Corpse Requests Delay of Burial Ceremony

[Tom Elmore]

On July 3, near the famous copse on Cemetery Ridge, a shell fragment struck Corporal Lishur White (20th Massachusetts) on the side of the head, tearing off part of his ear, shattering his jaw and exposing his throat. Collapsing in a comatose state and believed to be dead, he was laid beside a freshly dug grave for burial. At that moment, he regained consciousness and requested his shocked friends to "delay the ceremony a short time longer."

His case was apparently not an isolated one. I seem to recall one or two other examples; however, I clearly remember one surgeon who demanded evidence of decomposition before declaring an individual dead. It recalls to mind Mark Twain's actual statement: "The report of my death was an exaggeration." In reality, it makes one shudder to contemplate that being buried alive was a real possibility.

By early September, 1863, Lishur White's wounds were "healing finely" and he was transferred from Camp Letterman near Gettysburg, to Mower General Hospital in Philadelphia. He obtained a discharge from active service on March 21, 1864.

Source:
-Report by Acting Assistant Surgeon Albert R. Stonelake, Camp Letterman, in the compiled service records of Lishur White, Fold3.

 

[Fairfield]

It was reported that Capt. John Channing had been reading the description of a recent battle in a local Maine newspaper--and was startled to read that he had been killed. Capt. Channing contacted the paper, protesting against this "soft impeachment".

 

[Tom Elmore]

A complementary account that I initially overlooked: Three Years in Field Hospitals of the Army of the Potomac, by Mrs. H., Philadelphia, PA: 1867, J. B. Lippencott & Co., 1867, pp. 41-42. The author is Anna Morris Holstein, and a search will reveal considerable background information on her; see also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Morris_Holstein

"... I recall a burial where three were at one time taken to the little spot we called a cemetery. One sultry afternoon in July the stretcher bearers came tramping wearily, bearing three bodies of those who had given their lives for freedom; as the last reached the place, the men dropped with a rough, jolting motion the army couch whereon he rested. The impatient effort to be rid of their burden was probably the means of saving a precious life; for the man - dead, as they supposed - raising his head, called in a clear voice: 'Boys, what are you doing?' The response as prompt: 'We came to bury you, Whitey.' His calm reply was: 'I don't see it, boys; give me a drink of water, and carry me back.' And then glancing into the open grave: 'I won't be buried by this raw recruit!' The raw recruit was a lieutenant of his own regiment. Not many stand so near the 'dark valley' that they look into their own graves, and live. The 'boys' did carry him back; and with the greatest care, his life was saved; months afterward he was sent to 'Chestnut Hill Hospital,' Philadelphia; from there he wrote to me to say that his surgeon thought he would recover. His name was Luther [sic] White, Co. K, 20th Massachusetts, from Boston; he was wounded by a piece of shell, which tore off part of his ear, and shattering his jaw, laid bare one side of the throat. After the battle he remained for three days unconscious, then rallied; and again sank away until he died - as it was thought, and carried to the grave."

 

[Doc_Ralph]

On July 3, near the famous copse on Cemetery Ridge, a shell fragment struck Corporal Lishur White (20th Massachusetts) on the side of the head, tearing off part of his ear, shattering his jaw and exposing his throat. Collapsing in a comatose state and believed to be dead, he was laid beside a freshly dug grave for burial. At that moment, he regained consciousness and requested his shocked friends to "delay the ceremony a short time longer."

His case was apparently not an isolated one. I seem to recall one or two other examples; however, I clearly remember one surgeon who demanded evidence of decomposition before declaring an individual dead. It recalls to mind Mark Twain's actual statement: "The report of my death was an exaggeration." In reality, it makes one shudder to contemplate that being buried alive was a real possibility.

By early September, 1863, Lishur White's wounds were "healing finely" and he was transferred from Camp Letterman near Gettysburg, to Mower General Hospital in Philadelphia. He obtained a discharge from active service on March 21, 1864.

Source:
-Report by Acting Assistant Surgeon Albert R. Stonelake, Camp Letterman, in the compiled service records of Lishur White, Fold3.

That surgeon was I suppose just being extra careful. Dead is dead. Once rigor mortis sets in it becomes obvious.

My example of this was as a young volunteer EMT assisting a paramedic declare someone dead. The firefighters had pulled him to the front yard. He put his stethoscope to the charred streaming flesh and gave him a listen. "Yup, he's dead. Note the time"

And off we went on our next call. So, it is always wise I guess to go the extra mile and the benefit of the doubt. Charitable also. To know that you have done everything humanly possible to resolve it - one way or the other.

Thanks for this interesting post.
YHS,
Doc Ralph

 

[Biscoitos]

On July 3, near the famous copse on Cemetery Ridge, a shell fragment struck Corporal Lishur White (20th Massachusetts) on the side of the head, tearing off part of his ear, shattering his jaw and exposing his throat. Collapsing in a comatose state and believed to be dead, he was laid beside a freshly dug grave for burial. At that moment, he regained consciousness and requested his shocked friends to "delay the ceremony a short time longer."

His case was apparently not an isolated one. I seem to recall one or two other examples; however, I clearly remember one surgeon who demanded evidence of decomposition before declaring an individual dead. It recalls to mind Mark Twain's actual statement: "The report of my death was an exaggeration." In reality, it makes one shudder to contemplate that being buried alive was a real possibility.

By early September, 1863, Lishur White's wounds were "healing finely" and he was transferred from Camp Letterman near Gettysburg, to Mower General Hospital in Philadelphia. He obtained a discharge from active service on March 21, 1864.

Source:
-Report by Acting Assistant Surgeon Albert R. Stonelake, Camp Letterman, in the compiled service records of Lishur White, Fold3.

Any idea of when he did actually die?

 

[SgtDarby8OVI]