Military: In 1827 unable to support himself he entered the military. He used the fake name of Edgar A. Perry. He clammed that he was 22 years old even thought he was only 18. He served at Fort Independence and Boston Harbor for five dollars a month. In the same year he released his first book. It was a 40 page collection of poetry. It was called timberline and other poems. Only 50 copies were printed.