Civil War Letters written to Family's back home in Missouri
Civil War Surgeon - Benjamin Woodward
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In keeping with my policy of providing free information on the Internet,
this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message
remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be
reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files
within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any
other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or
transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the
written approval of the file's author. This was submitted by Rebecca L.
Walker

Camp Lyon November 10, 1861

My Own Good Wife

  You wonder why I have not written to you since the battle of the 9th,
but if you knew the scenes I have looked through you would forgive me. No
account of the battle which has appeared in the news before gave anything
lake a true account.  We all retreated at having 'failed to accomplish the
object of the operation,' which is far from true.  The object was to break
up and rout the rebels at Belwood, who never thot their headquarters for
the marauding forces would infect their part of Missouri.  I will try and
give you an account of the battle, and then you can judge whether it was a
failure or not. The place had no doubt been plowed by General Grand and
McClellan for some time, but it was not known till the day before and then
it was supposed that the troops were to go back into Missouri to fight
Jeff Thompson.  Five steamers loaded with troops left Cairo and Biso Point
the evening before the battle, and, accompanied by the gun boat Tyler and
Lefington, proceeded 10 mile down the river, where we laid at till
morning. At 6 AM the gun boats started ahead followed by the steamers to
within 3 miles of Columbus, where, as soon as we were discovered from
Columbus they commenced shelling the gun boats  from *4 Howitzer rifle
cannon.  Throwing shot and shell which fell thick and fast around the gun
boats but without hitting them. The fire was answered from the gun boats
and for an hour during which time the troops from the steamers were
landed, and formed in a line of march, the bombardment was incessant. The
troops marched three miles to Belwood.  Half a mile from the camp, firing
commenced on both sides from the advanced guard.  At 9:20 the two armies
met.. our right wing was composed of the 22nd Regiment Col Dougherty and
the Iowa of Col Lawrence - Col Baford and Foukes regiment held the center
while the 20th covered the left. Taylor Chicago artillery and a group of
cavalry were in the extreme right.  The fire was sustained with terrible
effect on both sides.  The fire from our artillery was most terrible. For
two hours the fire by column of infantry was incessant, while the guns
from Columbia just across the river sent a storm of shell and shot among
us. Up to this time my position was in the rear of the advanced column,
but the hail storm of shot, shell, and bullets was such that it was
impossible to even pick up the wounded while the dead were all around us.
The surgeons retreated to the edge of the woods and the wounded were
brought in as fast as possible.  After we changed out position though, out
of the range of musketry and the enemy's artillery, we were just in the
range of the shot and shell from the fortifications at Columbus, and shot
and shell fell all around us.  They fired at us 60 pound shell, and
assorted conical shot weighing 120 pounds. One of these was brought back
and is here now. I cannot speak from my own knowledge of the program of
the battle, but the rebels were driven into their camp, where Col
Dougherty charged them at the head of his column, burned their camp and
all their stores, took 150 horses and all their field battery of 12 guns.
About 2 o'clock the enemy were reinforced by 7000 men from Columbus where
they tried to cut off our retreat.  Our men spiked all their guns which
were not destroyed by our fire, but two which they brought safe to camp.
One is a 12 pound Howitzer and the other a 6 pounder.  Both of these brass
and beautifully finished.  We made our retreat, but had to lea "At the
depot hospital yesterday I helped amputate one foot and two legs and two
arms and this afternoon I took off an arm above  the elbow and one below.
I have just taken off a middle finger at the last joint for Capt. Hubbard
of this regiment.  I have seen more surgery than I could in 50 years
private practice. I would not for anything have been absent from this
battle.  When the boom of the cannons and the roar of the shells first
began I felt a dread and horror - this soon passed away, so when the fight
began in earnest on the land and men began to fall dead or wounded I
feared I could not go through the day.. but soon I felt no fear and could
attend to my duties without a thought of fear... But, O, who can describe
the horrors of a battle!  Men torn to pieces with cannon balls or shot
through in every direction.  One poor fellow called to me (he was of our
regiment and knew me well) "Doctor help me"... I ran to him, a cannon ball
had torn his bowels all open and his intestines were hanging in shreds.  I
just poured a mouthful of brandy in his mouth from my canteen and left
him.  A few minutes after I saw him dead.  I saw a 34 pound ball cut a man
in two pieces just above the hips.  A boy 18 years old fell about 10 feet
from the shot through the chest.  He lived perhaps half an hour. But I
cannot describe the horror of that day and the night.  I was blood from
head to foot.  I was in my shirt sleeves, and you could not see anything
but blood on my shirt.  When I looked in a glass when first I went on the
boat, my face was covered with blood. But why speak of these horrors.  O,
it was a day never to be forgotten. I could now go into action as coolly
as I could see a sick child.  I know I was unable to save the life of many
a poor fellow. Since the battle I have been engaged every hour, taking
care of the wounded.  If I can only get a situation in the army I shall
not leave it till this horrible war is over.  Here is my place and I thank
God I have found it. Tell the other ladies that their box is here safe,
just in time for these poor wounded men.  Tell Mrs. Beecher to say to the
ladies to put up all the picked tomatoes and sour kraut.  It will be
wanted this winter.  If they send anything let them be sent to the care of
"Mrs. Mary Safford, Cairo" who will see that the things are put where they
will do most good.  I do not hear a word from Washington or Chicago yet.
I do not know what it means.  I telegraphed to Chicago Wednesday last, but
got no answer.  I have got Mrs. Bickerdyke into the Depot Hospital as
Matron and think she will stay there. She began today and the Director is
much pleased with her.  Today a large lot of shirts came from Chicago for
the soldiers but there is no fear of there being too many.  It is probable
there will be another great battle before long, and if so all will be
needed. If you see proper to do so, you may send this letter to the
ladies.  Mrs.  Beecher asks for "incidents'.  I will give a few --  I was
taking off the arm of Lt. White of Chicago Artillery on the field of
battle  -- he would not use the chloroform-- as soon as the arm was off,
he said "My poor dear mother" and burst into tears. He is doing well, but
we fear he's lost both eyes from the powder burns. A boy shot through the
thigh said to me "Doctor, I wish I could be with my mother in Ottawa as
she has lots of good things" I said "the ladies in Galesburg have such
things for you and you shall have some of them". He said "Tell them to
send to the rest for I shall die soon" and he died just after his  thigh
was amputated.  A Christian soldier died in the woods near where I was
operating.  He was shot in the bowels and he said as he died-- "I thank
God for a good dead Mother".  A poor fellow shot through the bowels,
chest, arm and face by a charge of cannister shot was brought and laid
down under a tree near me.  I went to see him but finding him too much
shot in pieces for any hope turned to leave him when, as he could not
speak, he put out his hands in the attitude of prayer and died. The letter
continues.....................

"Others died cursing.  We lost in killed about 120, personnel 40, our
regiment had 70 wounded and the Iowa 7th nearly as many.  How many the
other regiment have wounded I do not know, but probably the whole number
of our wounded is near 200.  The two regiments I mentioned suffered the
most as they were in the front of the battle.  Our Col is a prisoner in
Columbus and has lost one foot. The Col of the Iowa 7th shot through the
thigh.  Their Lieut. Col and Sergeant Major both killed and their Major
shot through the thigh.  3 of their captains and one of ours killed.  Two
of our captains and a lieut. wounded and prisoners at Columbus. In the
retreat I got tired out -  faint and weary came across the artillery and
got on to the captured 12 pound Howitzer and rode the last mile to the
boat.  The next day I went with a party and flag of truce to search for
wounded men in the woods but did not find any.  Our people went the day
after the batter and under a flag of truce buried our dead. They buried 41
in one grave.  The rebels own that they have lost by killed 350, but we
know they have lost at least 400 if not more.  We have 120 of their
prisoners, while they have only about 50 0or 55 of ours.  In one of your
letters you said that it had been reported in Galesburg "that the army was
not in favor of liberating the slaves".  All I can say is that I have
talked with many thousands on the subject, and have heard but one wish and
that is that Fremonts proclamation had been carried out both in Missouri
and Kentucky.  The opinion is that the war will not terminate till slavery
is put down...Our Brigade Surgeon Dr Stearns was surgeon to one of the
convalescent regiments on the Potomac, and was at the battle of Blackburie
Ford and Bull Run.  He is from Hartford and wile in Boston attending
lectures attended on the preaching of Dr Edward Beecher.  He is fully
imbued with Dr. Beecher's views in regard to suffering.  Though he is a
member of Dr Hawes Church in Hartford he says he imbibed his theological
views from Dr Beecher, and he is a pretty strong anti-slavery man.
Freemont's removal gives great satisfaction among all classes and
particularly in the army for he has grossly mis-managed and been most
frankly wasteful of public money. There is the hellish proof that if he
had been competent to the command he would have reinforced both Lyons and
Muligan. He would have had thousands of troops.  He has made little or no
provisions for transportation.  There are now here hundreds of the best
cannons of heavy metal, sent here by his order without carriages to mount
them.  Those who were his greatest friends acknowledge that however great
his talent in other matters may be, he has no military talent.  In all the
troubles of the country and my own anxieties about the wants and situation
of my own family I trust God, with an unshaken faith.  Pray for me dear
wife, and tell the Church I want them to remember me at the prayer
meeting, and in the church. I never loved the church in Galesburg as now
and especially as they have begun to labor for the poor soldiers.  Well
might Dr Beecher preach from "Bear ye one another burdens and so fulfill
the law of Christ"  If it were not that my motives might be called in
question I would write to them another letter.... Tell Dr Beecher "to cry
aloud and spare not, to lift out his voice like a trumpet and tell my
people their transgressions and this nations sins".  I have learned here
two lessons.  The cause of the war, and its effects.  The cause is around
us here in Missouri.  Its effects are in our hospital and the devastation
of this State.  God only knows when I shall leave here for till I get my
pay from Washington I cannot move... It may be He has other work for me to
do here...It looks to me like a Providence that I was kept here till this
battle, for the surgeon of the regiment is still sick.  I have been hard
at work all day and am very nervous. And don't know whether that what I
have written will be of as much interest to you as the events have been to
me, or that you can read the letter now it is written. God bless you all
and keep you under the shadow of his wing.  I got Mrs. Bissell to drop you
a line just after the battle to assure you of my safety. I ought to have
said in its place that the rebels had 7000 men in Belwood before they were
reinforced from Columbus while we had only 4500 and they had the advantage
of the fortifications at Columbus to shell us. In speaking of the surgeons
on  the field as "we" I mean Dr Stearns and myself.  The surgeons of the
other regiment were nearly half a mile from us, two of them are prisoners
in Columbus.  Dr Briaton, our medical director, lost his sword and all his
instruments, but saved his horse, and found his way home through the woods
that night, as he was cut off on the retreat from the main body. I lost
about 8 dollars worth of instruments on the field.  They were left
somewhere.  I don't know where or care much, so long as I am not now a
prisoner.  Mrs. Col Doughtery has gone to columbus under a flag of truce
to take care of her husband by General Polks (?) consent.  When our flag
of truce went down the day after the battle on the Steamer Memphis they
were very kindly treated. Captain Hubbard of Foukes Regiment went
disguised as a countryman selling oats, and went all through their works.
He was at last taken up as a spy and taken before Gen Polk and questioned,
but he played the greenhorn so effectually that Gen Polk told him he would
give him 15 minutes to leave in which he did and got to the Memphis safe.
He reported the position at Columbus as very strong and well defended with
rifled cannons of the best and heaviest caliber.  The arms got from the
rebels at Belwood are far better than those we have being almost all
minnie muskets and Belgian rifles.  I have a cartridge which I took from
the cartridge box of a dead rebel on the field.  It is a beautiful thing--
the cartridge itself is brass with the cap in it perfect, and the ball a
conical expanding ball. I have a good many minnie and other balls taken
from our men.  One of them I cut out of the head of the thigh bone.  The
man is doing well. The ball was a minnie and is all battered in pieces by
going into the bone.  Another I took out of the top of the shoulder of a
man.  It lay rather more than an inch deep.It struck him just above the
elbow while he was in the act of firing, and passed by the side of the
bone all the way up to his shoulder.  We have tried to save his arm, but
it must come off at the shoulder joint tomorrow.  Among all our wounded
men there is neither a saber cut or bayonet thrust for they would not
stand a bayonet charge, but our men bayonetted their artillery men at
their guns.  Young Bancroft was in the fight and served his gun well, as I
am told....He belongs to Taylors Artillery-- I only saw him once in the
fight.

Remember me very kindly to Mr. and Mrs. Colton, J Babcocks family, the
Prescotts, and indeed to all the rest.   "

                     <><><><><><><><><><><>><>><><><><><><><><><>

This was written by Benjamin Woodward, a Surgeon in the 22nd Regiment of
the Illinois Infantry Volunteers.  When he volunteered his expertise and
help - he was almost 51 years old, having been born at Park House,
Devonshire, England 11 February 1811. This letter discussed the  Battle of
Belwood  which occurred  on the Ninth of October 1861.  During this time,
and until October 6, 1862,  Dr. Woodward volunteered his services, doing
so without pay or rank.  He formally enlisted  in October 1862 and was
discharged in July 1865 More from Rebecca Walkers I should have prefaced
the news article with this letter, as it was written by the Veteran,
sending a copy of the news clipping to my ggrandfather, Lafayette Mulnix.
Here is the transcript of the handwritten letter - FWIW:

"Ogden, Iowa Dec 16th, '30

Dear Comrad Mulnix Oh Boy  wasn't I glad to hear from you. don't know why
but supposed you had gone years ago if you only knew what vivid
recolictions your card brought to me.  I could see you as plain as ever,
where always in the front rank, in every Battle the Grand Old  8th Kansas
was in, and they were many.  it makes me cry when I am alone and thinking
back of the Brave and noble Boys of Co ' I '. often asked how I got along
with my company for four years and a half, always answer I had a company
of Brigaden Generals (underlined) and we never had any trouble I lost my
wife five years ago live alone most of the time, have a fractured hip
can't walk very well, but can dance an old Amer (?) waltz on the sidewalks
of every city where we have encampments to   __ (torn)  Yankee doodle and
whoopee with any of them. I am sending you a cliping of a surprise the
Masonic Boys gave me a few night ago. They insisted on my giving them a
few of my military experiences, and it was a very few I related, and what
I did give them is yours as well as mine for where I was you was, and what
you did I did and now comrad with all my heart I send you mountains of
best wishes and holliday cheer and hope I may hear from you again Very
Respectfuly Capt M Brooks   " (The writer was Captain Marion Brooks,
honored at age 88 by the Masons at Peaceful Lodge No 544, Peoples
Township.  The letter is copied as written with any spelling errors, etc.
remaining as in the original.) Rebecca Watson Walker nightnite@juno.com

In keeping with my policy of providing free information on the Internet,
this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message
remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be
reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files
within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any
other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or
transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the
written approval of the file's author.