Thomas Wright's Diary

January / February 1863

26, January 1863

We started the Fort, I mentioned few days ago. Stayin a might busy, few contraband slaves are helpin. Has ta be a better way ta move dirt, than a blame shovel. After couple days of this, ready ta gather an cut firewood. Life of a soldier very rarely happy. Always sick a what they doin.

Ifin I knew how ta make thins why think I would come up with a shovel that was powered by steam.
Make my back feel touch better. Guess no different than tendin the Farm back home. Do what has ta.
Pete he is in a much better mood, think this here work. Well gave his mind somethin ta do. Might tired, just may wait few days, befere I write again workin till near dark. Best sleep some.

29, January 1863

I am at loss fer words, this work, well looks like bunch a fellers workin against each other. Like one group don't know what the other is doin. Truth be known, I don't know what they doin. So reckon they don't know what we doin. Might tired of movin dirt, want ta get on the carpenter gang.
Leastways feel like I was gettin somethin done.
Been feelin poorly of late, my it hurts ta walk even stand. Ain't goin ta no Doctor, they just cut my leg off. That a cure ya!

3, February 1863

Went an seen the Doctor, could not stand the pain. They tell me ta do bed rest, no work three days. Gave me two shots a whisky fer the pain. Then part of a bottle, say two shots before bed ta sleep. Glad I am on bed rest, it is a sloppy mess. Rained yesterday. Just a mud pool in that work site. Hope the fellas don't think I slacken off. See ifin I can't sleep some.

Leonard brought me some pickled eggs an sardines. That was supper. Just sittin or layin pain ain't bad. Ta stand or walk pain like fire shoots up my right leg. Lan sakes it is some kind a terrible. Pete say, see ya still got that leg. Tell him Doctor was thinkin a cuttin it off.

4, February 1863

Woke ta pain! Made me yell somethin awful. I went ta roll on my side, heard a crack! Leonard looked at my leg, he say Thom think that leg of yars is broke. I'll get Pete we a get over ta the Doc, right quick. I say ya don't let him cut my blame leg off! That's how they fix ya! I seen it! He say Pete a might fine shot, tell him ta shoot the fool Doc he wants ta do that.

Well they trussed my leg up, in a splint. Hurt worse than any pain I ever felt. Told me be about three weeks maybe touch longer. Befere that splint could come off. Had ta be checked daily ta make sure it was tight but not over tight. Also ta see ifin it got poisonin in it. They sendin me ta Nashville fer now. Pete an Leonard seen me off. Goin ta the rear of rear. Lan sakes blame broke leg.

8, February 1863

In Nashville, feel like I got a fever. Go from over hot ta cold. Dear me hope it ain't some kind trouble with my leg? They cut it off, just know it. The Doctor in Nashville say, best send me ta Dennison. I say don't want ta go ta Cincinnati, War is here. He say they a battle we will need the beds.

Now I am goin ta Dennison, well wonders never cease. Way thins are goin, they may just send me home! Want no part a goin home, miss Betsy an Ma just, this war ain't done. Ain't done my part yet.

16, February 1863

Camp Dennison, middle my back is achin fever is worse. Only goin ta write this down, I am ill those Doctors don't know what is wrong. Am I dyin? Can't seem ta get warm, shiverin something terrible.

Thomas is in a bad way. His fear of losing his leg seems odd. If his leg becomes infected they would cut it off. To try and save him. So that fear isn't odd for him. Medicine was different in the 1800s. No antiseptic very little pain medication, no x-ray machine. No antibiotics, antiviral medicine. A fracture could go unnoticed till it broke it even could of healed on it's own.