Mike Serpa
Major
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2013
I have 8 or 10 of these pics showing his wounds as they progressively got "better". I also have the Surgeon General's writeup about the whole ordeal. Said he was one of 4 to survive a wound that tore up the bowels that badly. I'll post some tomorrow. They are on my work computer.View attachment 29550
I can't find the source, sorry.
To read a couple paragraphs from "Medical Histories of Union Generals" about his wounds click here.
View attachment 29550
I can't find the source, sorry.
To read a couple paragraphs from "Medical Histories of Union Generals" about his wounds click here.
Great! I would love to see them.I have 8 or 10 of these pics showing his wounds as they progressively got "better". I also have the Surgeon General's writeup about the whole ordeal. Said he was one of 4 to survive a wound that tore up the bowels that badly. I'll post some tomorrow. They are on my work computer.
That Antietam Wound that messed up his colon must have been awful.
Yes definitely.....and to survive peritonitis at that time was almost miraculous.
It was later speculated that the same minie ball did all of the damage. He was mounted on horse back. Holding the reins would have his wrist right there in front of the entrance wound. the ball probably hit his wrist shattering it and then entered his belly.
He suffered long after the war from this wound. His actual death certificate says that he died of cirrhosis of the liver. He probably drank a lot to keep the pain in check. However, every account proves that he was a very high functioning person up to the end being involved in MANY civic activities and governing the Veteran's Homes. He even surveyed the property at Togus Maine for purchase in April 1866 for the very first Veterans' home.