Lt. John Buckley (SP 266), National Museum of Health and Medicine

Description: Image of John Buckley, 2st Lieutenant and Assistant Quartermaster, 140th New York Volunteers, with a united gunshot fracture of the shaft of the right femur. He was wounded at Spotsylvania Court House, May 8, 1864. Photograph taken at the Army Medical Museum.

Caption reads: “War Department, Surgeon General’s Office, Army Medical Museum. Surgical Photograph, No 266. Prepared under the supervision of Assistant Surgeon George A. Otiss, U.S.A. by order of the Surgeon General. ”

History is on reverse: "Surgeon General’s Office, Army Medical Museum. Photograph No. 266. United Gunshot Fracture of the Shaft of the Right Femur. John Buckley, 1st Lieutenant and Assistant Quartermaster, 140th New York Volunteers, while acting Aid-de-Camp at Spotsylvania Court House, May 8, 1864, had his right femur fractured in the middle third by a rifle ball. Surgeon T.M. Flandrau, 146th New York Volunteers, decided to attempt to save the limb, and, aided by Surgeon H.C. Dean, 140th New York Volunteers, dressed it in a Smith’s anterior splint, suspended it from the bows of an army wagon. His servant steadying the foot, this officer was carried to Belle Plain, and thence up the Potomac by steamer. He reached the Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, D.C., May 17th, when the thigh was found shortened five inches. During the second, third, and fourth months after the fracture he was treated by an extension weight of sixteen pounds, a counter-extending band, and lateral sand bags. On August 20th, he had three profuse hemorrhages, jeopardizing his life; but the bleeding was controlled by pressure. He left the hospital November 17th, on crutches, and five months after he laid these aside. He was discharged from service January 13, 1865. He has since been employed as a bookkeeper. The shortening amounts to two and a half inches, and the knee is somewhat stiffened. A fistulous opening still, March 16, 1870, exists on the back of the thigh which discharges a little. The limb is very useful and the limp not conspicuous. The photograph was taken under Dr. Flandrau’s supervision, in March, 1870. Photographed at the Army Medical Museum. By order of the Surgeon General: George A. Otis, Assistant Surgeon, U.S. A., Curator A.M.M.”

Date: 1870

Photo ID: SP 266

Source Collection: OHA 82: Surgical Photographs

Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives