Discharged for Wounds

[guad42]

In doing some research during the past year or so I learned a lot about a Civil War ancestor, his service, where he served, etc. One thing puzzles me however, and perhaps someone with greater knowledge on the subject can enlighten me.

While serving in the 19th Mass Vols, my g-g-g grandfather was wounded in the June 25, 1862 action at Oak Grove, resulting in the loss of his arm. He's even mentioned by name in Ernest Waitt's excellent history on the regiment. However, he was not discharged from the regiment until April, 1863. Why would they have waited 10 months to discharge him? Was this common?


Sam Dolan

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

was he messmates with josiah, dick potter, and sgt james "I'm a 1st sgt, but I am illiterate" McSpadden??

Sam,
Just a guess, but your ancestor may have been in Army hospitals until April of '63, or it just took that long to process paperwork.

[Marylander in Grey]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

Perhaps his amputation required further trimming. This was not uncommon This could be due to Gang Grene. Also not all wounds were immediatly amputated. Perhaps his wound was being treated became infected or even morified requiring its removal.
Most soldiers were not released from the hospital until the Physician determined them fit for discharge.

[guad42]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

Gents,

I appreciate the response(s). Perhaps he did linger in hospitals with a variety of issues? He was discharged in Falmouth, VA, so I assume he remained in hospital. The amputation was at the shoulder, which must have been difficult to recover from. Three months after his discharge he enlisted in the VRC for another 18 months, so he must have had a bit of grit.

I do have a "receipt" of sorts, provided by the Gov't in the 1890s stating that he'd been paid $50.00 for the arm. I'll scan it this evening and attach it to this thread.

-Sam Dolan

[Marylander in Grey]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

If the arm was removed at the shoulder jiont rather than the Humerous that would have a lot to do with his brolonged stay. This is a very delicate procedure that usually resulted in a 75-90% mortallity rate. Any infection at all would have been life threatening.
Yes please post the scan I would love to see it.

[guad42]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

As promised, here is the scan of the original 1893 document I described. If the date has anything to do with when/what he was actually paid, then he received this only weeks before he died.

-Sam Dolan

[chadwick]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

[QUOTE=Marylander in Grey;148327]If the arm was removed at the shoulder jiont rather than the Humerous that would have a lot to do with his brolonged stay. This is a very delicate procedure that usually resulted in a 75-90% mortallity rate. Any infection at all would have been life threatening.
QUOTE]

Mr. Fisher is absolutely correct; the removal of an arm at the shoulder with 1860’s medical techniques had a very high mortality rate and would have not been done unless warranted by the location of the wound or secondary infection. The only amputation with a higher mortality rate was that done at the hip.
I would suspect that he may have had a secondary osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) which may have been due to his initial wounding or due to the treatment applied by the physicians at the time. Some of the treatments used caused severe tissue necrosis which may have warranted further resection of the limb at the shoulder.

[lojafan]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

was he messmates with josiah, dick potter, and sgt james "I'm a 1st sgt, but I am illiterate" McSpadden??

Heh, I was thinking the same thing!

[DocReynolds]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

As has been posted, sholder joint amputations had high mortality, (Lymph nodes are in the armpit and groin, so infections can be rapidly spread). His extended stay is typical of "difficult cases". I have seen instances where the soldier was discharged After the regiment had been discharged at the end of the War due to injuries recieved!

Joining the VRC made some sense: it was guaranteed income, in additon to continuing his service. It would be a daunting future as an amputee in the 19th century, so the VRC would have given time and income, as well as a "home"

Pete Bedrossian
150th NY/3rd NCT

[Scotty017]

Re: Discharged for Wounds

My G-G-Grandfather was Hiram S. Scott of Co. H, 7th Wisconsin. He was wounded at the Wilderness on May 5, 1864 (his first combat). He was shot in both thighs. I'm not sure if it was one or more bullets. He was left on the field and didn't make it to the Alexandria hospital until June 14, 1864. He stayed in the Alexandria hospital until May, 1865 when he was transferred to Madison, WI and on to Prairie du Chien, WI in June, 1865. He wasn't discharged until September of 1865, over 16 months after he was wounded.

I have some copies of his medical records but I was unable to post them.