Man, how bad would this stink?

[Matt Caldwell]

This just makes you wonder how a person got along after the war.

from:
www.civilwarpreservations.com/ newmus175.html

[fidlr1]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

This just makes you wonder how a person got along after the war.

from:
www.civilwarpreservations.com/ newmus175.html

Think I'd rather just be killed outright.

[Scott]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

Yeah I agree, I can't much imagine life today with that condition much less 140 years ago.

[KarinTimour]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

There is a story about a colorbearer who had both arms amputated -- this may be his picture. When he was ready to be discharged from the hospital in Washington, his paperwork kept getting "lost" or there would be one thing needed in one office, another certification needed from a different office on the other end of town. Part of the paperwork involved in his discharge was about 8 months back pay. Nothing wrong with his legs, and he had no money, so he spent about a week walking back and forth across Washington, often with another convalescent to help him with getting in doors and things like that. After a week of this they were no closer to discharge, but just about everyone else in his ward had left for home, and a new set of patients were occuping the beds. He wanted to get home, and felt that he was occupying a bed that someone else could use to get well -- but he couldn't seem to shake his pay and discharge papers loose. He came across Clara Barton and explained the problem. She told him to meet her the next day she'd shake loose his papers. He met her at the appointed office, she took him up and introduced him to Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts. "Senator, I want you to meet a highly decorated flagbearer of the XXX (I can't remember the unit -- KT note)." The Senator held out his hand to shake, and then realized that the soldier couldn't.

Clara stepped right in with the clincher: "This soldier, who has given both his arms for his country has been chasing back and forth across Washington trying to get the discharge papers to leave the hospital and return to his family. He's also owed 8 months back pay that is tied up in red tape and which he needs for a railroad ticket home. Can you help him?" Word has it that the Senator shook things up and the soldier was on a train out of town by 3 that afternoon.

Don't know if it's the same guy -- did a search for my Clara Barton book, but it's wandered from it's place on the shelf,

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Chad Teasley]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

You know...Sometimes I am truly awed at just how tough those fellows were.

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

I believe I've found who this man is. In the Feburary 2000 issue of Civil War Times Illustrated, there's a short article about a solider in the 147th(?) New York who had both his arms amputated at Petersburg. I don't have the issue with me, but when I get home tonight I'll hopefully find it.

[Huck]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

I have heard of an account of a veteran during some unveiling of a monument at Gettysburg (I have no idea which one) that had lost both his arms at the battle and was a double amputate. In order for him to do the unveiling, they had tied a rope around his waist so all he would have to do is walk away.
Interesting note about this solider, is that "after" the war he fathered something in the neighborhood of 11 children....................So for some, life wasn't as bad.
But I was told this story about 11 years ago after some friends of mine had taken the NPS Park Tour Guide's test, so my details could be a bit stretchy.

[JimConley]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

I've read, and cannot recall the source, so forgive me, about veterans who have lost limbs. There is a term for what such veterans experienced where they felt an itch and have gone to investigate the itch only to find that what they were reaching for was no longer there. Makes one think about how awful such a condition would be. Nice pic Matt.

[markj]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

There is a story about a colorbearer who had both arms amputated -- this may be his picture. When he was ready to be discharged from the hospital in Washington, his paperwork kept getting "lost" or there would be one thing needed in one office, another certification needed from a different office on the other end of town. Part of the paperwork involved in his discharge was about 8 months back pay. Nothing wrong with his legs, and he had no money, so he spent about a week walking back and forth across Washington, often with another convalescent to help him with getting in doors and things like that. After a week of this they were no closer to discharge, but just about everyone else in his ward had left for home, and a new set of patients were occuping the beds. He wanted to get home, and felt that he was occupying a bed that someone else could use to get well -- but he couldn't seem to shake his pay and discharge papers loose. He came across Clara Barton and explained the problem. She told him to meet her the next day she'd shake loose his papers. He met her at the appointed office, she took him up and introduced him to Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts. "Senator, I want you to meet a highly decorated flagbearer of the XXX (I can't remember the unit -- KT note)." The Senator held out his hand to shake, and then realized that the soldier couldn't.

Clara stepped right in with the clincher: "This soldier, who has given both his arms for his country has been chasing back and forth across Washington trying to get the discharge papers to leave the hospital and return to his family. He's also owed 8 months back pay that is tied up in red tape and which he needs for a railroad ticket home. Can you help him?" Word has it that the Senator shook things up and the soldier was on a train out of town by 3 that afternoon.

Don't know if it's the same guy -- did a search for my Clara Barton book, but it's wandered from it's place on the shelf,

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

Hi Karin,

You are likely thinking of Color Sergeant Thomas Plunkett, Company E, 21st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Here is web page and photo about Plunkett:

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/fearaimsir/cwirish/TPlunkett.html

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

Real life is just as bad, madam and gentlemen.

One of my fellow Marines in my old Battalion lost both arms and part of a leg as a result of an RPG attack three days ago in Falluja. He is 21 years old with the rest of his life in front of him.

He is just as "Tough" as the guy in the picture, I can assure you. We aren't any more humane at killing each other, just more efficient.

Something to think about the next time that you suit up for a "battle".

Ivan F. Ingraham

[DougCooper]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

A crewmen on the Kearsarge lost 3 limbs and the stories are legion of vets who have survived thus and become productive members of society...even great leaders. CMOH winner Bob Kerry lost a leg in Vietnam and upon arriving at the hospital asked for a fungoe bat to beat his missing limb with when he got the "phantom leg pain." He was one tough hombre - jammed his mangled leg in the dirt to keep from bleeding to death while he directed his Seal Team during a combat extraction mission for which he won the medal.

Here is a stat to keep in mind about the cost of war's aftermath...the highest dollar single line item in Mississippi's state budget in 1866 was for artificial limbs....

My assistant's cousin is 1LT Brady Van Engelen, the officer on Time's Man of the Year cover last year (US Soldier) - he took a round through the head from front to back last week...has no cognitive loss and will likely make a full recovery...good to hear of the miracles from time to time.

Ivan is right...not much has changed except lethal efficiency.

For a reality read sometime, pick out any pension file from a wounded CW vet in the archives. Awful stuff, esp with the bureaucracy heaping abuse on top of pain and suffering. One of my surviving Union ancestors was in constant agony for nearly 50 years from piles contracted from the dysentery that invalided him out of the army. His pension file reads like a grade B horror movie...and he did not even get shot.

[mercybell]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

Something to think about....

Mr. Ingraham,

It certainly is. God bless your friend.

Regards,

[Fod]

Re: Man, how bad would this stink?

Letter of Frances M. Cherry, from the pension record of Pvt. Edgar W. Cherry, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry, wounded at Rivers Bridge, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.:
Washington D.C.,
Oct., 12, /97
Hon Commissioners of Pensions:
Dear Sir:
I wish to have my pension case reopened as I am satisfied that my husband died of his army service just as much as though he died in his bed. He went in to the army in perfect health at the age of twenty-eight, leaving me with two little children. After he came out he never saw a well day; his right eye was put out, his nose shot off, so that he was always obliged to breath through his mouth, which brought on lung trouble. He had frequent hemorrhages and spells lasting two weeks at a time that he could only speak in a whisper. While at the hospital at Madison Wis., the doctors gave him chloform which drove him crasy, so they had to lock him in the operating room for the night with nothing on but cotton drawers and this was in april and he was afterwards three hours at one time and two hours in another, under the surgeon's knife with out taking any opiate whatever. He never recovered from the exposure or shock. His brain was never just right after that. After thirty years of suffering he died leaving me without any means of support. I send two physicians certificates. What more proof do I need to get?
I hope you will give my case your earliest attention, as my little pension is all the support I have.
Respectfully
Frances M. Cherry
#113 Park Place N.E.
My husband served in the Co., A. 32nd Wis., Infantry.

Found at
Casualties in the Battle of Rivers Bridge – The Soldiers' Accounts
From the National Park Service http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps...s/94facts3.htm