Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-25
A Surgical Operation and Sketch of Great Battle.
BY CAPT. J. p. sRrDe-R, OF MT, AIRY. GA,

A remarkable wound, suppurating for
about 40 years on the right fore arm of
Capt. ]. p. Bridger, of Mt. Airy, Ga,
was recently operated upon successfully
by DR.. +. w. McRae and the surgical
staff of the Grady hospital. Quite a cav
ity was found in the ulner and without
marrow, II being much decayed, many
pieces Of bone removed, the cavity ex-
plored, cleansed and filled with clotted
blood from the arm, which has healed up
and fast recovering. Captain Bridger will
ever gratefully remember the skill and
kind attention of the surgeons and nurses
of the Grady hospital.
The city of Atlant may well be proud
of her hospital and should spare no pains
or means to make II even more efficient
and perfect as It progresses.
His wound was received while charging
a park Of is pieces Of artillery at Fra
zier's Farm, in one Of General McClel-
lan's strongest positions before Richmond.
It was not only a raking, terrific center
fire q artillery and infantry, but flu
rious right and left flank slaughter at the
same time, in which the mighty roar of
cannon and the incessant rafting OF
rifles seemed to fill all space. as If it had
been a supreme eliminating conflict be-
tween the combined forces of heaven and
earth. At this special point of the one
general engagement, 1t was A. p. Hills
corps, Wilcoxs division and especially
Lanes noted fighting brigade, which was
never known to miss a conflict of arms,
and invariably the first to make the at
tack. He was then lieutenant of company
I, 18th North Carolina infantry, which
company was composed OF 81 young single
men average, p IL years., mostly from
Wilmington. n. c., only nine OF whom
were left for duty the next morning. At
ter a fearful slaughter of brave men the
position was taken and the Federals
DIR ca for miles in retreat to Malvern
Hill where the last of the seven days
great battle was endeo the next day,
heavy fighting continued for hours in the
night. So extensive were the lines of
battle II was "a hours before all the woun-
ded could be found and for all this time
he was without water or attention except
what a fallen comrade could do in the
way OF tying a handkerchief above the ell
bow to check the flow of blood, which
formed a puddle upon the ground where
he lay Frustrated from exhaustion. When
taken to the field hospital, a mere shelter.
he was told the arm would have to come
off. but by entreaties with the brigade
surgeon he was sent to Richmond for final
decision, where he arrived in the night to
find every hospital full. many private
houses and all the big warehouses except
Seabrooks' tobacco house. which had over
1000 wounded, but a few vacant cots.
When the surgeons examined the arm,
the same unwelcome news, at must come
off," Again begging for the arm, 1t was
decided to let 1t remain as it was not sure
he would then survive the operation, hav-
ing been so long neglected upon the bat
tie field.
The following morning the Rev. DR..
Pritchardy of North Carolina, searching
for those he knew of the 18th, had him
sent TO the residence of DR.. Patterson,
where he found a skillful old retired sur
geon, with four or five others badly
wounded. Through the kind attention of
this family, assisted by Sergeant Wood,
who was detailed from the company to
look after the lieutenant, he being a
medical student and afterwards became
an army surgeon, the arm was saved and
he was able to travel home in two months
time. Painful rising after rising, and
over 20 pieces of bone were discharged
from time to time, all of which could
have been spared or avoided had the
crowded numbers of wounded permitted
a proper examination of the arm in time.
These were not days of skirmishing, as
we read of during the last few years, but
of battles; more Confederates being killed
and wounded in this one great conflict,
two to one, than the United States lost
in killed and wounded during the entire
One sad incident Of this seven days of
great battle is not generally known, either
north or south, except by a few old Con-
federates who may yet live to shed tears
over its remembrance, and can testify to
its truth whether or not 1t be recorded by
any historian.
General Mcclellan is generally censured
by his people for failing to take Rich
mond with his grand army of over 100000
disciplined and well equipped soldiers
This IS an undeserved and unjust CEN
sure. He was a skilled general. and a
gentleman, besides. His plans were well
laid and his men fought desperately with
out any tagging. He had the confidence
of his superb army, and the respect of his
enemy, who could not have been whipped
had General Grant and half a dozen more
been in command. General Lees army of
defense at that time was not to be whip
ped. 1t was not possible for two to one
of any army tho Federals ever had to de-
feat such men. General Lees army was
also disciplined and every private cap
tain or a general. as many proved to be-
It was then composed of the flower and
pick of the southern states, and number
ed between $4,000 and 100000 invincible men
in defense of their homes and honor. Had
the many thousands who then filled the
hospitals, warehouses and residences of
the city of Richmond and those who died
In the battles around it filled up the de-
pleted ranks of General Lees army in
stead of raw recruits, as he marched
across the Potomac and into Pennsyl-
vania, he could have captured Washing
ton, Baltimore. Philadelphia and New
York. After his return the armies of the
south were largely composed of undis-
ciplined boys and old men. Now the sad
incident. In the seventh and last combat
at Malvern Hill which was desperately
contested and the losses appalling on each
side, General Lee, in anticipation, had or
dered General McGruders division in a
position TO effectively cut off General Nc
Clellan's retreat in case he was here de-
feated, which was DONE and every one
who knew the situation confidently ex-
pected to surround and capture the en-
tire remaining Federal forces. As Cen
eral Lees courier FASTENED to order Nc
Grudcr's division TO move and cut off the