Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
War-date Union surgeon's letter, 5 1/3pp. 8vo., written by Surgeon William L. Faxon, 32nd Mass. Vols., City Point, Va., July 3, 1864, addressed to Col. and BBG Francis J. Parker, in part: "…I am well today (the first in ten days)…I had better answer it [your letter] for a scrimmage tomorrow by way of celebrating the 4th which will fill me up again with patients. I've been sending away the sick and wounded rapidly during the past 4 days and out of 2500 admitted since the 19th only about 400 remain and slight cases. I found out…since that a Corps Hospital was quite a machine to run and if I tried to do every duty to Gen. and soldier…that I was made sick. My assistants were all green men and "burning" a few old stewards I was without any one who could superintend matters…now I have an executive officer and 4 Asst. Surgs. of regiments…and the nurses quite well taught and willing to work…I was threatened with court martial by our Div. Surgeon for absence without leave though his order detailing me to remain in the Wilderness, said nothing about the completion of duty or reporting elsewhere…water is scarce…if damning the dust should bring the water we would have had a little deluge before this…the Appomattox is not more than 1/4 of a mile to the right and the James about 1 1/2 below. The banks of both raise high and steep. The 32nd has suffered so much as to be noticed for its loses during the campaign and it stands high in the estimation of courage…[1st Lt. Isaiah Francis] Hoyt has cut his whiskers in the Burnside style and looks ten years younger. He is now after Gen. Griffin and Capt. Thomas (Divs) Q. M.) with an ambulance which Thomas uses for private purposes in violation of Gen. Or. No. 177…and as he has forwarded a copy of his communication to Griffin with Griffin's answer direct to the War Office…Gen. G. will d-m the 32 Mass. still another time. Gen. Warren is losing reputation in his corps and in the army generally and also at Hd. Qrs. He isn't more than as heavy a man now as he was when the campaign begun. He (W) has made me more trouble than all my patients for…calling all my nurses deserters and one day sent his Inspector Genl., Lt. Col. Farnham with the Corps Prov. Guard for all I had. I told the Col. to clean the hospital…but I added Gen. Warren must assure at Hd. Qrs A. P. for taking away the attendants who are necessary to save the lives of men…then eh sent a guard of 3 men for one of the 22d [Mass.] fellows and got a Surg. certificate of disability in return. I have just…received a letter from Col. Locke a. a. g. relating to the same case informing me that I will be held responsible for this courtesy and safe delivery at Corps Hd. Qrs. and ordering his return as soon as he is well. I shall refuse to obey and have the matter referred to Gen. Meade…I am tired of so much annoyance…the hospital is not a very attractive place located in a potato field which is now as bad as an ash heap…I have a well down 40 feet but hardly water enough to make it pay. I have tents pitched for about 1600 patients and shall soon have more bedsteads then I'll be all right…W. L. Faxon." VG
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.