After the Battle of Antietam, the German Reform Church on Main Street in Sharpsburg became a makeshift hospital for the Federal IX Corps, including many soldiers from the 16th Connecticut—a rookie regiment that suffered significant losses in the 40-Acre Cornfield. Irish-born surgeon Edward McDonnell [see biographical footnotes at end of this post] kept a casebook in which he detailed the treatment of some of the wounded in the small brick building.
After he sliced open George F. Chamberlain’s shot-up right knee on Oct. 17, 1862, McDonnell drained more than a pint of pus from the 18-year-old soldier’s wound. His patient was “very nervous,” the surgeon noticed, undoubtedly because the Rebel lead in his leg still had not been removed a month after the battle.
On Oct. 30, 1862, McDonnell witnessed the death of a horribly wounded New York officer, whose thigh had been mangled by Rebel artillery. “He was able to speak to within an hour or so of his death,” the surgeon wrote of 25-year-old Captain Henry Sand of the 103rd New York, “and thus passed to another, and I believe better, world.”
What follows are some of McDonnell’s often-heart-rending patient assessments transcribed from the pages of McDonnell’s case book by my friend, Will Griffing. —John Banks
[Note: Surgeon Edward McDonnell’s casebook is housed in the National Archives at Washington D. C.]
James Willard Brooks
James Willard Brooks (1843-1862) was the son of James Fisk Brooks (1812-1891) and Sarah Davis (1809-1901) of Stafford, Tolland county, Connecticut. “James lay on the field for at least 40 hours before burial crews found him after the Battle of Antietam. An 18-year-old private in the 16th Connecticut, Brooks suffered from six wounds, including severe wounds to his left arm and both legs during the fight in John Otto’s cornfield. By early October 1862, James had been moved to the German Reform Church, where a makeshift field hospital had been set up in the small brick building on Sharpsburg’s main street. Initially, the surgeon who treated Brooks was optimistic.” See following report:
James W. Brooks—Co. I, 16th Ct., Stafford [Ct.]—wounded in the battle of Antietam 17 Sept.
Admitted to this hospital Oct. 5th 1862. Present condition (Oct. 7th). He has six wounds. There is a free incision in the upper third of the left arm and some four inches in length of the brachium has been removed by an operation consequent upon a musket fracture in that locality. No attempt at union has taken place & one can look into the cut & see the neck of the bone at one extremity and the opposite sawed end at the other extremity. Between the anus and the right tuberosity of the ischium is a wound where a ball entered and came out of the body at the right of the spine in the lumber region. A ball passed through the left leg between the tibia & fibula six inches above the ankle joint which apparently did no injury to the bone or vessel.
Another ball passing anteroposteriorly grazed the right leg—the same disturbed also the ankle and on the outer side—the wound is not serious. Another all struck the antero-exterior aspect of the thigh three inches above the knee at the middle of the thigh on the outer side. Of all the wounds, that of the arm & perineum are the more serious. The boy is emaciated but has an appetite & there is hope (October 7th evening) doing pretty well considering the multiplicity of his wounds.
October 9th noon. Holding his own remarkably.
October 10th, noon. Doing well but the most tedious case to dress and keep clean that I ever knew.
October 11th. Failing rapidly and must die soon.
October 11th 3 P. M. inst., Died.
“Two weeks later, he was given a military funeral in a cemetery in Willington, Conn. I visited Brooks’ final resting place early this afternoon, navigating the back-country roads until I ended up at the interestingly named Moose Meadow Cemetery. Tilted slightly to the right, Brooks’ 5-foot, gray marker may be found near the back of the cemetery, near an old stone wall. The tombstone says he died of “six heavy wounds.” — John Banks’ Civil War Blog.
Capt. Henry Augustus Sand
Henry Augustus Sand was the son of German-born, Brooklyn merchant, Christian Henry Sand (1804-1867) and his wife Isabella Julia Carter (1808-1883). Sand grew up in an affluent family and spent two years studying in Lausanne, Switzerland, when he was 18. After serving in Company K of the 7th Regiment in 1861, he re-enlisted as a Captain at New York City on 12 March 1862, and was commissioned into Company D of the 103rd New York that same day. On 17 September 1862, he was wounded at the Battle of Antietam when the color bearer fell and he seized the flag, planting it far ahead and urging the men to come forward. His left thigh was shattered by a minié ball and he succumbed to his wounds on 30 October. The colonel of his regiment wrote a letter to his family after his death that read in part, “…With the battle of Antietam will live his name, an ornament to the Army and to his country and a just source of pride to his family, to his friends and to his regiment for whom he has labored and sacrificed in this righteous cause, his life and his blood.” [Note: Peter H. Sand and John F. McLaughlin have edited the Civil War letters of Capt. Henry A. Sand and published them in the book, “Crossing Antietam,” (2016). According to the book, He penned a letter to his family in Brooklyn Heights while lying on the battlefield, and then three more before dying of his wounds six weeks later. ]
Capt. Sand of 103rd New York. On the 30th September I was requested to see Capt. Sand wounded at the battle of Antietam September 17th. I visited him at 9 o’clock P.M. His friends informed me that the surgeon who had been attending to him said he thought his thigh bone was partially fractured. I found the limb (left) put up with the long splint & counter extension perineal strap with an inside adaptation splint, a quantity of hard coagulated blood lying between splint and limb resulting from hemorrhage occurring the previous evening.
He was pale and exsanguine, but felt comparatively easy. As I was informed by his friend that his surgeon assisted by another were to take him in hand in the morning, I did not disturb him to make an examination, particularly as doing so might lead to a renewal of the bleeding, and this in his then enfeebled state was to be avoided if possible, so I did not at this time further meddle with his case.
On the 2nd of October I was requested as his surgeon failed to attend to him, to take charge of his case. I visited him about 9 a.m. Present condition very pale and countenance anxious, voice strong, and speaks cheerfully. Limb still enclosed by the splints. I removed coagulated blood. Least movement of leg gives acute pain in neighborhood of hip joint. Pulse 120 and small. I removed splints and examined wound. I found it about half an inch external to femoral artery and three-quarters of an inch below Poupart’s [or Inguinal] ligament. The point of entrance of musket ball and another, that of exit posteriorly opposite fossa of great trochanter. On moving limb false point of motion easily discerned and crepitus [a grating sound] very distinct. On passing finger into wound, felt the fractured bone which I perceived was badly comminuted [fractured into tiny fragments]. As it gave him excruciating pain, I was obliged to abandon any further examination.
The wounds had begun to suppurate and in order to facilitate the dressing and cleanse of the wounds & believing I could thereby make him more comfortable & fulfill the indication of treatment better, I applied the adhesive straps and counter extension apparatus as I had seen Dr. Gurdon Buck of the New York Hospital apply in case of fractured femur and with the happiest results. (This however being cases of a simple fracture from accident.) My patient expressed himself as feeling more comfortable with this than he did with the splint. As he had not slept for several nights, I prescribed half gram of morphine.
[October] 3rd. My poor patient at my visit this morning expressed himself as feeling more comfortable. Slept last night for the first time for a week. Looks pale & countenance haggard in his expression. Pulse 98. Feeble. Appetite good. Speaks cheerfully.
[October] 6th. There has been little change to notice in his condition as my daily visits tell today. He has now two bed sores on the sacral region which give much pain. The anterior and posterior wounds are suppurating freely. As the least movement gives him pain, it is with great difficulty I can attend to his sores and wounds. This suggested evidence that a fracture bed would relieve us of this difficulty. I therefore desired his friends to procure one from New York. They accordingly did so—sent for one. His pulse is now 110. Appetite not bad. Speaks hopefully.
7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th. No noticeable change in his condition excepting that there is an [ ing] differently in dressing sores and wounds from “severe pain” produced by moving, referred particularly to the joint. He also gets thinner daily & perceptibly weaker. His bowels [ ] having acted for some days…
21st. Feels more easy but evidently losing ground. Pulse 125 and thready. Emaciated and appetite not so good. Has been having Quinine in Sherry 3 times daily for the last week & nutritious [ ] the immediate superintendence of his excellent Mother. 22nd, 23rd, 24th, & 25th. No change. I regret to say but for the worse. 26th, some disorganized Tip hanging out of the wound extracted by forceps. About 2.5 feet of what appeared to be the fascia of the thigh follows by a copious flow of unhealthy pus as there seemed to be considerable fluctuation with a vein to have a free out for the discharge. Dr. Ganley who accompanies me at this visit made a longitudinal incision through the external wound for about 4 inches in length down to the fracture, alieving a still freer escape for the pus. Several specula of bone were also removed. This lessened the odemate [?] state of the limb which was then bandaged carefully from the toes upwards and the apparatus readjusted.
27th Had a better night having given him a large dose of Morphine. 28th & 29th sinking rapidly. Diarrhea and vomiting set in. The last 24 hours has hickups. Appetite quite gone. Cannot survive a great while.
“It is difficult to know which to admire most—his fearless bravery and self denial on the field, or his cheerfulness and resignation under suffering calculated to test the courage of the most heroic spirits.”
30th. At half past 10 P. M., he died. He was rational and able to speak to within an hour or so of his death and thus passed to another and I believe a better world. One in the early prime of manhood whose devotion to his country seemed to him to require that he should give up the comforts & happiness of home to risk his life on the tented field and in conclusion I must say that it is difficult to know which to admire most—his fearless bravery and self denial on the field, or his cheerfulness and resignation under suffering calculated to test the courage of the most heroic spirits.
I believe no nobler spirit than his has been sacrificed to his country during the late war.
Per the 31st, I made post mortem & the pathological specimen resulting from it. I sent to the Surgeon General’s Office an examination of which will be found to confirm the diagnosis of seat of fracture.
John Loveland
“Private John Loveland, a 23-year-old barber from Hartford, drifted in and out of consciousness as he lay wounded among the cornstalks of John Otto’s cornfield. His fractured femur protruded two or three inches from his left leg.”
John Loveland, Co. C, 16th Conn., Hartford, Ct.—wounded on the 17th September at the battle of the Antietam. Admitted to this hospital October 5th. Condition at this date (Oct. 6th). The ball entered on the external aspect of the left limb a little above the upper border of the patella and made its exit on the internal aspect at about the same relative position to the knee [ ]. The distance between the two openings being not more than half as great measuring in front of the limbs as measuring behind the limb. From the inner most opening is now projecting for the space of an inch what appears to be the extremity of the fractured femur—upper extremity—at any rate from its immobility under considerable pressure it is the end of a large fragment if not of the whole shaft.
In addition to the two opening already mentioned, there is a third & larger than either, caused by pressure on the upper extremity of the fibula. This is merely a bedsore. Larvae from flies are in all the wounds. Treatment—easy positive & wet oakum to wounds after patient cleansing. Duties to other patients prevent further treatment today.
October 7th evening. Amputated at the middle of the thigh this forenoon. Circular operation. Lost more blood than I could have wished in the operation & the patient sank quite low after the removal of the limb & was long in coing from the influence of chloroform. But tonight he has good pulse, good color, is rational, feels hopeful & the case appears every way promising.
October 8th morning. Feeling well. Ate breakfast. Pulse good. Slept well. stump apparently in good condition.
“Loveland, who had his leg amputated, also died there in October when an artery in his leg disintegrated, spewing a gusher of blood.” — John Banks’ Civil War Blog.
George F. Chamberlain
[Note: to read John Banks’ Civil War Blog article about George Chamberlain, see, “A slow, agonizing death for Private George Chamberlain” posted on 13 February 2016]
George F. Chamberlain, Co. G, 16th Conn., Middletown, Connecticut—wounded on the 17th Sept. at the Battle of Antietam. History of the case to the present date (Oct. 6) not known except that he has been under care at a hospital which was discontinued yesterday when this man and several others were brought & placed under my care at this hospital.
Present condition—wound from the entrance of a musket ball a little below the bend of the right knee and somewhat to the tibial side of the median line. The ball apparently passing toward the lower border of the patella, judging from present redness and tenderness on the upper edge of the inner tuberosity of the tibia, where I am inclined to believe the presence of the ball is causing inflammation. He keeps the leg flexed to near right angle & is careful not to move the joint for reason of pain. Treatment cold cloth to the hot and swelled knee & wet oakum to the suppurating wound.
October 7th evening. Much the same. Same treatment.
October 10th noon. Continues with but little change. Saw an increase of the redness at the joint above indicated. Keeps the limb and joint studiously immovable.
October 14. Little change since last date.
15th. Limb considerably swollen. Painful about joint. No suppuration. [ ] per movement of bowels. Morning. Appetite not good. Pulse 96 full. Dressing poultice.
16th. No change. Line to wound [ ] cloth to leg [ ]. Pulse 94/ Appetite good for toast & boiled chicken. 5 A. M. Pulse 98. Appetite continues good. Evening pulse 94. Altogether better. 9 o’clock P. M. Sleeping and in every way improved. — E. M.
Notes on Surgeon Edward McDonnell:
McDonnell’s application for a position in the Regular Army giving his medical history & forwarding testimonial. The following application was forwarded by Lieut. Gen. Grant on 4 November 1865:
“At the request of a gentleman I met in August 1861 in New York who informed me that he was authorized to raise a Brigade of Irishmen for the war, I gave up a good practice in New York City and accepted the position of Surgeon in hisBrigade. He said he desired to have me in consequence of my long residence in the South and my knowledge of the social position of the poor White man there that I might post them on some points that would dispel the delusions under which the class of Irishmen appeared to labor, and which was operating in seriously preventing enlistments into the service.
Having my heart in the cause with a strong desire that the Union should be preserved intact, I zealously cooperated with him, accompanies him to all places he made speeches in New York & elsewhere, furnished him data he incorporated in his addresses which had a marked effect in encouraging enlistments in that year. During the two months I was thus occupied, I spent all the money I had saved from private practice.
I have performed the most arduous and laborious field duties during the war throughout Pope’s Campaign—at Sharpsburg after the battle of Antietam, and lastly at the Siege of Vicksburg where I was in charge of the 18th A. C. Hospital—a field hospital I myself organized—and which on being inspected by Surgeon John E. Summers, Medical Inspector, U. S. A. was pronounced by him the most perfect and best conducted hospital in Gen. Grant’s Army.
Owing to sickness in my family, I have saved no money, therefore to be now mustered out will be injurious to myself and family. After an absence of 4 years, I could not recover my practice in New York and it would take years to establish another such. The inferences deducible from these facts are too obvious to need further elucidation. I shall therefore respectfully submit them for the kind consideration of the Secretary of War.
I have the honor to be most respectfully your obedient servant, E. McDonnell, Surgeon, U. S. Vol.”
“I was mustered into the service U. S. Volunteers by Col. Sackett, U. S. A. in New York City on the 30th November 1861 as Surgeon of the 5th Regiment Irish Brigade. I served with this organization up to the 14th of May when I accepted of the Surgency of the 1st N. Y. Artillery offered my by Col. Bailey, U. S. A., then commanding. On the death of Col. Bailey who was killed about this time near Warwick, C. H. in Virginia during McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, I was induced by friends who thought my experience and qualifications entitled me to a sphere of more extended usefulness to apply for the position of Brigade Surgeon. I accordingly, on the recommendations of Senators King and Harris, N. Y., obtained an order from the Secretary of War to go before the examination of candidates for this position. This difference from the first board in the thoroughness & greater stringency of the examination. That, before the first board, lasting only a few hours and being of a superficial character, while this examination lasted a whole week, and was most stringent, made equally so with that of the Regular Army, in order to secure a better educated class of Medical Officers for the Service. I was one of the first four to go before this Board and the only one of the four that passed that week. I understand that only one being passed in each of the succeeding two weeks, the Board to obtain the number of medical men required, had to relax the severity of the examination…”
I received my commission as such on the 22nd of June 1862. I served as Brigade Surgeon throughout Pope’c Campaign and at the first battle—Cedar Mountain—I was chosen by. Dr. [Thomas A.] McParlin as one of the Corps of Operating Surgeons and he publicly complimented me on the energy I displayed at Culpeper where surgical operations on a large scale first commenced. I subsequently served under Surgeon John Moore, U. S. A. in McClellan’s Maryland Campaign at Antietam and was put in charge of all the hospitals of the 5th Corps in Sharpsburg, Boonesville, &c. At the conclusion of this campaign & on my arrival in Washington, I was assigned to duty as President of the Board of Examiners for discharging disabled soldiers at Camp Parole near Alexandria, Va.
In March 1863 I was ordered to report to you in the rear of of Vicksburg and was assigned to the 15th army Corp. The Medical Director of which placed me in charge of the Corps Hospital near the Yazoo swamp…At the closing of the hospitals at Vicksburg, I was ordered to report to General Banks at New Orleans and assigned to duty as Medical Director at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. here I remained until April 1864 when I was ordered to take charge of a hospital at Baltimore, Maryland, and latterly I was assigned to duty as Medical Director of the 3rd [ ] Brigade, there located, & in this position, I was when I received the order mustering out of the service.
I hold a diploma from the College of Surgeons, one also from the College of Physicians, London, and one from the Dublin…I have practiced 12 years in this country, 7 in Texas, Austin City, & five in New York City…”
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