army was strictly for the money. His company consisted of thirty privates and they were stationed at Boston Harbor at Fort Independence. Within a year, Edgar had become “Assistant to the A.C.S.” On New Years Day 1829, Edgar was promoted to sergeant major for artillery, which was the highest possible rank for a non commissioned officer. Edgar although had been progressing in the army felt as though he needed to leave. Edgar’s five year commission had not been fulfilled quite yet, but Lieutenant Howard, a man Edgar and become good friends with, had promised to give him an early discharge after learning of his troubled childhood. Howard would only do so though, if Edgar reconciled with John Allan, making amends. Howard had written a letter to Mr. Allan describing the situation and to which John replied saying that Edgar was to stay until termination of his enlistment. Edgar had also written to John Allan, saying that enlisting in the army had been a mistake and he wished to leave. John did not reply and Edgar again and again wrote, explaining the exact same thing over and over. On Edgar’s twentieth birthday, Edgar write him again and asked for help to get into West Point and explaining that he wished to advance his career as a soldier. In everyone of his letters to John, he asked about Mrs. Allan and how she was doing. No improvement of her condition was seen and she died, at age forty-four, February 28th 1829. Although, she had requested to see Edgar before she died, he was unable to arrive until the night after her burial. Edgar...
