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He was born in New York, Kings, New York, United States
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He studied law at Harvard University, graduated first in his class because of how smart he was , and was practicing law on the staff of the New York Tribune newspaper.
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Barlow enlisted as a private in the 12th New York Militia, leavinG his wife Arabella Wharton Griffith Barlow after one day of marriage
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A year later he was promoted as a lieutenant colonel in the 61st New York, and was also commander of that unit, and that led him to the battle of fair oaks
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In September he took command of the 64th New York infantry for the Antietam battle and were attacked by the rebels and Francis was shot several times, he was thought to be dead but amazingly survived.
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after 1 year and a half he recovered he returned and immediately commanded the overland campaign fighting in the battle of the wilderness
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After he left he became a new yorks US marshal and after that he was elected as the secretary of New York