Archive: 159th Civil War Surgeon's Cruelty Causes Death of 19-year-old Soldier
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This archive describes in detail the unnecessary death of John Sherwood, a 19-year-old private from Co E of New York 159th Infantry who was ordered by Civil War Surgeon Charles A. Robertson, to bath in the Mississippi River, causing him to contract and die from Diphtheria. Five Autograph Letters Signed (three war-date), five documents, histories of Sherwood and two Civil War surgeons, including one of Surgeon Charles A. Robertson, whose orders caused Sherwood’s death. Also includes an internet copy of Robertson’s photograph.(First letter) 2pp, 12 ½” x 7 ¾”, War-date ALS, C.C. Briggs, Assistant Surgeon 139th New York Volunteers, October 22, 1863, Brasher City, Louisiana, provides a detailed account of the incident. Briggs writes: “I remember John Sherwood well he died in Baton Rouge last February or March of Diphtheria contracted by going in Bayou bathing one Sunday morning by order of Surgeon C.A. Robertson 159th contrary to my advice to Surgeon Robertson. I was at that time in charge of camp & Robertson in charge of Hospital (regimental) in city of Baton Rouge. Our camp was 3/4 mile west of city over a Bayou. Surgeon Robertson use to come down to camp once in 3 or 4 weeks and the Sunday morning referred to he came to camp to inspect the men and thought he would do something damn smart and thus ordered them into the cold water of
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