The Washington herald., 1906-11-05


Senator John w Daniel, while hunting
for material for his new book, TO be pub
Ished shortly. on the Virginia soldier in
the civil war has discovered living in
Washington "a man. J. t. Hanger, vino
has the distinction of being the first sub
ject for the amputation of limb. on
either side. during the great struggle be-
tween the States.
The events leading up 10 She engage
ment the injury. the amputation. and
subsequent events are better told in the
words OF Mr.. Hanger. who is now in
business in this city.
TT was between and 4.S o'clock on
Monday morning, June 9. 1861. that the
citizens of Philppi. the county seat of
Barbour County. West Virginia. as well
as the Confederate forces that were en-
camped az the place he said, "awokc 90
the fact that "a Federal battery. consist
ing of two six-pound bass pieces. had
been planted on a high. steep hil over
looking the village and had opened fire.
The first two shots We're canister. ana
were directed at the Churchvire and
Rockbridge cavalry camps The third
was "a solid six-pound shot. and was
aimed az the stable which was some
nifty or sixty wards east Of the camps.
had passed the night in this stable with
"A brother and some friends. While going
ont of the stable I was wounded in the
left leg, just under the knee. by this
solid shot which struck the ground some
distance from the stable. ricocheted. and
hit the stable and wounded me- This shot
was probably the first solid shot fired in
Virginia in the war.
Remained in stable
Upon fully realizing the extent of my
Injuries I saw that I must remain in
the stable regardless Of what the re-
suits might De-. 7 could not nut a par
ti.le of weight or my wounded limb.
both bones being broken and crushed. so
! hoped 20 The back part OF the feed
room. / iay down or a. large grain box.
took on part of uy clothes. ard dressed
my wounds as well as / could with my
linen.
BY this time the musketry had be-
gun 10 rattle considerably and added
10 the booming ot the cannon. This great
iy Increased the excitement was
anxious 60 know what was going on oul-
side. and hobbling 10 the door saw a
company of Union troops coming al
double quick. not over "a hundred yards
distant ou sOad tlat passed close by
Ih- stable door. ] was afraid that some
OF them mlstt see mc. and IN the excit -
ment do He bodily Harm. SO / mounted q
ladder and crawled backward up into the
Lavm1W.
Here ( lost consciousness. and re-
manned in that condition until aroused by
"a nose iH the lower part OF the stable.
and looking down the hatch saw a num-
Der OF Union soldiers below. I called 90
thcm, and % soldier from Ohio i think.
came 10 the top OF the ladder. stopped
( there and called for an officer. and
would not permit any one 20 come 70
until the officer arrived.
Federal Surgeon CaIIed.
Capt Robinson came, and sent lor a
surgeon Dr. J. d. Robinson. Of Wooster
ONO. surgeon of the Sixth o. Y. " H.
after removing the linen that I had wrap
ped around nay limb told me that i,
would have 20 bc amputated. ] begged
him to save my leg. but De insisted that
amputaiuu was necessary il / did E0l
want 90 die i'm Two hours.
~fe sent for some soldiers to look for
house to which 70 take me. but before
they returned I requested that he should
do right there what hc intended to do.
This request. I believe. saved nay life, for
[ had lost a great quantity of blood and
was very weak. II was then nearly s
o'clock, and I had been shot at 49,
asked Tor some cLlogof5rm. bait Dr. Rob
ns0n said that ! was too weak 10 safely
have it administered 10 me. / was Ter
rbly thirsty. and could not get anything
10 drink except some muddy rain water
which a soldier dipped out with his hat
frOm a puddle in the road. A soldier ask
+ cd mc to drink some captured whisky To
see If ii had been poisoned
/ "Dr. Robinson. assisted by Dr. Thor
+ borne, then prepared To amputate my
limb. I WAS placed upon an old door
ms In Dr. Robins0n's lap nv leg was
taken Off just above the knee and during
+ the whole operation I retained perfect
+ consciousness.
Hauled Away by Soldiers.
I Altcr ine operation. 4 was carried 20
1 the home of a Mrs. AfcClOSl1ie in a LITTLE
one-horse spring wagon, pulled by the
NWiIllng hands or the soldiers. vas at
( tended there several DAYS by DIT. Robin
+ son, who. before leaving. sent a letter
I under the flag of truce 10 my brother, il
/ Beverly, telling him of my condition.
4 During my sickness was treated witt
/ the greatest consideration by tn,
4 Union soldiers and officers. I was visited
/ by q great number of them and they
/ showed the deepest sympathy.
-Four weeks after the operation 7 was
walking on crJtches. j was transferred
/ shortly afteTward and sent home t.
! StauntC1. After reaching my home anC
4 resting for a few days, 7 set about re-
pairing. in d measure. the loss that
I had sustained, and in less than sixty
days I was wearing an artificial Leg OF
/ my own manufacture. The county papers
made mention Of the fact when | WAS
/ seen walking on the streets OF Stdmton
( sporting the first wooden leg to be worn
+ by a Confederate"
/ Mr.. Hangers most treasured possession
/ is the cannon BAN that caused mis- in
( jury. Il was with the greatest difficulty
that he was able to retain it with him
as il was considered Contraband by the
examining officers but l&tcr relating its
history and promising to'keep it only as
a relic. he was allowed to retain it.
NIGERIA CAN GROW COTTON.