Touch the Elbow - Blogging the Civil War

Whether it was personal bias or truly an objective conclusion, some observers of the aftermath of Gettysburg concluded there was a stark contrast between Union and Confederate soldiers.

Much has been made over the perception that Southern soldiers possessed more flair and élan than their Northern counterparts. However, as the reading of Gregory Coco’s “A Strange and Blighted Land” progressed, I came across these comments made by those who observed or treated both Union and Confederate wounded after the battle of Gettysburg. Certainly this is a much more complicated issue than simple observation allows, because as the Merck Manual states: “People differ remarkably in their ability to tolerate pain. One person cannot tolerate the pain of a small cut or bruise, but another person can tolerate pain caused by a major accident or knife wound with little complaint. The ability to withstand pain varies according to mood, personality, and circumstance.”


George A. Stevens, a Surgeon from the 77th New York Infantry:

“A Union Soldier, if so severely wounded that he could by no possibility assume a cheerful countenance, would shut his teeth together and say nothing. While a rebel, if he could boast only a flesh wound, would whine and cry like a sick child.”


Frederick Law Olmstead of the U.S. Sanitary Commission on July 19, 1863:

“[wounded Rebels] expressed surprise at the kindness which they were treated when they came as invaders, and were as usual, peevish, childish, and exacting among themselves about their wounds and pains….”


An unidentified reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle on July 23, 1863:

“A noticeable contrast was observed in the sentiment and demeanor of the Union and rebel soldiers. That of the former was one of honest pride in the discharge of his duty to his country, and of the beneficial results expected thereby; the latter was generally that of disgust for that service in which he had embarked, and the hopelessness of ultimate success. They were tired of the war. The officers, however, preserved the defiant attitude which has characterized them throughout the whole war.”


Sophronia Bucklin, a nurse tending the wounded of both sides:

"…It was universally shown here, as elsewhere, that these [Rebels] bore their sufferings with far less fortitude than our brave soldiers who had been taught, in sober quiet homes in the North, that while consciousness remained, their manliness should suppress every groan.’


Dr. Francis M. Wafer, Surgeon in the 108th New York Infantry:

"[t]he enemy wounded were the loudest by far in their outcries for help. I have found this to be invariably the case on subsequent occasions. This I am not prepared to explain unless it be that they had no confidence in our humanity & dreaded willful neglect – but I can confidently and earnestly assert that I have never seen any distinction in their treatment.”


John Foster, member of the U.S. Christian Commission:

“[g]enrally the spirit of our men was much better than that of the rebels; they submitted more willingly and bravely to necessary operations, and often, in fact, made light of sufferings from which the Southrons seemed to shrink in dismay.”