- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
On July 4, the less seriously wounded of Maj. Gen. Heth's division who could stand the journey back home were placed in the capacious (and infamous) wagons that had been captured by J. E. B. Stuart in Maryland. Some were left along the way because they could no longer endure the constant jolting, and others became prisoners when Federal cavalry raided their wagon train and were taken off to hospitals in Hagerstown and Frederick, Maryland.
But several hundred wounded from the division were left behind. Surgeon Benjamin F. Ward, 11th Mississippi, the surgeon-in-charge of Davis’ Brigade, and most likely the senior surgeon of the division after the Confederate retreat, reported 693 wounded, which the Federal authorities used to apportion rations and medical supplies. This number may include those occupying hospitals extending along the Chambersburg Pike at some distance from Gettysburg, as well as along the Fairfield Road, as far as the village of Fairfield.
Perhaps about half of the division’s wounded were concentrated in one location, the Samuel Lohr farm, which was one of the major Third Corps hospitals along the Chambersburg Pike. The farm remained in operation as a hospital until the end of August, since Samuel Lohr regained possession on September 1. His son served in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry. The farm was located about a quarter mile northwest of Marsh Creek, on the south side of the pike. The division's wounded filled the house, barn and out-buildings. Fire partially claimed the log house around 1982, and it was demolished by 1992. The original barn burned in 1947. The spring house behind the house was still standing as of 1992. At least 37 burials from all four brigades of the division were recorded here, however, members of the 11th Mississippi were buried in a separate location on the property - the 11th was not engaged on July 1, but took part in the July 3 assault against Cemetery Ridge.
Field hospitals were established much closer to the front on July 1, and in particular along Willoughby Run. Surgeon Legrand James Wilson of the 42nd Mississippi established his field hospital under some trees north of the Chambersburg Pike and along the Run, and ordered the litter corps personnel to carry the wounded to that location. However, when Davis' brigade was driven back late in the morning, Dr. Wilson's field hospital was now vulnerable and he had to move his wounded back to the division hospital - probably the Lohr farm.
Some men of Davis' brigade found temporary refuge at the James J. Wills (William Job) place, north of the unfinished railroad bed. Others from the division spent a few hours at the Edward McPherson farm, a little further south, where they shared space with wounded Federals of the First Corps, until ambulances carried them further to the rear.
Field hospitals of the brigades of Archer, Brockenbrough, and Pettigrew's brigade were likely established close to Willoughby Run, including behind the woods where hundreds of the 26th North Carolina fell while battling the Iron Brigade, and/or further back in the woods on Herr's Ridge where the brigades had formed up for the assault. A number of dead (and perhaps some wounded) made it to the Frederick Herr residence, which is south of the tavern on Herr's Ridge. The same goes for the George B. Stover, Charles B. Polly and David Wisler residences, just to the west on or near the Chambersburg Pike. A hospital for Davis' brigade occupied the John Horting (George Arnold) farm on the Fairfield Road, near where it crosses the Run.
The division wounded also wound up in dwellings further west, as far as, or even beyond, Cashtown. For instance, the home, premises and office of Dr. William C. Stem, a local physician who lived in Cashtown, became a Confederate hospital. Dr. Stem treated Gen. Heth after he was wounded on the afternoon of the first day. Heth and his staff had pitched their tents on Dr. Stem's premises on June 29. The good doctor and his wife, Eliza, did all in their power to make their unexpected guests comfortable.
A handful of men were mistakenly taken to other division hospitals, like the John Edward Plank farm.
On July 3, when the division was moved forward to Seminary Ridge in preparation for the assault on the center of the Union line, field hospitals were established close by. Assistant Surgeon Joseph J. Holt of the 2nd Mississippi set up only 200 yards away, probably at the Emanuel Pitzer farm. There he treated casualties from the afternoon artillery duel, and some of the initial wounded from the charge.
However, the great bulk of the division's wounded fell just in front of the Federal lines. Once the charge was over, they were gathered up and nearly all were transported to the Union Second Corps hospital established at the Jacob Schwartz farm, which sprawled over 300 acres, although the wounded still extended onto adjacent farms like that of George Bushman. Nearly 500 men wearing blue and gray died here over the next few weeks, including at least 45 from Heth's division. A few of the latter wound up at other hospitals in the vicinity, including the George Spangler farm (south of Power's Hill), and the Peter Conover farm. The survivors were taken to Camp Letterman once it was established northeast of town, where their quality of care vastly improved, but alas in too many cases it was still not enough, considering the additional burials of Heth's men that occurred there.
But several hundred wounded from the division were left behind. Surgeon Benjamin F. Ward, 11th Mississippi, the surgeon-in-charge of Davis’ Brigade, and most likely the senior surgeon of the division after the Confederate retreat, reported 693 wounded, which the Federal authorities used to apportion rations and medical supplies. This number may include those occupying hospitals extending along the Chambersburg Pike at some distance from Gettysburg, as well as along the Fairfield Road, as far as the village of Fairfield.
Perhaps about half of the division’s wounded were concentrated in one location, the Samuel Lohr farm, which was one of the major Third Corps hospitals along the Chambersburg Pike. The farm remained in operation as a hospital until the end of August, since Samuel Lohr regained possession on September 1. His son served in the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry. The farm was located about a quarter mile northwest of Marsh Creek, on the south side of the pike. The division's wounded filled the house, barn and out-buildings. Fire partially claimed the log house around 1982, and it was demolished by 1992. The original barn burned in 1947. The spring house behind the house was still standing as of 1992. At least 37 burials from all four brigades of the division were recorded here, however, members of the 11th Mississippi were buried in a separate location on the property - the 11th was not engaged on July 1, but took part in the July 3 assault against Cemetery Ridge.
Field hospitals were established much closer to the front on July 1, and in particular along Willoughby Run. Surgeon Legrand James Wilson of the 42nd Mississippi established his field hospital under some trees north of the Chambersburg Pike and along the Run, and ordered the litter corps personnel to carry the wounded to that location. However, when Davis' brigade was driven back late in the morning, Dr. Wilson's field hospital was now vulnerable and he had to move his wounded back to the division hospital - probably the Lohr farm.
Some men of Davis' brigade found temporary refuge at the James J. Wills (William Job) place, north of the unfinished railroad bed. Others from the division spent a few hours at the Edward McPherson farm, a little further south, where they shared space with wounded Federals of the First Corps, until ambulances carried them further to the rear.
Field hospitals of the brigades of Archer, Brockenbrough, and Pettigrew's brigade were likely established close to Willoughby Run, including behind the woods where hundreds of the 26th North Carolina fell while battling the Iron Brigade, and/or further back in the woods on Herr's Ridge where the brigades had formed up for the assault. A number of dead (and perhaps some wounded) made it to the Frederick Herr residence, which is south of the tavern on Herr's Ridge. The same goes for the George B. Stover, Charles B. Polly and David Wisler residences, just to the west on or near the Chambersburg Pike. A hospital for Davis' brigade occupied the John Horting (George Arnold) farm on the Fairfield Road, near where it crosses the Run.
The division wounded also wound up in dwellings further west, as far as, or even beyond, Cashtown. For instance, the home, premises and office of Dr. William C. Stem, a local physician who lived in Cashtown, became a Confederate hospital. Dr. Stem treated Gen. Heth after he was wounded on the afternoon of the first day. Heth and his staff had pitched their tents on Dr. Stem's premises on June 29. The good doctor and his wife, Eliza, did all in their power to make their unexpected guests comfortable.
A handful of men were mistakenly taken to other division hospitals, like the John Edward Plank farm.
On July 3, when the division was moved forward to Seminary Ridge in preparation for the assault on the center of the Union line, field hospitals were established close by. Assistant Surgeon Joseph J. Holt of the 2nd Mississippi set up only 200 yards away, probably at the Emanuel Pitzer farm. There he treated casualties from the afternoon artillery duel, and some of the initial wounded from the charge.
However, the great bulk of the division's wounded fell just in front of the Federal lines. Once the charge was over, they were gathered up and nearly all were transported to the Union Second Corps hospital established at the Jacob Schwartz farm, which sprawled over 300 acres, although the wounded still extended onto adjacent farms like that of George Bushman. Nearly 500 men wearing blue and gray died here over the next few weeks, including at least 45 from Heth's division. A few of the latter wound up at other hospitals in the vicinity, including the George Spangler farm (south of Power's Hill), and the Peter Conover farm. The survivors were taken to Camp Letterman once it was established northeast of town, where their quality of care vastly improved, but alas in too many cases it was still not enough, considering the additional burials of Heth's men that occurred there.
Last edited: