Identifier: recollectionso00dani (find matches)
Title: Recollections of a Rebel surgeon, and other sketches : or, in the doctor's sappy days
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Daniel, Ferdinand Eugene, 1839-1914
Subjects: Confederate States of America. Army United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives, Confederate
Publisher: Chicago : Clinic Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ce the first whiffof the chloroform; he felt nothing, knew noth-ing. He wakes to find his leg gone. He brushesaway a tear, and a big lump comes in his throat,as he thinks of Mary, in the little house on thehill; or of Lucy, may be—if it be she—the meek-eyed maiden to whom he is promised; who seesin the army but one figure, in the list of woundedbut one name, and it is burned into her very soulas she reads opposite that name in the paper,desperately wounded. Then the long, long days of fever and pus;for in those days, you know, Danels, we knewnothing of germs and antiseptics, nor howto prevent suppuration; we believed it necessaryto healing. Oh, the suffering, the days of agonyand the nights of torture, as the wound becamedry and hot, and the temperature rose. By-and-by he is convalescent. He can sit upon the side of his bunk and scrawl a repetition 205 RECOLLECTIONS OF A REBEL SURGEON. of his oft-told taie of love to her at home; buthope is dead in him. He is of no use in the army
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POOR OLD CONFED. DESPISED OLD REBEL. now; he is discharged; turned loose on a coldworld, maimed and broken in health and spirit,to shift for himself as best he can. 206 THE STORY OF A STUMP. He survives the war. He is buffeted abouthere and there, living God knows how, as besthe can. Now he sells lead-pencils on the granitesteps of the Texas capitol. Buy a pencil, Doctor? *Yes, my boy, a dozen of them. Here, giveme two dozen; Im clean out of pencils at home,I say (pardonable lie, God knows). Neglected—despised—alone. Had he been on the other side,where his brother was, he would now be draw-ing a pension from the government. Poor oldConfed. Despised old rebel. They told you awound would be an honor—and you a hero. Cruelmockery. Bitter deception. Your life-blood shed,your youth wasted; all in vain. The Lost Causeis a memory. So is Lucy. She married thebutcher, who staid at home and got rich. Now you are waiting—only waiting—the timewhen you may join your comrades in arms andmi

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