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Larry Purtell
Little Meadows, PA, USA
Posts: 722
 | | July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/16/2010 5:49:46 AM | This will be the last installment for the New York Times coverage of the Gettysburg campaign. I hope everyone has enjoyed these daily reports.
THE FIEID Of GETTYSBURGH.
Published: July 16, 1863
The Wounded and their Condition.
Letter from Dr. Bellows, President of the U.S. Sanitary Commission.
U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION, New-York AGENCY No. 823 BROADWAY, New-York, Tuesday, July 14, 1863, 3 o'clock P.M.
To the Editor of the New-York Times:
I have just returned from Gettysburgh. The estimated number of wounded there was, on Monday, July 7, 20,000 National and rebel soldiers.
They have diminished daily from 1,000 to 1,200 in number by sending the walking cases (men slightly wounded, or only in the upper extremities and with flesh wounds,) to Baltimore and Washington. About halt are under canvas in the various corps hospitals. The rest in churches, barns and private houses in and around Gettysburgh. The speed of Gen. MEADE's movements had made a proper provision against the consequences of so terrible a battle, impossible. Medical stores and even food were not, and could not be at hand. The neighboring country had been stripped bare, first by the rebel army and then by our own.
Moreover, the splendid victory of our troops made every available soldier necessary in the pursuit of the flying, but not routed or demoralized and still dangerous foe. Only one-third of the Surgeons, ambulances and wagons could be left from each corps in care of our wounded, and no detail of well men to nurse them. Add 6,000 rebel wounded, deserted by all but five of their own Surgeons, and one can see the inevitable misery of the situation.
There was most inadequate supplies of coarse food, and none of suitable and delicate food, within the reach of the hospitals. Beef and hard tack were the only things in tolerable abundance. Transportation for the wounded from worse to better quarters, and of supplies, was necessarily very scarce, and was a chief source of distress. The roads were thronged with wounded men, here on canes and there on crutches, not seldom with amputated arms, and heads still bleeding, making their way on foot from the corps hospitals two, three and four miles, to the depot. At the hospitals themselves -- at first, the spectacle was intensely wretched. Men with both legs shot off -- shot in the eye, the mouth, both hands gone, or one arm lost, were laying in rows that seemed pitiable and in wonderful patience, fortitude and patriotic pride, facing their sufferings. The rebels, as was just, had to wait their turn for having their wounds dressed, or their limbs amputated till the Union men had been cared for; then they were treated with equal kindness and attention. Many, after six days, were looking forward as to an unspeakable blessing, for the amputation of their shattered limbs. The terrible destitution of many of the rebels will not bear description. It was too horrible for recital. Had it not been for the unwearied labors of the people of Gettysburgh and the neighboring town, particularly York, the sufferings of these wounded men must, in thousands of cases, ended in early death. The farmers and townfolk sent large supplies to the Christian Commission. In addition to their own copious stores, which, by the aid of a force of two hundred volunteers, chiefly ministers were rapidly and efficiently distributed. Some thousands of tired and hungry soldiers were fed at their saloon of refreshments. The wounded men had letters written for them home, and received religious counsel and support to a most gratifying extent. I desire to give the strongest expression to my own sense of the enterprise, zeal, and blessedness of the labors of this sister institution on the battle-field of Gettysburgh.
The United States Sanitary Commission, had sent forward its agents, with a four-horse team of supplies on Saturday, July 4, but they were all captured by the enemy, near Emmetsburgh. Dr. MCDONOUGH, and Rev. Mr. SCANDLIN were of the party. We did not learn their seizure till several days afterward, and supposed them on the ground. One train under Major BUSH, however, did arrive, and taking a school-house two miles and a half from Gettysburgh, supplied the hospitals with their first relief, and for two terrible days was a source of unspeakable but wholly inadequate supply. Our teams began to come in on Monday, increased rapidly on Tuesday, and have continued ever since to furnish very nearly, (with other aid) adequate supplies. Every day since Tuesday, a car-lead of delicacies, costing two thousand dollars in Baltimore, and containing one thousand pounds of mutton, one thousand pounds of chicken, twelve hundred dozen eggs, fifteen hundred loaves of soft bread, with condensed milk, beef stock, &c., has been ordered forward and distributed. Add to this, ceaseless wagon-loads of hospital clothing, and the value of the distribution cannot each day be less than five thousand dollars, at Gettysburgh alone.
Casualties among Officers in the One Hundred and Fifieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, at Gettysburgh, July 1.
Published: July 16, 1863
Col. Langhorne Wister -- wounded in the jaw.
Lieut.-Col. Hindekoper -- right arm amputated.
Maj. Chamberlin -- shot through back and shoulder.
Adjt. Ashhurst -- shot through the shoulder.
Capt. Widdis, Co. A -- wounded slightly and prisoner.
Lieut. Chancellor, Co. B -- leg amputated.
Lieut. Chatburn, Co. B -- prisoner.
Lieut Perkins, Co. C -- shot through the hip.
Capt. Dougal, Co. D -- wounded in shoulder by piece of shell.
Lieut. Carpenter, Co. E -- prisoner.
Capt. Gimber, Co. F -- prisoner.
Lieut. Keyser. Co. F -- killed.
Capt. Sigler, Co. I -- wounded slightly in shoulder.
Lieut. Rose, Co. I -- wounded in the wrist and arm.
The names of enlisted men, killed and wounded, have not yet been obtained.
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"My goal is to live forever. So far, so good.
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| Rick Schaus
Capon Springs, WV, USA
Posts: 504
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/16/2010 3:58:27 PM | Hi,
Larry, thanks much. Great stuff.
It is interesting to read what information the NY, and nearby public (and many in the CSA, and Europe) was getting during the campaign and battle, as well as how distorted much of it was.
Kinda disconcerting to know that that often inaccurate information was all the public had and believed to be the truth.
Thanks again.
VR, Rick Schaus
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| lgattens
Myerstown, PA, USA
Posts: 25
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/16/2010 10:46:56 PM | Larry
Thanks, have been following alone. Great stuff, I will miss tuning in each night to read the paper from 147 years ago
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| Lew & Ginny Gage
Cornish, NH, USA
Posts: 767
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/17/2010 6:57:43 PM | Larry,
Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. How fortunate we are here at MHO to have you!
Lew and Ginny
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| scoucer
Berlin, Germany
Posts: 507
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/17/2010 7:25:48 PM | Larry,
Can only join the others. Thanks a lot.
All the Best
Trevor
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`Hey don´t the wars come easy and don´t the peace come hard`- Buffy Sainte-Marie
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| Larry Purtell
Little Meadows, PA, USA
Posts: 722
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/18/2010 7:02:52 AM | Thanks for the kind words. Next year I plan to do pretty much the same using a different newspaper. We all know the battle as it happened, I find it refreshing to read the newspaper accounts and see how far off and how accurate (at times)they were.
Larry
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"My goal is to live forever. So far, so good.
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| Michigan Dave
Muskegon, Michigan, MI, USA
Posts: 1383
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/18/2010 8:24:39 AM | Larry,
How critical was the times of Lee's escape back into Virginia? Did Mead catch it from the Times?
MD
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"The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
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| Larry Purtell
Little Meadows, PA, USA
Posts: 722
| | Re: July 16,1863 NYT Last installment | | Posted on: 7/18/2010 1:07:28 PM |
Quote:Larry,
How critical was the times of Lee's escape back into Virginia? Did Mead catch it from the Times?
MD
--Michigan Dave
God queastion MD. I'll see what I can find.
Larry
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"My goal is to live forever. So far, so good.
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