Buckhannon, Va., Nov. 26, 1861,
To The Editor Of The Sentinel.
I am flat upon my back as I address you, and wholly unable to sustain my own skin and bones upon my feet. I have been five weeks prostrated with typhoid fever, and so desperate was my case, that five doctors; only think, five M. D.’s convened, to meditate the kill or cure dose. Happily, about this critical period, I seemed to awaken from a protracted delirious condition—my head was as clear, and my ideas as vivid as ever. Well, the grave conclusion, of the dignified council was, that I must be treated thoroughly upon the mercurial plan. The precious remedy, (in typhus fever,) was laid out—the nurse ordered to administer and the council were about to disband I opened up. I told the medical gentlemen, that I had no knowledge of any disaffection between my soul and body, and as for seeking a dissolution of copartnership between the two at that time, I was neither willing nor prepared.
I emphatically ignored and protested against their conclusion, and insisted they did not understand my case or condition. There I was, with ulceration of the bowels, with frequent evacuations of blood, and calomel was the panacea. Sure as their is a law of pathology, or a specific action of medicine under a similar state of the human system, just so sure would my emaciated body have ere this, found a resting place of the sand banks Western Va. and my soul, disgusted with the frailty of medical wisdom, would have winged its way to a more intelligent world to report another instance of medical folly. I was asked my ideas as to my case and treatment. My reply was decisive and prompt. “My bowels are ulcerated and the drain of blood will soon exhaust me. Give me opium and astringents—check my bowels at all hazards, and if successful in this particular, I live, otherwise I die.” The course was pursued, my bowels were held at command, the ulceration healed, and I in due time became a convalescent. My medical advisers tell me I shall not be fit for duty this winter. I hope otherwise.
On the 1st day of Nov. the 5th Regiment was ordered to Romney; east of the mountains some 200 or300 miles from this place.
For the first time it was placed in a Brigade. Gen. Kelly is the commander; he who was Col. Kelly and shot in the three months service at Phillipi, though the shoulder, by one Sims.
The 5th, I understand, is placed in the front rank of the right wing, and I hope they will have a chance to be shot at and return the fire, for so eager have they ever been for a fight that they actually have pitched in and killed each other. I think they will be awful fighting boys.
Our Brigade of Ohio boys have been ordered from Cheat Mountain to Ky. The 24th was among the number, and Capt. Hall, (formerly of Jefferson) called to see me.
Yours with a trenbling hand,
C. J. B.
This article was published in the “Ashtabula Sentinel”
Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio 4 Dec 1861
Page 1 Column 2
The newspaper is on microfilm at the Ashtabula Public Library.
This is part of a series on the Civil War in Ashtabula County as was reported in the Ashtabula Sentinel.