The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-16
FIRST AMPU7AT|ON
SUFFERED IN WAR.

Southern Soldier Who Sustained
First Loss Of Limb on Either
Side.
Not one In II thousand Of those intl.,
inatcly acquainted viii, tho more I'M.
portrait events or that stirling putlod
know who lost thu frat limb III tho
Civil war or know tint tho Southern,
soldier distinguished by THIS nlsfo,r-
tune IL still living, nnd attended tho
Siehmond Reunion.
Gently brought to the attention Of our
Confederate Column by Senator Daniel,
and below Is n full description or tho
event, as nnrrated by Mr. james u.
Hanger, OF Washington, y. c.. the man
who himself Sustained the first ampu-
tntion OF tho war:
vile, Augusta county, In 1919" said
Mr.. 1fangor to our Representatives.
|i'Wheh tho nrst gun was fired upon
! Fort Sumter 1 was attending Wash
lington and Lee University at Lexing-
ton. I had decided to join the college
company, which was then forming, and,
in fact, participated in their first ina
noeuvres. My mother, however, heard
r
age. she opposed my Joining the army
ut that time, and had requested that
tho college nu tforities send mo home
Immediately. I was i,ut-headed and
obstlnnte. She finally consented oh
condition that should join the Churuh-
vile regiment. IN whiel, my four older
brothers had enlisted. I loft college
and overlook the Augusta and Bath
county troops ut philppl. Barbour
| county, which Is now In West Virgin
arriving IN Phillppl ato on tho night
OF June 1, 1861, too lnte, In fact, to be
enrolled In tho Churchville company.
I located them and ca,npcd with sev-
eral members that night in nearby
stable.
Conditions were anything but reas-
surng on the morrow Sabbath day.
Word had reached our officers that a
i Large TederlN force, commanded by
Maj Kelley, was advancing on Philip.
/ ri. Our position was especially vulncr-
nble. The town was overlooked by
hills. Fortincations would have been
useless, and with tho unorganized con-
dition Of our troops, defense OF the
i town unwise The command went forth
to retreat at midnight Sunday, but the
order was countcrmandod and retreat
postponed until morning because OF tho
steady downpour OF rain that had con-
4 tlnued Sunday afternoon anu cven-
Ing. -
The Churchville camps being fun and
1 not being regularly assigned with that
company, repaired with several coma
rades to our rendezvous OF the night
! before--the haymow Of tNs nearest
stable.
we were up by O'clock Monday
!; morning, preparatory to leaving Philip
pi.
BY an unusual coincidence, the battle
!. OF Philippi was started prclnaturely by
a signal which was given by d South
J ern woman. a detachment OF Federal
troops had been detoured to cut or the
I retreat OF the Confederates. The bat.
teries stationed on tho hill to the
west of the town were not to begin
i the attacks until this detachment, wa.
In position at our rear. The sigma
; was to be the firing Of @ pistol. In de-
touring tho Yankees had to pass the
, house OF Mrs. Humphries. an uncom
promising old rebel, whom they arous
ed in passing. She knew OF the I'M
pending danger our forces being sur.
9 prlsed, and after the soldiers had al
3 passed, she fired pistol as warning
$ to us that all was not we'll. MISLEADING
! this for their own prearranged sig
Q nal, the Fedarals began the attack II
: front. This was most fortunate mis-
: take for the Virginia troops, as 1t en-
: abled them to get away and out o
Philippi practically without loss.
!. We had not left the stable when
! at about ago A. NJ. the first colum,
9 OF Fedcrals advanced upon Philip
; double-quick, a s result of this mis-
: tnkcn signal. a moment later the ca n
non from the ills Numbered forth
!. throwing their volleys OF canister AM
: grape into the town. I was leavin,
i tho stable to Join the retreat, which
was fast getting under way. when
\ was struck just below the knee by
y six-pound shot. The ball had hit tn
q ground some distance ahead OF mo an
). ricoeh cited, bounding toward the sta
' bio. Tho shot completely shattere
the bones OF the knec-joint, making
further use OF the leg impossible 8
t crawled back to the stable, and a
q best 1.could. dressed tho wound wit
t my linen. managed to reach til
: hnymow. very soon lost conscious
;. ness, to be aroused several hours late
!, by some Of the Northen troops, whic
:. by then occupied Philippi. An Office
: was summoned, and shortly aftcrwar
came surgeon. There. on door dis
g mounted from tho stable. withou
nnaesthetics, tho limb was nmputnte
by Or. Robinson. Of Wooster. Ohit
It My head rested in the lap OF Capital
l. Robinson, Federal officer, while wit
/
Is or officer, whose name I do not re
8 call. was entirely conscious through
=, out the operation.
received tho best treatment, an
- improved rapidly. I was paroled an
~ in about month made my way homs
= ward, passing through Baltimore q
;. tho time OF the riots. and bringin
: with mo as q priced possession til
:, sx-pound shot, which had been foun
- In tho stable and given mo by captui
a. Robinson. It Is In my possession
/. this day.
"a was cut on from the manufactures
Is of the North, and being OF n mechar
"a ical turn, set about making som,
al thing to supply my loss. I succeede
l. In making nn artificial limb. the fir
had over soon, and, strange to ga
y have ever since been engaged IN NAL
ia ing artificial limbs for soldiers Of
:. = Others North and South.
~ I have since Often recalled wit