Gettysburg Greg
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2010
- Location
- Decatur, Illinois
John Chase was an artilleryman with the 5th Maine Light Artillery. At Gettysburg, he was manning one of the cannons on Steven's Knoll when a Confederate shell exploded near him taking off his right arm, blowing out his left eye, and sending 48 pieces of shrapnel into his body. Thought to be dead, he was carried to the rear and left for dead. Two days later, his body was loaded on a wagon to be buried when the driver heard him moan and pulled him from the other bodies. After a drink of water, his first words were, "Did we win the battle?" He was taken to a field hospital, but ignored because the doctors considered him mortally wounded. After surviving three more days, his wounds were bandaged and he was taken to the hospital at the Seminary where he remained for three months. He is considered by many to be the most wounded survivor of the War. Private Chase not only survived the war, he married, had seven children, and lived until 1914. It is worth mentioning that John Chase won the Medal of Honor for his bravery, not at Gettysburg, but Chancellorsville where he continued to man his gun while under heavy Confederate fire. Below is a photograph of Chase showing many of his wounds and on the right a then and now showing the dedication of the 5th Maine's monument on Steven's Knoll along with a similar now view. In the dedication photo, John Chase is seen standing on the left of the group. What men these were!