The National tribune., 1895-06-20
QUEER CASES.
A Comrade Tells Of Some Peculiar Wound
He Observed.


A Comrade Tells Of Some Peculiar Wound:
He Observed.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Among
the many who have written "reminiscences
of the late war for THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
the Surgeons as q class have been strangely
silent; and yet think they could tale
unfold if they were so inclined, and could
be induced to write up some of their expert
ences among the wounded-tales Of strange
recoveries of supposedly mortally -wounded
men, and death from apparently slight in
juries. OF course, it is o grewsome subject
but think the rising generation should be
told of the sufferipgs rs well as the brave
deeds of the actors in the great drama
The wounded were the great sufferers OF
the war, and many still suffer from wounds
received then, and will until taps are
sounded for them, and they hear the final
order: ain place; rest!"
To be killed in action there probably was
not much realization of pain, but to be
stricken down and left helpless in some
lonely spot while the army swept on, and
you were left forgotten, consumed with q
raging, uncomfortable thirst, with no loving
hand to press the priceless cup of water to
the trembling lips, or bind mp the aching,
feyerish wound-ah, then was when the
soldier suffered miseries untold it was
then his feeble, agonzed voice walled forth,
"Oh. mother, mother! If she were only
here!" Or, perhaps, the woods have taken
fire. He sees the flames slowly advancing.
There is no escape; no one to bear him to a
place of safety. His comrades are fercely
fighting over yOnder. The stretcher-b bearers
have all they can do to care for the
wounded there. Soon the flames reach him,
and his agoniZed shrieks are stilled in q
horrible death.
This picture is not overdrawn, for at
Charlottesville / saw the woods on fire, but
we were in line-ofb battle and could not re-
lieve the hundreds that persisted in both
armies.
But will tell Of some peculiar wounds
that came under my own observation during
my three years of active service. At the
battle of Antietam we were heavily engaged
in the center. After firing nearly hun
dred rounds / was struck tremendous
blow in the left breast. The next realized
l was lying on my back, vaguely wondering
at what had happened. l was aware that /
had been struck by bullet very near my
heart, and | wondered why l did not lose
consciousness or die.
A member OF my company, an Englishmap,
took me by the collar and raised me to
sitting position. Potter, where are you
lit 2" he asked. l could not speak, so 1
pulled the roll of gum blanket and shelter
tent to one side TO show>him, and the mys-
terry was explained. The bullet had made
funnel of the eagle plate, and was embedded
in it, 1t was a round bullet and had gone
throug', the center of the roll, and that and
the eagle had saved my life. l still preserve
the eagle and bullet rs relics. The damage
done was two broken ribs and severe inter-
nal injuries.
/ was cared for at the field hospital, and
there | saw several strange cases. The third
day | could walk around little. A comrade
came to me and asked me for a chew of to-
bacco. His head was swollen and bandaged.
L asked him where he was hit. He said he
was lying down firing when bullet struck
him under the left eye, passed down his neck
and came out under his left shoulder, and
yet the third day he was walking around
and cheerful
During the afternoon of this same day
went among the rebel wounded lying near
/ saw fellow who had been shot directly
between the eyes. /, he. was still able to reach
up and pull the compress from his face. /
don't imagine that he recovered
At Gettysburg, after Pickett made his
famous charge Reshy young rebel came
into our lines. He had no clothing on, ex-
cept shirt, and he was holding that up from
his wound. He had been shot in the abdo-
men, the bullet going in at one side and ont
on the other. The strange part was leaf
of fat hanging ort of each bullet-hole as
large as mans sSd. He was still defiant
and saucy.
In 1864 l supposed that / had become
hardened to any sight of death or wounds,
but at Spottsylvania | ran across case that
gave me a shock After we had taken the
Angle early in the morning of May IL, we
were pushed forward. AS we made our way
up through the woods the rebs shelled us
vigorously.
/ came to soldier sitting against tree.
A she'll had passed through his leg close to
his body, leaving perhaps an inch OF the flesh.
He piteously asked me if l would take the
knife he held in his hand and cut the leg off.
/ could not do it; but still if could have
seen where it would have benefited him l
might have brought myself to it. Perhaps
he thought if he could get rid OF the useless
member he could crawl to the rear. He
probably did not last long after the reaction
set in. 1t was trait the soldier early learned
that he must depend upon himself as much
as possible, and if he were able to crawl
after being wounded, to work himself to the
rear.-T. s. POTTER, Co. III. 9th Ohio, Dixon,
Ill.