Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1915-11-12
ClVlI War "Reminiscences
LBY DAN McLEoD.I
FATHER COMES AND TAKES NE HOME.
SpIintered Thigh-Bone Gives Trouble
Long Time.

''0S ""0 "ootS' o""y "hu Jul uuOCt
the red CLAW OF Atlanta. The father
or mother, or both, OF lot of the
boys were there to set by and see
the life go out of their sons. Some
of these fathers and mothers were
financially able TO send their man
gled sons home after death but a lot
of them were not able, consequently
they must be hidden under Georgia
clay which was heart-rending to the
parents, especially the mothers. Not
many of the mothers could get there
but it was sad scene to see those
that were there. Mothers after
their sons had been hidden away,
nearly all of them would visit the
whole hospital and stand by us who
were still living and some of them
acted as though their hearts would
break. No one that didn't see this
sad scene can realize the sadness
thereof; such scene as never want
to see again.
Having been in the hospital for at
least three weeks my wound got bad
and high fever came on, and l was
in terrible pain and my wound badly
infamed. The ward doctor came on
his round the next morning and ex
ahmed my leg and finally told me
that it would have to be taken off.
| told him, no sir; if my leg has to
come off, take my head aud be done
with it, He went away and after a
time he came back; four other doc
tors with him. The old doctor was a
dignitied old fellow and objected to
amputation till tomorrow morning,
then, if no better, he couldn't see
that the leg would have to come off.
Old Darby took me in charge per-
sonalIy and the old Doctor told him
how to treat me. Darcy stayed bv
me all night and fulfilled the doc
tors orders and next morning the
fever was nearly gone and the in
anation also. | felt much better.
The old doctor told me that | would
go home with both legs and live a
long time vet
| think | stayed in the hospital in
Atlanta six or seven weeks. Some
times the hole made by the minnie
ball would nearly close and the clot-
ted blood collecting on the inside,
would create inflammation and high
fever on account of which | suffered
great deal. One day | saw am cid
gentleman coming down the aisle,
looking closely at every soldier; f.
nally he saw me and soon he was by
my side, tears trickllng down his
cheeks. So glad TO see his boy. so
badly crippled, still alive. Next day
he approached the doctors as to tax
ing me home. Three of the doctors
were opposed to it. The old doctor
told him that there would be consid-
enable risk; father SAID he would
take the responsibility on himself.
After dav or so the doctors agreed
TO give me papers which would give
me place in any hospital provided
| got worse on the way home.
Depot; and the train arrived and
we we're soon moving toward Mont
gomery. The Railroad was in bad
order which caused me considerable
trouble. but wouldn't complain, |
wos SO anxious to see home and kin.
1t was dark when we arrived at
Montgomery and there was no train
to Mobile till next morning. | was
given a cot in hotel and father sat
by me all night on a chair. Once in
a while he put his forehead on the
side Of my cot and snored little:
at one time on the route before we
reached Montgomery my wound
broke loose and bled terribly for
while. The wrappings were taken
off and the blood spurted like a beef
stuck but in few moments it STOP
ped short off; didn't bleed anymore.
There was doctor on the train and
he said from the start there was no
danger and / was glad to hear that
although expected to be dead in
less than a half hour, but not SOL
am not dead yet.
We arrived at Mobile all right.
Father found an old time negro
there, with an OK team and he put