In honor of the anniversary of Major General John Sedgwick's birth...
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Journal of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgical Focus
Neurosurg Focus 41
2016
Head injury in heroes of the Civil War and its lasting influence
Victor M. Sabourin, MD, Ryan Holland, BA, Christine Mau, MD, Chirag D. Gandhi, MD, and Charles J. Prestigiacomo, MD1
Departments of Neurological Surgery, Radiology, and Neurology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
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Is this where Dr. Gregory House taught and practiced? Just kidding...)
The Civil War era was an age-defining period in the history of the United States of America, the effects of which are still seen in the nation today. In this era, the issue of head injury pervaded society. From the president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, to the officers and soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies, and to the population at large, head injury and its ramifications gripped the nation. This article focuses on 3 individuals: Major General John Sedgwick, First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing, and Harriet Tubman, as examples of the impact that head injury had during this era. These 3 individuals were chosen for this article because of their lasting legacies, contributions to society, and interesting connections to one another.
Conclusions
The American Civil War era shook the nation down to its core, with head injury and its ramifications pervading the country. From the president of the US at that time, Abraham Lincoln, to soldiers on the battlefield, head injuries and their appropriate treatment were vital considerations. Fortunately, in comparison with prior wars, the tragedies and triumphs of the American Civil War were truly well documented, with a rich history that extends its reach into the culture of the United States of America even today. It has been estimated that in the war, approximately 10.7% of all wounds to the Union forces were head wounds, and that 94% of all wounds were caused by the firing of a minie ball. Both Major General John Sedgwick and First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing perished from gunshot wounds to the head, as soldiers of the Union forces fighting to help end slavery and bring a divided nation together once again. Slavery was a major dividing point between the Union and Confederate ideologies. People such as Harriet Tubman, who sustained a significant head injury and a lifetime of seizures, played a major role as abolitionists during the Civil War era. All 3 of these individuals have greatly contributed to the free society that the US currently enjoys. It seems very fitting that, more than 150 years later, the first African American president of the US bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor on First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing for his heroism at Gettysburg. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that Alonzo Cushing, being a direct descendant of Matthew Cushing, the first Cushing to come to America, is in fact a distant relative of the father of modern neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing.
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