Case Shot & Canister

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Case Shot & Canister Case Shot & Canister 1BA Publication of the Delaware Valley Civil War Round Table Partners with Manor College and the Civil War and Military History Institutes Our 26th Year!! May 2018 4BVolume 28 5BNumber 5 Editor Patricia Caldwell Contributors Hugh Boyle, Book Nook Editor Rose Boyle Nancy Caldwell, Artistic Advisor Jerry Carrier John Gavin Paula Gidjunis Ed Greenawald Mary Ann Hartner Carol Ingald Bernice Kaplan Herb Kaufman Walt Lafty, Our May Meeting “Snapshots” Editor Zack Margolies “The Blockade and the War on the High Seas” Larry Vogel Presenter: Robert Hanrahan Andy Waskie Original Photos Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Patricia Caldwell (unless otherwise noted) 7:30 pm 6:15 pm for dinner Officers President (all welcome – but reservation needed!) Hugh Boyle Radisson Hotel Vice President Jerry Carrier Route 1 @ Old Lincoln Highway Treasurer Trevose, PA Herb Kaufman Secretary Patricia Caldwell Dinner Menu – Rosemary Roasted Pork Tenderloin served with Artichokes and Roasted Tomatoes. Served with soup du jour, e-mail:[email protected] U phone: (215)638-4244 rolls/butter, iced tea, diet soda, coffee, dessert. website: HUwww.dvcwrt.orgU Substitute: Pasta (chef’s selection). Umailing addresses: Membership 2601 Bonnie Lane Contact Rose Boyle at [email protected] or 215-638-4244 for Huntingdon Valley PA 19006 dinner reservations by May 10. Dinner Price $27.00 Newsletter 3201 Longshore Avenue You are responsible for dinners not cancelled Philadelphia PA 19149-2025 by Monday morning May 14. War Museum of Philadelphia where he served as a In This Issue board member. Bob currently serves on the Advisory Board of the GAR Museum, and on the Advisory All-electronic means more newsletter Board of the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation An overflowing Member News column Association. In this month’s Member Snapshot Walt Lafty spotlights one of our most well-known and active Bob’s father served in the US Navy during WWII, and his other naval associations include a life members membership in the Navy League of the United States Spring means lots of Upcoming Events, – Philadelphia Chapter, and as a member of the US including full details of our Gettysburg Comes to Naval Institute Commodores’ Club and its Arleigh Manor Day Burke Society. Bob currently serves on the Board of Paula Gidjunis updates the latest in Trustees (and was a past President) of the Longport Preservation Notes, along with a recap of the N.J. Historical Society and Museum, his home town. National Cemetery storyboard dedication “Where Am I?” A new sometimes feature In his presentation Bob will make use of maps and Walt Lafty goes “Around Town” with the period illustrations to cover one of the major parts Doylestown Library played in the war by the US Navy, that of denning active seaborne commerce to the States then in We welcome back Larry Vogel with his Rebellion. He will discuss the concept known at first monthly meeting recap as the “Anaconda Plan”, existing almost solely on Our Book Nook looks at round table tradition, paper at first, to being a totally effectively strategy at and Ed Greenawald reviews a book on escaped the close of the war. The presentation will cover the Union prisoners Navy’s efforts on the High Seas during the war in Walt Lafty on the official debut of the putting a stop to Southern commerce raiding. Military History Institute Larry Vogel shares “The Rest of the Story” on a local artist The summer semester schedule for the Civil War Institute and Military History Institute Larry Vogel goes “Off the Wall” while waiting on hold What is “Under Lincoln’s Hat” this month? We repeat our daytrip questionnaire A High Seas Adventure The Neshaminy Historical Association truly apologizes for the cancellation of this year’s Our May speaker, Bob reenactment. The Delaware Valley Civil War Hanrahan, is a very familiar Round Table is one of the sponsors of this event figure at local Civil War and has been associated with it for the last 25 events. He is the current years, both as a sponsor and part of the Chairman of the committee. We were present for the decision. Confederation of Union Generals (C.O.U.G.), an There will be many rumors and stories about organization in which he why this was done. All we can say is the portrays MG John Gibbon. stipulations and regulations placed on the His connections with the committee were beyond the committee’s ability. local CW community include the Civil War Round For example, the sutlers who have been part of Table of the Union League of Philadelphia, and GAR the event from the beginning were told that they Post 2 #299 of the SUVCW, and the former Civil could not set up and stay the night before the 2 event started, which they have been doing for 28 years, thereby making it impossible to get ready for the opening of the event. The boy scouts who stay overnight to help the clean-up were also told that they could not do that. The most serious Congratulations to Jim Dover, our book raffle stipulation was in security. The park demanded winner at dinner of the April meeting. In response that the committee pay for extra security for the to the forced cancellation of the Neshaminy overnight hours to the tune of over $7,000, this Reenactment, the Preservation Committee held a along with the cost of using the park ($2,000) special raffle to help offset some of the lost book and insurance of over $1,000. That cost was far sales receipts that we normally collect for beyond the committee’s ability to pay. Then there preservation at the weekend event. Among the was the threat of fines for finding someone raffled prizes were books, videos, a T-shirt and drinking alcohol. So, with these unbearable hat, wine, panettone, and a bottle of Jameson – all donated by our members. Winners included conditions, it was best to cancel this year’s event. Jerome Gabriel, Nancy Caldwell, Herb Kaufman, But, fear not, the event will be alive in 2019 Carol Ingald, John Gavin, Pat Caldwell, Bernice somewhere. We will keep you informed. Kaplan, Rose Boyle, Steve Peters, John Farley, Jerry Carrier, and newly-joined member Robert Hugh Boyle Butler (we love to make our new members feel right at home!). And props to Carol Ingald who President graciously gifted her prize of choice – the bottle of Jameson – to our esteemed president Hugh Boyle. Rose Boyle reciprocated with her raffle winning. But what a terrific gesture, Carol! Congratulations to Jerome Gabriel who recently was awarded his certificate for completing the required classes for the Civil War Institute at Manor College. Jack and Carol Lieberman presented as Captain Percival Drayton and Sarah Josepha Hall on May 7 MAY BRAIN TEASERS at the Montgomery County CWRT. 1 – In what fight was Nathaniel Lyon killed? Jerry Carrier will speak at the Golden Slipper 2 – How many Confederate generals were killed at the battle of Franklin? Senior Center in Bala Cynwyd on May 10, where his 3 – Who led the Rebels at the battle of Prairie subject will be the musical portraits Duke Grove? Ellington composed and played over the years. These were tributes to a variety of African- (Answers in next month’s newsletter!) American entertainers, including Bert Williams, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and many of his fellow ANSWERS TO APRIL BRAIN TEASERS jazz artists. 1 – Who claims to have been the Confederate sharpshooter who killed Gen. John Reynolds? – “Frankly my dear…Hollywood and the Civil War” Frank Wood will be the topic of Herb Kaufman’s presentation 2 – Who was Franklin Pierce’s Secretary of War? – Jefferson Davis for the Friends of the Doylestown Library on 3 – Which Army was known as “Mr. Lincoln’s Wednesday, May 16th from 7-8 p.m. This will be Army?” – The Army of the Potomac Herb’s fourth presentation covering an aspect of the Civil War at the library. This program is free and open to the public. 3 Walt Lafty will speak on “Up Periscope: A View maidservant whom he nicknames, befriends and of Submarine Warfare in World War II” at 10:30 eventually marries!” Kudos, Bernice! am on Saturday, May 12 at the Northeast Regional Library on Cottman Avenue. Andy Waskie was in attendance at the honor ceremony for Col. Myer Asch, Commander Meade There is an added bonus to attending this year’s Post #1 GAR, PA-MOLLUS, and Union League Pennypacker Mills reenactment event on June 2. member buried at Beth Olam Cemetery in Paula Gidjunis will be speaking on “Women in the Brooklyn, NY on Sunday, April 22, where his grave Civil War, from the Homefront to the received a GAR Post #1 grave marker. Photo below Battlefield.” More info can be found on page 7. courtesy of Congregation Shearith Israel. On June 4 Andy Waskie will present a program at the Montgomery County CWRT on “The Forgotten Hero, Octavius V. Catto”. John Gavin reprised his role of Buddy the Bison for the National Park Service. John writes “After the first time this year as Buddy on April 21, I thought that I was in trouble agreeing to do it three times but the following days were actually easier. Possibly, I paced myself better. Anyway, this is how I spend my retirement, at least one week a year of it.” John shares the photo below of Buddy posing with a group of boy scouts. Zack Margolies must love the fact that baseball season is here. He traveled to Citi Field in late April to catch a Mets game, and to Cincinnati in early May for 3 games.
Recommended publications
  • Empty Sleeves and Vacant Virility: Amputations and Disabled Veterans in the Civil War Era
    Empty Sleeves and Vacant Virility: Amputations and Disabled Veterans in the Civil War Era A Senior Honors Thesis By Shannon Cea The University of Florida History Honors Thesis May 2018 Thesis Advisor: Steven Noll Acknowledgements Thank you to my parents, grandparents, friends, and Ryan for always encouraging me and appreciating the hard work I put into my academics. I can honestly say I would not have made it through the past four years without each of you. My greatest thanks to Dr. Noll, for being the best teacher and advisor I could have asked for. Your passion for disability history is inspiring, additionally your class and working with you has been one of the highlights of my final year at UF! Lastly, I would like to thank the University of Florida Department of History, for providing me with the knowledge and drive to complete this thesis. Thank you for giving me an amazing undergraduate career and critical thinking skills I will truly cherish for the rest of my life. 2 Chronology March 6, 1820 The Missouri Compromise is signed, allowing Maine to be a free state in the Union and Missouri as a slave state, beginning in 1821. May 30, 1854 The Kansas-Nebraska Act passes, replacing The Missouri Compromise and opens Northern territories up to slavery. November 6, 1860 Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th president, winning 40% of the popular vote. April 12, 1861 The Civil War begins at South Carolina’s Fort Sumter. February 22, 1862 Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as president of the Confederate States of America.
    [Show full text]
  • Did Your Union Civil War Ancestor Have an Artificial Limb?
    By Claire Prechtel-Kluskens National Archives Did your Union Civil War ancestor have an artifi cial limb? In honor of the sesquicentennial of the American joint was survived by only 17 percent. Later in Civil War, this is the eleventh in a series of articles the war, “resection” became more common. about records at the National Archives and Records This technique removed only the injured Administration that are useful in researching the section of the arm or leg, leaving a shortened, war and its participants. This article describes little- less functional limb. Nearly 40 percent of known records that document artifi cial limbs and amputations resulted only in the loss of fingers special payments provided to Union amputees. or toes. he American Civil War was the first The war and industrial accidents caused a to result in thousands of amputations. surge in demand for artifi cial limbs, which New technology was largely to blame. needed frequent repair and replacement about T every fi ve years. Clever entrepreneurs responded The invention and use of the Minié ball, a rifl e ball made of soft lead with a hollow base to this business opportunity through invention that expanded when fi red, caused large, irregular, and manufacturing. Nearly one hundred fifty and slow-healing wounds upon impact. Infection patents were issued for artifi cial limb designs and gangrene set in quickly. Faced with shattered between 1861 and 1873. bones, shredded tissue, and limited medical In 1862 Congress authorized the Army’s knowledge, resources, and options, amputation Surgeon General to purchase artifi cial limbs actually off ered the best chance of survival.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Philippi Comprehensive Plan Adopted November 2018
    City of Philippi Comprehensive Plan Adopted November 2018 City of Philippi Comprehensive Plan Acknowledgements There are many people and organizations that have participated in the City of Philippi Compre- hensive Plan process. The planning commission, a volunteer body tasked with preparing the com- prehensive plan, was instrumental in leading the community through the process. The planning commission met several times over the course of the last 2+ of years to discuss the various compo- nents that help form the comprehensive plan. As elected officials, the Mayor and City Council are responsible for adopting the comprehensive plan, and have a large role in the implementation of the comprehensive plan after adoption. City staff, including the City Manager, also proved to be instrumental during the comprehensive plan process by obtaining information, organizing meetings, and providing the necessary support to complete the comprehensive plan. Countless citizens also provided input, filled out stakeholder sur- veys, or spoke with planning commissioners and elected officials. This input was crucial in achieving a community-wide comprehensive plan. The Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law assisted Philippi in the completion of the comprehensive plan. The Clinic facilitated meetings, assisted in ensuring that all required components and objectives were sufficiently met, helped de- velop surveys, and drafted the comprehensive plan. 2 City of Philippi Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents
    [Show full text]
  • Phoenix Patriot Magazine Vol. 1, Issue 1
    A MAGAZINE FOR THE MILITARY COMMUNITY | WINTER 2012 PHOENIX Help for Heroes A road to recovery Military medical innovations Plan for a successful transition Where’s Kilroy? LETTER FROM THE Executive Editor As I welcome you to the first edition of our newly redesigned Phoenix Patriot magazine, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude for the sacrifices you have made for our country. Having served in the U.S. Army for 28 I recently went through that transition, FAST FACTS years, I know first-hand the excitement, myself. In 2009, I retired from the U.S. chaos and fulfillment that define military Army Corps of Engineers after nearly life. Whether you are currently deployed, three decades of service. When I began GARLAND H. have proudly worn a uniform in the past my transition, I thought I was set because I WILLIAMS or are raising your family while a loved one have my Ph.D. While that certainly opened Colonel (Retired), Ph.D. serves, your contributions to our freedom doors for me, my retirement coincided BRANCH: have not gone unnoticed. with a period during which defense U.S. Army contractor jobs dried up pending federal Our call to support you budget approval. As often happens in life, YEARS OF At University of Phoenix, our appreciation that obstacle opened a new opportunity in MILITARY SERVICE: for your service is what drives us to do the University of Phoenix Military Division, 28 our very best to support members of a group I didn’t even know existed. the broader military community.
    [Show full text]
  • Inspirations of War: Innovations in Prosthetics After the Civil War Savannah A
    The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of Civil War Institute History 3-16-2018 Inspirations of War: Innovations in Prosthetics after the Civil War Savannah A. Labbe Gettysburg College Follow this and additional works at: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/compiler Part of the Military History Commons, Public History Commons, and the United States History Commons Share feedback about the accessibility of this item. Labbe, Savannah A., "Inspirations of War: Innovations in Prosthetics after the Civil War" (2018). The Gettysburg Compiler: On the Front Lines of History. 255. https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/compiler/255 This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/compiler/255 This open access blog post is brought to you by The uC pola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The uC pola. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Inspirations of War: Innovations in Prosthetics after the Civil War Abstract In early 1861, a Confederate soldier named James Edward Hanger waited on the ground to die. Minutes before, his left leg had been shot off boa ve the knee while he was sitting with his comrades in the loft of a ab rn in Philipi, Virginia. As soon as the cannonball burst through the barn, the rest of the men fled, leaving Hanger behind. He was found by enemy troops and brought to a doctor, who amputated his leg.
    [Show full text]
  • 150 Years of Empowering Human Potential
    2011 ANNUAL RepORT 150 YEARS of Empowering Human Potential Founded in 1861 by the first amputee of the American Civil War, Hanger provides integrated rehabilitative solutions to more than one million patients each year. Specializing in prosthetic and orthotic patient care, distribution, and therapeutic solutions, Hanger’s more than 1,200 clinicians and 150 therapists help empower those with limb loss, paralysis, debilitating physical conditions, and other orthopedic anomalies become productive members of society after injury or illness. Hanger by the Numbers 1,000,000+ 750,000+ 270,000+ 35,000+ Patients treated annually Patients benefited annually Orthotic and Prosthetic Therapists trained from therapeutic solutions product offerings annually 4,500+ 4,100+ 1,200+ 700+ Employees Skilled Nursing Facility Clinicians on staff Hanger Clinic locations client-partners 150+ 150 45 26 Therapists on staff Years in business States with Hanger Evidence-based clinical Clinic locations therapy programs 16 6 4 3 Proprietary technologies National distribution Central fabrication Core business segments: centers facilities Patient Care, Distribution, Therapeutic Solutions 01 Financial Highlights For the years ended December 31 (dollars in millions, except per-share data) 2011 2010 2009 Net Sales $ 918.5 $ 817.4 $ 760.1 Adjusted Income from Operations(1) $ 118.8 $ 103.2 $ 90.5 Adjusted Net Income(1) $ 56.2 $ 46.6 $ 36.1 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(1) $ 1.64 $ 1.42 $ 1.13 Working Capital $ 241.7 $ 185.8 $ 216.7 Total Assets $ 1,128.5 $ 1,061.5 $
    [Show full text]
  • '!He Warcorrespondent'
    I '!he War Correspondent' March 2001 Vol. 10, NO.9 Genera/-in-Chief's Report By Mike Van Huss Its hard to believe that we Your Obedient Servant the eyes and the letters of a are more than halfway through Mike VanHuss fictional trooper, Henry Wylie. our year. Only four more meet- GeneraHn-Chief Published in 1997 by the ings left. As we approach the Southern Heritage Press, Mr. month of April please remember Adjutant General's Report Chambers book has been well the annual battlefield trip will be to February 14, 2001 Meeting 'received "and will provide the the Chattanooga/Chickamauga By focus of his presentation at the Battlefields. Reservations are March 14111meeting. due immediately and the cost for Mary Chester this years trip is $325.00. See Annual Trip Jamie Ryan with any questions. None. We viewed the video of the Court Martial of As I'm sure you are Just a reminder the trip General Sherman recorded last aware its that time again for dues. this year is to Chattanooga- September in Lancaster. At the last meeting of the War Chickamauga, Friday, April 27 Council it was decided that due to through Monday, April 30. the escalating cost of bringing in Historian General's The total cost of the trip is quality speakers we witt have to Report $325. A deposit of $50 is due by raise the dues for next year as By the March 14, meeting. The final follows ... Single membership will Dave Larrick payment Is due no later than now be $25.00, Family the April 11, meeting.
    [Show full text]
  • March 13, 2014 General Orders No
    GENERAL ORDERS The Newsletter of the Civil War Round Table of Milwaukee, Inc. and The Iron Brigade Association MARCH 13, 2014 GENERAL ORDERS NO. 03-14 March 2014 CHARLES “CHUCK” TEAGUE IN THIS ISSUE How Lincoln Came to Be “under God” at Gettysburg CWRT News ....................................................2 Quartermaster’s Regalia .............................2 Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men Announcements ...........................................3 are created equal. Marking the Sesquicentennial .................4 Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any From the Field ................................................6 nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great Looking Back ..................................................8 battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final J.E. Hangar .......................................................9 resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is New from Savas Beatie .............................10 altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. March Meeting Reservation ...................11 But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, MARCH MEETING AT A GLANCE have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what Charles “Chuck” Teague, they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished “How Lincoln Came to Be ‘under God’ work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
    [Show full text]
  • Witness Trees and Woods of the Civil War by Gary Strobel
    Witness Trees and Woods of the Civil War By Gary Strobel The last word uttered by Stonewall Jackson on his death bed, was—“Trees” During the battles and other events surrounding the civil war (1861 -1865) in the United States there were trees, buildings and other wooden structures present, that are also present now. They witnessed the war! The most interesting woods are those represented by trees since many are still growing on the landscape. Also, many of these trees witnessed other major events at the time of the war such as the Gettysburg address or the hijacking of the General locomotive on the Western Atlantic Railroad by Jim Andrews in 1862. Of course, trees witnessed some of the major events of American History such of that of Sept 17 at Sharpsburg, Md., also called Antietam, which was the bloodiest day in America (Burnside bridge left- the Burnside bridge sycamore). Generally, those trees that survived the war have done so in spite of hurricanes and the ravages of disease and insect attacks which brought many of their relatives down over the course of time. Likewise, many witness trees at original civil war sites have been removed making way for modern developments including roads, strip malls and mass housing. Commonly, of the few witness trees that do exist, they have wounds and in some cases house the bullets and shell fragments that flew at them during the war. In still other cases a witness tree may have died and now only a partially rotted carcass remains. Sometimes wood from the dead tree will yield a wonderfully spalded and beautiful product which is well represented in the collection.
    [Show full text]
  • December 13, 2007, the One Hundred and Forty-Seventh Year of the Civil War
    Old Baldy Civil War Round Table of Philadelphia December 13, 2007, The One Hundred and Forty-Seventh Year of the Civil War tle facing us. We real- “Glory and Me” ized that membership had dropped off and A Professor’s Short Love/ many members were Hate Affair with Hollywood reluctant to attend The December meeting of the Old meetings, fi nancially Baldy Civil War Round Table will be the Round Table was held on Thursday, December 13 start- on a shaky footing, ing at 7:30 PM at the Civil War and and we believed that Underground Railroad Museum at the real purpose of the 1805 Pine Street in Philadelphia. The organization was not speaker will be Gregory J. W. Urwin only to hold meet- and the subject will be "Glory and Me" ings but to donate to This is an insider’s look at the mak- battlefi eld preserva- ing of Glory, the epic, Oscar-winning tion. Even though it film about the 54th Massachusetts seemed as if we were Volunteer Infantry, the Union Army’s facing insurmountable most famous black regiment in the odds, no one was will- Civil War. Professor Urwin equipped and trained thirteen ing to pull the trigger – so we took the plunge and decided of his black students to participate in filming the climactic to give it a shot. Fort Wagner assault sequence and he commanded them In a moment of weakness, I agreed to accept the posi- and other black extras while portraying one of the 54th’s tion of President with a number of huge caveats: that Don white officers.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation in the Development of Myoelectric Upper Limb Prostheses, 1945 to 2010
    MAKING HANDS: A HISTORY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MYOELECTRIC UPPER LIMB PROSTHESES, 1945 TO 2010 by David J. A. Foord LLB, Dalhousie University, 1993 B.A. (History), Campion College, University of Regina, 1989 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Academic Unit of Interdisciplinary Studies Supervisor: Gregory S. Kealey, PhD, FRSC, FRHistS Examining Board: Robert D. Austin, Faculty of Business Administration, Chairperson R. Steven Turner, PhD, Dept. of History John McLaughlin, PhD, Dept. of Geodesy & Geomatics Eng. Peter Kyberd,. Biomedical Engineering External Examiner: Andrew J. Gaudes, PhD, University of Regina Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration This dissertation is accepted by the Dean of Graduate Studies THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK June, 2013 © David Foord, 2013 ABSTRACT The dissertation examines the history of scientific research and technological innovation in the development of myoelectric, upper‐limb prostheses from 1945 to 2010. A general history of the field is presented, as well as individual case studies on the development of commercially significant technologies and products. The field history and cases are examined against major concepts of research and development (R&D) and technological innovation during the second half of the twentieth century. The major forces behind changes in the field have been technological innovation in other industries, especially transistors, microprocessors and batteries, government funding programs, and the engineers/entrepreneurs who, alone or in collaboration with others, directed the development projects. The engineers/entrepreneurs were in turn influenced by changing conceptions and practices of R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
    [Show full text]
  • Eye Injuries and Prosthetic Resotration in the American Civil War Years
    Eye Injuries and Prosthetic Restoration in the American Civil War Years ABSTRACT: The American Civil War was a sad, ugly war. Nearly 2% of the U.S. population participated, and more than 600,000 died dur- ing the 4 years of conflict. The prevalence of casualties and disease, cou- pled with advances in battlefield technology and medicine, made the time period, 1861–1865, a pivotal moment for American medicine. Veterans’ disabling or disfiguring wounds led to advances in prosthetic technology. Ocular prostheses were not widely available; ocularistry was far from producing the comfortable, appealing prostheses patients wear today. How soldiers coped with eye injuries reflected 19th-century atti- tudes toward disability and the war itself, and indirectly contributed to later advances. Sadly, medical care for wounds incurred in war is once again in many practitioners’ minds. Michael O. Hughes INTRODUCTION B.C.O. Artificial Eye Clinic Writing about the American Civil War has at times devolved into romanti- Vienna, Virginia cized tales. This may be due to a modern perception of the 19th century as a more innocent time than our own. Perceptions of which side was “good” or “bad,” brutal or heroic, have also evolved and become distorted with the years. Soldiers and their commanders have also been stereotyped. Examining the war from the perspective of how Northern and Southern veterans were treated and how they coped with their wounds humanizes the conflict. From the standpoint of ocularistry, Civil War wounds and their treatment high- light the need for the profession and the advances in reconstructive surgery that did not develop fully for many years.
    [Show full text]