Chapter XXVII.WOUNDED.
Upon that southern battle-field,One well remembered day,I wore the loyal Union blue,And he, the rebel gray;All day in conflict fierce and wild,Were mingled blue and gray,And when night came, both he and I,Among the wounded lay,L. M. J.
Upon that southern battle-field,One well remembered day,I wore the loyal Union blue,And he, the rebel gray;All day in conflict fierce and wild,Were mingled blue and gray,And when night came, both he and I,Among the wounded lay,L. M. J.
Upon that southern battle-field,One well remembered day,I wore the loyal Union blue,And he, the rebel gray;All day in conflict fierce and wild,Were mingled blue and gray,And when night came, both he and I,Among the wounded lay,
Upon that southern battle-field,
One well remembered day,
I wore the loyal Union blue,
And he, the rebel gray;
All day in conflict fierce and wild,
Were mingled blue and gray,
And when night came, both he and I,
Among the wounded lay,
L. M. J.
L. M. J.
Our line of march led us in the direction of the Boydton plank road, and on the morning of March 30th the 32nd was detailed for the skirmish line. It was a rainy day, but we soldiers could not stop for the weather. About two o’clock in the afternoon, we sighted the enemy’s pickets, and then firing began in earnest. Allwent well with me until about three o’clock, when I felt something strike my foot, not realizing that it was a bullet until I saw the jagged holes where it went in and out, breaking the bones as it went.
I stood and considered a moment whether to go to the rear or not, and finally decided to go back, get the surgeon to dress my wound, and then return to my company. It was quite a distance back to the rear, and I had to drop my gun and sit down to rest by the way. As I did so, I saw my colonel, who stopped and asked me if I was much hurt.
“Oh no,” I replied, “Only slight, I will soon be back.”“I am glad it is no worse,” he replied, and on he went.
“Oh no,” I replied, “Only slight, I will soon be back.”
“I am glad it is no worse,” he replied, and on he went.
I found the surgeon, had my foot bound up, and started to go back to my company.
“Where are you going?” asked the surgeon.“Back to my company,” said I.“No you’re not! Get on to that stretcher!” was the order, and I was obliged to obey, though I did not see the need of it; my foot did not pain me, only felt numb, and I felt a little weak and tired, which could hardly be wondered at. I wascarried to the ambulance and taken to the field hospital, where I sat and waited for my turn to come. Meanwhile I saw such horrible wounds, that I can never forget or describe. It was a hard trial, for I was waiting for my turn to be operated upon, not knowing whether I would lose my foot or not.
“Where are you going?” asked the surgeon.
“Back to my company,” said I.
“No you’re not! Get on to that stretcher!” was the order, and I was obliged to obey, though I did not see the need of it; my foot did not pain me, only felt numb, and I felt a little weak and tired, which could hardly be wondered at. I wascarried to the ambulance and taken to the field hospital, where I sat and waited for my turn to come. Meanwhile I saw such horrible wounds, that I can never forget or describe. It was a hard trial, for I was waiting for my turn to be operated upon, not knowing whether I would lose my foot or not.
My turn came at last, and I was given chloroform, and knew nothing more until I was being carried from the operating table to the hospital tent, when the rain beating on my face brought back my scattered senses.
Next morning the wounded were put on board box cars, and sent to City Point, arriving there late in the afternoon. Here I thought my journey was at an end, but I was mistaken once more.
The next morning the surgeon made his rounds at eight o’clock, and all the badly wounded were given a card, to show that they must be sent on board the steamer which was to start for Washington in an hour. I was pleased that I received no card, as it showed that I was not considered a bad case. At quarter to nine, the assistant surgeon came in.
“What sergeant, not on board yet?” Said he.
“What sergeant, not on board yet?” Said he.
“No, I’m not going,” I answered.“We’ll see about that!” he replied, and out he went. In a moment back he came with two men, who bundled me onto a stretcher and carried me on board the steamer just as she was to leave the dock.
“No, I’m not going,” I answered.
“We’ll see about that!” he replied, and out he went. In a moment back he came with two men, who bundled me onto a stretcher and carried me on board the steamer just as she was to leave the dock.
We arrived in Washington on the morning of April 2nd and I was carried to Armory Square hospital, where I was bathed and put to bed. The lady nurse, a Miss Dixon of Connecticut, came with an orange and a glass of lemonade, but I could only shake my head in refusal, for I was in too much pain to speak. My foot had at last come to its feeling, and for the next twenty-four hours I suffered the most excruciating agony. I was given morphine, but it seemed to have no effect for a while.
The surgeons thought my foot would have to be taken off, but I begged them not to cripple me for life and they postponed the operation for a day. At their next visit, they decided the foot could be saved, and I was very thankful. I suffered a great deal after that, but my foot greatly improved, until finally on the 19th of April, I was allowed to get up, and managed to hobble on crutches down to ward I, to visit sergeant Buker.Was up a few hours, then went to bed very tired and did not get up next day.
After that I was up every day, and soon was able to get round very well on crutches. I saw many sad sights during my stay in this hospital. Many a poor fellow gave up the weary struggle for life and died; one or two a day in my ward alone for some time. We were treated very kindly, and received good care and nursing.
Many citizens visited the hospitals, and showed much sympathy for the sick and wounded veterans. There was an old colored woman who came daily with a big basket of pies, cakes, biscuits, and other good things, and her coming was always hailed with delight, for to those who were able to eat what she brought she gave liberally, and to those who could not, by order of the surgeons receive them, she gave kind cheering words promising to bring them something they could eat the next time she came.
I do not remember her name, only that we all called her “Aunty,” and that her mistress allowed her to use all the time and material she desired to make these dainties for the sick men, who daily watched for her coming, and enjoyed the good things she brought. I can testify tothe fact that she was a good cook, and I shall ever remember her with gratitude. The lady nurses who cared so tenderly for the sick and wounded soldiers, will ever be kindly remembered by me.
Meanwhile stirring events were taking place. Lee’s surrender, which ended the fighting, and the assassination of President Lincoln occurred while I lay helpless in the hospital. How I longed to be up and about, to help finish the work in which I had been so long engaged.
After the surrender of Lee, and the succeeding events, the army was massed around Washington, my regiment with the rest, and my tentmate Graves, and several other comrades came to see me, and it was from them that I learned what took place after I was wounded.