By Hardy Kenwright
I joined
M.G. Paul De Krackere on Sunday as he visited the various units of 2nd
Division to pass on his thanks and congratulations for their heroic actions on
2nd July.
“It
was vital we halt the Rebel advance into Pennsylvania”, De Krackere
explained. “XI Corps’ defiant defence of the Army’s left flank on Thursday
was the catalyst for the great victory on Friday. Having thwarted his attempt
to turn our southern flank, General Lee was left with no alternative than to
risk everything on an all-out frontal assault the next day.”
 |
| Field Hospital, outside Gettysburg |
Medical
Marvels:
M.G. Paul
De Krackere spent a
good deal of time with the wounded within the Division and Brigade Hospitals. The
majority of soldiers still here were those who suffered lighter wounds,
following initial treatment many of the more serious cases had already departed
for Hospitals in Baltimore and Washington. Spirits were high as the men seemed
to sense that they had been part of what might be the most significant battle
of war so far.
Letterman’s
System Vindicated:
Despite
disquiet at the numbers of casualties to be treated, Capt. Aaron C. Resquew, (Division
Ambulance Train), was enthusiastic at the efficiency of the ‘Letterman's system’.
He informed us that "although the mortality rate of the Army of the Potomac had
been 33% during 1862's Peninsular Campaign, the mortality rate after this
bloody three-day battle was only 2%.”
 |
| Baltimore Hospital Facilities |
He
went on to say that, “To deal with more than 14,000 Union wounded, along
with 6,800 Confederate wounded who were
left behind, a vast medical encampment has been created northeast of Gettysburg
off the York Pike on the George Wolf farm, named with good reason, Camp
Letterman."
Surgeon
Dr. Andy
Wiversaw,
added that, “It is with extreme satisfaction that I can assure you that it
enabled me to remove the wounded from the field, shelter, feed them, and dress
their wounds within six hours after the battle ended, and to have every capital
operation performed within twenty-four hours after the injury was received.”
We
indeed seem to live in remarkable times.
