Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-31
COMMUNICATED.

COMMUNICATED.
RICHMOND, VA, Dec. 21st, 1885
Editor of StGuntom Vindicator
My attention has just been called to the
following letter published in your paper:
RICHMOND, VA, Nov. Is, 49,
My Dear Major:
Some one from your city (Dr. Wayt,
think; told me today that you would write
quite an extended notice of Gen. Lilley for one
of the newspapers in Staunton. would like to
tell you of my connection with his case, and
If you see proper you can use any portions of
it in your paper. I saw him half an hour
after he was paralyzed, at Ford's Hotel. The
paralysis was very complete and the cerebral
effusion extensive. I did not think at the
time that he could recover. Gen. Lilley asked
me that night to let him go home as soon as
possible, as he was pecuniarily unable to stay
at the hotel. 1 told him would take him to
my hospital, where he would be free from all
expense, if I found he had to remain in the
city. The next day two of his friends called
at my Office to see if could not get him in at
st. Luke's One of these gentlemen was Pas
tor of the I'd church in Staunton, l told them
that the hospital was very full, but that Mrs.
Whitcomb, the president would make ar
engagements to take him if it was possible
About one O'CLOCK Wednesday, I met these
gentlemen and the Rev. Mr.. Walker in Gen.
Lilley's room, told them had completed my
arrangements and would move the General
that afternoon. I told DIR. Davis, why I de :
sired to move the General. chiefly because of
his poverty, and partly because he would be
better cared for at the hospital, and asked Dr.
Davis to attend him there. alone, or with me,
as he preferred. This the Doctor declined.
Afterwards, when DIR. Davis said goodbye to
the General, renewed my request that he
should visit him at the hospital. Gen. Lilley
told him that he would be glad to see him,
but DR. Davis again declined.
That afternoon the General was moved on
stretcher, and lodged at st. Luke's. The
efusion upon his brain, begun at the churc oh.
, steadily continued until he died. The re-
moval from Fords to ST. Luke's did not in
! fuence it all. I need not tell you that I had
, every motive to aid in every way in my power
an old Confederate friend, paralyzed and in
straitened circumstances; and he was attended
to by myself the resident physician, and the
nurses to the best of our abilities.
| am sure you do not need this explanation,
nor any one else in Augusta county who hap
pens to know me, but if there are any who do
not understand it, won't you take the trouble
to explain it?
Coming home from Europe last month, DIR.
Hoge and were talking about Gen. Lilley.
when we both agreed, that he was one of the
truest, bravest, and gentlest men we ever
knew. DR.. Hoge said that if he were great
general in Europe he would select Gen. Lii
ley for his chief of staff.
Very Faithfully Yours,
HUNTER MCGUIRE.
AS this letter refers to me personally
and contains statements heretofore I'm.
known to me, l shall give it that notice
which truth and honor demand. I will
communicate as briefly as possible only
such facts "that in the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be estab-
lished." Besides | shall most studiously
avoid saying aught that would harrow
the feelings of the relations of the brave
and noble Gen. LiIley, who needs no
encomiums to be passed upon him either
by D. ID. or M. D.. 3, as his record speaks
for itself.
DR.. Mcclure became associated with
me in attendance upon Gen. Lllley at
FOrd's Hotel in the following Way. Upon
the arrival of my patient at the hotel l
Immediately dispatched one messenger for
cupper and another to have prescrip-
ton compounded at the nearest druggist
(Blair's). Within fifteen minutes the
cupper came and by my directions com.
menced applying his cups. and about the
same time the medicine was brought, a
dose of which l administered myself to
the patient. just at this time Rev. Mr..
Walker approached me and asked if a
consultation would be agreeable to me, to
which quickly assented, and asked him
to suggest the consulting physician. He
, proposed DR.. MCGUIRE. I told him to 90
or send for him at once. 1t was but a
few minutes afterwards when Rev. Mr..
mi Qrnd mill nr
Mcclure whom I received cordially, and
briefly told him how was sent for at the
church to see the patient; the condition
found him In; that Rev. DIR. Kerr pastor
of the LIST Presbyterian church of this city
and DR.. Dupuy and others insisted that /
should take charge of the patient and to
go in the hack with him to Ford IS; of the
perfectly intelligent conversation with
him between the church and Ford g, all of
which was heard by Rev. Mr.. Walker and
another gentleman who occupied seats in
the hack. The DR.. having this history of
the case then commenced his examination
OF the patient in my presence, receiving
answers from him concerning his trip
from his home here to this city, the places
stopped at, the time of the trains arrival
at certain stations and its arrival in the
city, his supper at the hotel, his leaving
for the church, the business Of the meet
ing and his participation in the debate,
and the feeling of the attack, all of which
the patient bad previously told me and all
Of which l heard him tell DR.. MEG uire,
besides which heard nothing more, except
some remarks about feeling the CUBS
After spending a little while in chat with
some gentlemen around the fire. DIR. Nc
CURE and withdrew for consultation. [
told him what diagnosis paralysis conse-
quent upon cerebral congestion) I had
expressed to the patient and mis- friends
and the probability Of his recovery under
proper management to prevent effusion,
and the treatment 1 had ordered previous
to his arrival. In all of aukich he fully
concurred with me and with this concur
rent opinion we both returned to the sick
room, where l, in the presence of the
consulting physician, gave to Mr.. Colquitt
the directions for the night. We both
left together deciding that we would meet
again for consultation the next day at IL
Nj. The next morning at 9 O'Clock l Wis
tied my patient alone and found him some
what improved. He talked to me in the
presence of the nurse ONLY about how be
spent the night, his breakfast of milk
and about his symptoms. Agreeable to
appointment DR.. Mcclure met me that
DAY at 10 O'Clock. After we bad exam.
ined the patient we left the room for
consultation. The DR.. concurred with
me that the patient was better aud doing
we'll, and then asked NE what thought
of his being removed, asked where to,
the reply was ''the lcdies wanted him at
st. Luke's." l remarked the ladies want
him removed do they He said yes. [
said at this particular junetgrs Of his
disease it would be dangerous and that /
would withdraw Immediately from the
case. Going hurriedly to the bed side of
my patient and in the presence of DR..
Mcclure, Rev. Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Col
quit, told the General would have to
to take leave of him as was told that he
would be removed, He distinctly asked
anhpre To- I rpniiRd that tha LnGlses uanEoi