John Mosby's Crutches

[Mike Serpa]

National Museum of American History

Physical Description
Hand-carved wood.
Specific History
These crutches were used by John Mosby during the Civil War. Mosby stated, "These crutches were made for me during the war by a slave named Isaac who belonged to my father. They were first used in August 1863 when I went home wounded. My mother kept them for me and I again used them in September 1864 & December 1864." General Robert E. Lee once said to Mosby, after seeing him on crutches at his headquarters, "The only fault I have to find with your conduct, Colonel Mosby, is that you are always getting wounded."
General History
John Mosby was wounded on August 24, 1863. He was shot through the side and thigh as he attacked the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, which had halted to water the horses at Billy Gooding's Tavern on the Little River Turnpike in Virginia. He was carried into the woods and was attended by Doctor W. L. Dunn. Due to the painful nature of his wounds, Mosby was slow to travel so he was carried into the pines and concealed as the pursuing federal troops passed through searching for him. Once clear of the danger, Mosby returned to the South to recuperate.
LOCATION
Currently not on view
OBJECT NAME
crutches, pair of
DATE MADE
ca 1863

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_433314

 

[AndyHall]

Those look flimsy, but then Mosby was only about five-foot-eight and 130 pounds.

 

[James B White]

Those look flimsy, but then Mosby was only about five-foot-eight and 130 pounds.

I've made a pair like that, with hickory poles and walnut tops, for some living history thing--don't even remember what now--and when I got gout for real a few years later, needed crutches, and really didn't want to go into town to buy anything, I saw them in the corner...

Now, on the one hand, I'm only two inches shorter and 15 pounds heavier than Mosby, but on the other hand, they seemed strong as a rock for real use. Flimsiness wasn't even on the list of things I worried about.

 

[Stock]

View attachment 50876
National Museum of American History

Physical Description
Hand-carved wood.
Specific History
These crutches were used by John Mosby during the Civil War. Mosby stated, "These crutches were made for me during the war by a slave named Isaac who belonged to my father. They were first used in August 1863 when I went home wounded. My mother kept them for me and I again used them in September 1864 & December 1864." General Robert E. Lee once said to Mosby, after seeing him on crutches at his headquarters, "The only fault I have to find with your conduct, Colonel Mosby, is that you are always getting wounded."
General History
John Mosby was wounded on August 24, 1863. He was shot through the side and thigh as he attacked the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, which had halted to water the horses at Billy Gooding's Tavern on the Little River Turnpike in Virginia. He was carried into the woods and was attended by Doctor W. L. Dunn. Due to the painful nature of his wounds, Mosby was slow to travel so he was carried into the pines and concealed as the pursuing federal troops passed through searching for him. Once clear of the danger, Mosby returned to the South to recuperate.
LOCATION
Currently not on view
OBJECT NAME
crutches, pair of
DATE MADE
ca 1863

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_433314

.
I've been reading Mosby's Memoirs and find it really good. Seeing this picture is a plus in my research of Mosby. Thanks.

 

[JOHN42768]

They sure don't look to comfortable to use without a hand grip

 

[Mike Serpa]

They sure don't look to comfortable to use without a hand grip

I thought about that, too. Looks like they would sink into the mud during a downpour.

 

[JPChurch]

There's a supposed pic of Mosby (not confirmed) outside Gooding's Tavern taken in the late 1800's. It fell into great disrepair as evident in the photo. Gooding's Tavern was on the Little River Turnpike west of the little town of Annandale before the Fairfax Courthouse. To the south was the Oak Hill Plantation between the LRT and the Braddock Road. I know the area well, grew up there in the mid 60's before everything got developed. So sad that everything's been changed. It was all farmland back then and little 2 lane roads. Oak Hill has quite a history to it. It's still there. Lots of stirring and movement between both sides early in the ACW.

 

[Mrs. V]

They sure don't look to comfortable to use without a hand grip

Thin enough to wrap your hand around the shaft. I would definitely want padding on those tops. OW! I spent 5 or so months off and on using crutches when I broke my foot. You get scary good with them.

 

[mofederal]

They look strong enough to me, but there had to be padding aplenty under the arms. The tips I am not so sure about. Maybe thick rubber. I couldn't even stand to walk on crutches when I got my worst gout attacks. I couldn't even dangle my legs over the edge of the bed, it hurt so bad. I rank it right up there with shingles for pain, and I've had both. I could walk with shingles, not with gout. Morphine did not even dull the pain of gout.

 

[Mike Serpa]

They look strong enough to me, but there had to be padding aplenty under the arms. The tips I am not so sure about. Maybe thick rubber. I couldn't even stand to walk on crutches when I got my worst gout attacks. I couldn't even dangle my legs over the edge of the bed, it hurt so bad. I rank right up there with shingles for pain, and I've had both. I could walk with shingles, not with gout. Morphine did not even dull the pain of gout.

Ouch! I didn't know gout got that bad.

 

[JPChurch]

Sometimes it does. I've had 3 gout attacks over the years, they get worse each time unless you deal with it right away. Diet has something to do it as well. Real bad if you've got it in your left big toe and drive a car that has a manual transmission. That's an "Ouch" for sure.

 

[mofederal]

I finally got on some medicine for gout. No attacks for a couple of years. The pain just cannot be described. I cannot begin to imagine it attacking a single toe. Mine was basically the whole foot. I did my best to crawl to the car. Walking was not an option. Laying down was ok though for some reason.

 

[Mrs. V]

I finally got on some medicine for gout. No attacks for a couple of years. The pain just cannot be described. I cannot begin to imagine it attacking a single toe. Mine was basically the whole foot. I did my best to crawl to the car. Walking was not an option. Laying down was ok though for some reason.

I have heard that tart cherry juice, unsweetened helps gout. Any idea if that is true?? Always looking for good home remedies to add to my Civil War presentation.

 

[JPChurch]

A couple of huge bowl fulls of the dark red Washington cherries (if they're in season) helps gout attacks, same with the unsweetened concentrated dark red cherry juice found in health food stores. A few shots of apple cider vinegar (the raw unfiltered stuff) on a daily basis works too if you can stomach it. A big huge tub of really hot water with a lot of Epsom salt in it provides instant relief once your foot soaks in it for a while. That's not feasible if you get an attack in one of your knees however. Foods/drinks to avoid that contain lots of purines helps as well. Stuff like shellfish and certain veggies that contain purines are examples. Same with dark red wine and the dark beers. I remember I got a bad gout attack years ago after consuming a pound of steamed home grown asparagus and about 5 steamed snow crab clusters (two types of foods that I really enjoy but should be avoided in excess if you're prone to gout attacks). Instant gout the next day. DUH, learn the hard way. My dad used to get gout really bad, totally incapacitated. He'd crawl on the floor screaming with pain for days. Gout is no fun at all.

 

[Mike Serpa]

A couple of huge bowl fulls of the dark red Washington cherries (if they're in season) helps gout attacks, same with the unsweetened concentrated dark red cherry juice found in health food stores. A few shots of apple cider vinegar (the raw unfiltered stuff) on a daily basis works too if you can stomach it. A big huge tub of really hot water with a lot of Epsom salt in it provides instant relief once your foot soaks in it for a while. That's not feasible if you get an attack in one of your knees however. Foods/drinks to avoid that contain lots of purines helps as well. Stuff like shellfish and certain veggies that contain purines are examples. Same with dark red wine and the dark beers. I remember I got a bad gout attack years ago after consuming a pound of steamed home grown asparagus and about 5 steamed snow crab clusters (two types of foods that I really enjoy but should be avoided in excess if you're prone to gout attacks). Instant gout the next day. DUH, learn the hard way. My dad used to get gout really bad, totally incapacitated. He'd crawl on the floor screaming with pain for days. Gout is no fun at all.

Sounds horrible.

 

[Mrs. V]

A couple of huge bowl fulls of the dark red Washington cherries (if they're in season) helps gout attacks, same with the unsweetened concentrated dark red cherry juice found in health food stores. A few shots of apple cider vinegar (the raw unfiltered stuff) on a daily basis works too if you can stomach it. A big huge tub of really hot water with a lot of Epsom salt in it provides instant relief once your foot soaks in it for a while. That's not feasible if you get an attack in one of your knees however. Foods/drinks to avoid that contain lots of purines helps as well. Stuff like shellfish and certain veggies that contain purines are examples. Same with dark red wine and the dark beers. I remember I got a bad gout attack years ago after consuming a pound of steamed home grown asparagus and about 5 steamed snow crab clusters (two types of foods that I really enjoy but should be avoided in excess if you're prone to gout attacks). Instant gout the next day. DUH, learn the hard way. My dad used to get gout really bad, totally incapacitated. He'd crawl on the floor screaming with pain for days. Gout is no fun at all.

My Grandfather had gout. He was in his mid 80's and I am convinced it contributed to his decline after his wife died. (She went off to dialysis, and fell asleep..and never woke up). I remember him talking about how excruciating it was, and I think it was his toe..kinda makes me worried..

 

[mofederal]

Cherries do help, avoiding red meat is really tough for me. At one time it was considered a rich man's disease, or the disease of kings, but it is hard to believe only rich people got it, even in the past. It can also be tied to uric acid levels in your body. It is also considered a form of inflammatory arthritis. Unfortunately I like seafood, meat and beer regularly and also overweight, although I drink very little beer. Not much seafood anymore either. I have also lost some weight.

 

[JPChurch]

Ben Franklin was a gout sufferer big time. Read up on him and gout.