The National tribune., 1889-11-14
AFTER ANTIETAM.
Scenes in the Hospitals at KeedysyiIIs.

iust passed the anniversary of the battle of
Antietam, perhaps pen sketch of the Keedys-
vile hospital may be interesting to those who
were there. While assisting wounded COM
rade from the battlefield the writer was de-
tailed to act as Hospital Steward in and about
Keedysville. The principal hospital was estab-
lished In the brick church near the upper end
of the town. Boards were laid on top of the
seats, then straw and blankets, and most of the
worst cases Of wounded were taken to this, the
headquarters. Comrades with wounds of all
conceivable shapes we brought in and placed
side by side as thick as they could lay, and the
bloody work of amputation commenced. The
Surgeons, myself and a corps of nurses with
sleeves rolled up, worked with tender care and
anxiety to relieve the pain and save the lives
of all we could. A pit was dug outside just
under the window, at the back of the church,
and as soon as limb was amputated l would
take it to the window and drop it into the pit,
and the arms, legs, feet and hands that were
dropped into that holo would amount to sew
eral hundred pounds. On one occasion had
to fish out hand for its former owner, as he
insisted that il was cramped all up and hurt
him, and soon as tho hand was Strengthened out
he complained no moro of the pain in the
stump.
Every morning those that had died during
the night were taken out and buried in
trench, usually without ceremony. But one
morning, MS l was directing some North Caro-
lima conscrpts that had surrendered, and were
set to work digging graves, ETC., and while
burying n corpse, an officer, think Lieuten-
ant, staggered up as drunk as a Lord, and pre-
pared TO give the remains send-0ff; and had
not caught him by the arm he would have fallen
into the trench With a wave of the hand and
a hiccough he said: al Lot tho Father take the
spirit that gave It," He then braced up and
staggered off, with tho self-assurance that he
had performed solemn duty.
Most of the wounded got il into their heads
that no one but mysefcould dress their wounds,
change bandages etc. so had to do the most
of IL, and was kept busy for several weeks night
and day. For three weeks / never realized
that slept at all. / was in several battles, and
on many hard marches, but nothing ever wore
upon me as that did. At night l would drop
down on the sofa in the pulpit, but no sooner
had l closed my eyes than some one of the
many amputations would call me to change a
bandage or something When n patient gets
1t into his head that you can handle his stump
more carefully than anyone else, you're elected.
Every afternoon / would mix bucket OF
sling whisky, sugar aud water, and pass 1t
around, giving each one little jgger. But we
had one big six footer of an Irishman that be-
longed to the Goth N. Y. He was n man of
splendid physique; his left arm was gone at
the shoulder. He would never taste the
toddy that was passed around; he wanted his
HLTblRHE. 90 WDulu DTluR MIN II DIX uTlHk VI
raw commissary and he would down il with the
| remark that he was like "shate-ron inside.
Soon he would begin TO sing, and he was fine
singer too with his rich Emerald Isle brogue,
aud many were the smiles he brought forth
from those that were nearer dead than alive.
And believe that moro would have died had 1t
not been for tho songs of our friend from the
69th as he had cheerful word for everyone.
We had another character who was in HIM
| HelG m EFaugh --Iuliua Rohor1a-
think was his name. His leg was amputated
| near the hip He was the most wide-awake,
vivacious aud cheerful fellow that ever saw.
| He had been a sailor before tho war, and was
quito an auxiliary TO our Irish friend of the
| 69th. In 10 days after his leg had been ampu-
tated he would climb the iron columns in the
| church, some Is or 20 feet high, aud sing and
| out. :" i lose my French leg. but now l get a
| good American leg" All eyes were upon him,
| and no one thought OF dying while Julius was
! giving an entertainments
Another comrade had both arms off near the
shoulder, and he was the most patient and
cheerful boy that | ever saw. He made no
| complaint about anything have seen men
with only part OF finger taken Off that made
| 10 times the fuss that he did,
| During the day. when could get few mo-
| ments TO spare, was writing letters from the
/ pulpit 10 those dear ones at home, for those who
| lay there with mangled limbs aud bodies. Many
| OF their friends came. but sometimes not until
| after they had been laid in the trench DIR. Van
| derkeef was the boss in taking off limb. lie
could snatch q leg or arm of quicker than you
could say Jack Robinson" aud il was done
| right, too; no more trouble or second amputa-
| ton.
! There used 10 be- "A young Surgeon from the
| l4th Brooklyn that came In once in awhile and
always made the boys happy In his cheerful
| way. lie had word of encouragement for all.
! Never will | forget kind Mrs Husbands OF
| Philadelphia. No army nurse ever attended
| wounded soldiers with more motherly affection
| or tender care than she. Night or day, rain OF
| shine, Mrs. Husbands was omnipresent, bring
/ ing dainties aud nOuFishing food TO those most
| in need A mothers care for her dying boy
! could not have been more tender than hers.
| Those with lesser wounds were distributed
| throughout the town, in the school house. barns
and private houses. One day while visiting a
barn to SEQ IL anything was need. q German
boy complained To me that his back was hurt.
| ing him. He bad been shot In the breast and
on examination l found that the ball was show.
ing itself close TO the surface Just below the
shoulder blade. Just about this time in came
three young medical students contract doc
| tors). They talked Latin over this poor boy
for about ID minutes, and then one of the trio
proceeded TO take out the ball that was almost
ready TO drop out. II proved to be- an explosive
ball, but had not exploded, only blowed out ia
| a weak spot in the lead but il must have beer
rather hot for the inside of that boy when the
powder burned.
| The Sanitary Commission was a world o.
help to us, aud the man with a carriage, from
| R0xbury, whom many of the boys will remem
ber was q regular sanitarian; he had every
thing. from bandagcs 10 Cognac. One day
couple of comrades from my regiment came %
SEQ me. They were then camped upon tho bat
tlefcid. Their names were Lime Culver and
Ben. Carpenter. After visiting awhile they
concluded TO go back TO camp, but Lime said
they were not feeling very well, and thought
that they ought TO take some medicine home
with them. So as commssary whisky aud qui.
nine was abont all the medicine We had, | pro.
posed 10 mix some for them; but Lime said they
would mix IL themselves after they got home
SO gave them the powder and bottle Of com.
mssary, and | afterward learned that on their
way TO camp they ran across a strawstack and
| concluded 10 each take an armlull of straw "a
put in their pup.tents." They started with
the straw, but had not gone far before one re-
minded the other of tho remark of the Gov.
ernor of North Carolina TO tho Governor oil
South Carolina. They laid down their straw
aud proceeded to take drink. Between there
and camp the same question was many times
propounded. aud the straw as often laid down
and every time they took IL up they left lit
tie, and It's said that when they got back Il
camp they only had about six straws apiece
under their arms. But both were brave men
and good soldiers.
These facts scenes and instances are as fresf
In my mind as If IL were but yesterday. car
| rameInbar hut fayV namea I nrasun,a that . IA.