Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-02
DR.. MACGiLl AND FAMILY.
A Wartime Incfdent-How They russed
Captain 0den Back TO Life.

In your issue OF the 7th instant, under
the heading "Some Persons OF Promi-
penee," writes W. II. Oden, OF Alabama.
to the Birmingham Age- Herald. you
kindly give considerable space TO eulo-
giving DR.. Macgill and family, former.
ly Of Hagerstown, Nd, but latterly OF
Richmond, Va, but more especially OF
Mrs Ellen r. Swan, from the announce
ynent OF her death, which occurred on the
22d Of September last stthe home OF her
brother-in-law, DR.. 8. o. Drewry, In
Richmond. Among other things you give
prominence to their many intellectual,
physieal, and social graces, together
with their political prominence. Though
their homo was inside the Federal line,
they were what were called "rebel sym
pathizers." Some Of the sons cast their
lot with the Confederate army, and the
father himself was prisoner for opln-
ions sake.
"These are names that are familiar 10
and honored by thousands OF e1-Confed-
erstes throughout the South.
Now, it may be that you "recEoned
better than you knew, and that you did
not know there were some ex-Coniede-
rates who are constant readers OF your
valuable paper and in your immediate
vicinity who have especial cause to honor
and remember this kind, generous. illus
trious, and patriotic family. / sllude
particularly to Captain John "Piney }
Oden, Company X, Tenth Alabama
regiment, Confederate Volunteers. who
was severely, and at the time thought
by his comrades to be MORALLY
wounded, on Wednesday, September II,
1862, at Sharpsburg, receiving wound
fourteen inches long, reaching the whole
length OF the thigh, from which he Is
permanent cripple and a great sufferer
ever since. Besides, he received at the
same time painful wound IN the lett
side from piece of bomb-shell (but all
this without regret, he says, for they
were in the discharge of duty. He lay
upon the battle field in that helpless and
suffering condition for twenty.eix hours.
When all other efforts for removal failed
he made some Masonic characters
upon piece Of paper and re-
quested that they be carried to the
general in command of the Federal army
there, he being then within their lines.
VERY soon six men came for him with an
inprovised litter-an old army-blanket.
They made a slip gap in the fence near
which be Icy and ran across the hill with
him upon the litter, which was more than
once punctured with balls from his
friends guns. they not understanding
what was going on. This was on Thurs
day. He was then placed in nm old barn
filled with hay, with the wounded OF
the Yankee army, there being only
ono other Confederate. Here he was
treated by DR.. Davis, who was surgeon,
kindly and fraternslly. General Caldwell
being general in command, he fell into
the hands OF the Fifth New hampshire
regiment He was then on Sunday re-
moved from this barn with other wound
ed officers across Antietam to another
barn. which was some relief, for IN the
first come OF the riff.raff soldiers would
smoke their pipes upon the hay, being
constant source Of dread. Then on
Monday he was removed to Hsgerstown
TO the court house, which was an i'm
provised hospital, in charge of DR..
Greenleaf. Here on Tuesday Ia where
he first met and learned to love and
honor the name OF Macgill and the
members of his family. for the dauEh-
ters that were then at home came to the
hospital and inquired especially If there
we're any Confederate soldiers among
the wounded there. Captain Olden be-
ing pointed out they began Immediately
to beseeoh. in view Of his condition, that
he be paroled and they be allowed to
carry him to their private dwelling, which
request, at then earnest and lmportu-
nate solicitation, was granted. He was
accordingly removed, and, as it were,
translated from threatened cremation
to palstial donicile, and here, though
he lay bleeding, there was "no
dearth Of woman's tears nor lack OF wo-
mans nursing" For six long months
they continued their vigilant ministra-
tons. his family mourning him as most
likely dead. Or. Charles MacgiD, Jr.,
who was then at home, with the aid OF
consultation with his father, who was
political prisoner in Fort Warren, both
being practicing physiciaps, gave him
every medical attention, which was espe-
cially necessary, at one time the femoral
artery having sloughed IN two, when
lie was aespGired Of, bat every ply
steal and even spiritual aid wss tender
ed him. Finally he rallied and stu
lives to rise up and call them blessed.
There we're then at home Misses Alice,
Nollie, Lizzie, and sons james and
Frank. with their mother, two other
bows. Pat and Barlow, beiDgin the Con-
federato army; and Mrs. Swan was
with or near them and her husband.
Major Robert Swan, gallant soldier
Of two wars. having bsen in the Mexican.
Captain Odea says he IS especially IN
dsbted to Mics Nellie. now Mrs. Rosen-
berg, of Galveston, Texas, but at pres
emit sojourning in Switzerland. The
Captain has o daughter named Molhe
Msc9n Oden. The intimacy and friend
ship bstween them and thor families has
been kept up ever since by correspond
ence and interchange OF visits Soon
after the war DR.. Drswry and MAJOR
Swan removed to the Blsck Belt of Ala
bama to engage in cotton raising.
| NGrlng tpoS stay couth MAJOR OWah
and wife visited Captain o6en, and spent
three months with him and family. In
passing from Richmond to Galveston
Miss Mollie met her sister, Mrs. Swan,
and they both spent some time with the
Captain. During this visit Major Swan
died. near Selma, from u congestive chill,
and the visitors were hurried away to ac-
compan tho corpse to Richmond for in
terment.
In 1881 Captain Oden visited DR.. Mac
gill and family in Richmond, and his son
made them several visits from the Uni
versity Of Virginia, where he was at.
tending school, and they also visited
Miss Mollie in Galveston. DIR. Charles
Macgill, Jr., is now family physician in
Baltimore, Md. to daughter of Gene
raj W. H. Forney, another Tenth Ala
bama man.
All this Particularly and detail is to
show that all that could he said in praise
OF the Mscgill family is not misplaced,
and that indeed thousands OF ex-Cen-
federates have cause to remember them
kindly, generally, and some especially.
4