Adkinson Letters

1864

The following letters are available at the Duggan Library Archives, Hanover College (Hanover, Ind.).
Thanks to Patricia Schuring for transcription assistance.

Point Lookout, MD
June 3, 1864

Mr. Francis Adkinson

Dear Sir,

I wrote a letter a few days ago for your son, Joseph, who is in the hospital at this place. And at his request, I write you again in answer to a letter which he received this morning from his sister. It is the first he has had from home since he has been here.

I am sorry to say that he is not getting along as well as we hoped he would when I wrote for him a few days since.

On yesterday morning the wound commenced bleeding and the nature of the wound was such that the doctors on consultation decided that it was necessary to amputate the leg, which was done yesterday about 12 o'clock. He was placed under the influence of chloroform. I saw him a few moments after the operation. He was cheerful and not as much prostrated as I expected. I saw him twice during the afternoon and evening and he appeared to be doing well. I saw him again this morning at 8 o'clock and he appears to be comfortable. He told me he had received a letter from home and wished me to answer it.

I know it will be sad news, and yet it is best you should know it at once.

What will be the result in his case, of course we cannot tell. God only knows. It is but right however, that I should say that the doctors think the probabilities are that he will not recover.

While there is life there is hope. He is in the hands of the infinitely wise God who does all things right.

I have been trying to direct his mind to the Savior, the great physician of both soul and body, and my prayer is that the Lord will prepare him for life or for death.

I will write to you again if any material change takes place.

May the Lord bless and sanctify to you this and all his dispensations is my wish and prayer.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

Point Lookout, MD
June 5, 1864

Friend Adkinson,

I wrote you on yesterday rather discouragingly about the case of your son. The case is still a very critical one but I am happy to say that the indications this morning are more favorable than they were yesterday and more so than we hoped they would be.

I will keep you informed every day or two of his case. I do so because I know the anxiety of friends.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

Point Lookout, MD
June 6, 1864

Mr. Irvin Adkinson,

Your brother Joseph Adkinson is in the hospital here. He handed me your letter to answer.

He was wounded in both thighs. The right leg was amputated on Friday last. The wound in the other thigh was slight and is nearly healed. His case is a very critical one. The doctor told me he had but little hope of his recovery. I thought yesterday he was better, but he is not so well today.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee

Point Lookout, MD
June 7, 1864

Mr. Francis Adkinson

Dear Sir:

I suppose you will be expecting to hear from me as I promised to write every day or two in reference to your son.

I did not give you much encouragement in my last and I am sorry to say that my worst fears have been realized. Joseph died today at 3 o'clock.

Day before yesterday he seemed to rally, but during the night he had a chill and yesterday morning as soon as I saw him, I felt that there was no hope. Last night he had another chill and this morning when I called he was scarcely able to speak and he continued gradually to sink. He did not appear to be in much pain but appeared exhausted.

I had spoken to him several times on the subject of religion. He admitted its importance and on yesterday I earnestly pressed upon him the necessity of an immediate attention to the matter. He said he would think about it and asked me to talk with him again. But this morning he was so feeble that I could not learn distinctly which were his feelings or prospects. I called to see him about half an hour before he died. He recognized me and spoke to me. I spoke to him the promises and invitations of the Savior and told him in the dying pain he might seek and find the Savior. He whispered "this is my dying [hand]." I stood by him until he expired and held his hand in mine.

He has passed away and is in the hands of that God who does all things well.

To the compassionate Savior I would direct the deeply afflicted family. And may the Lord bless and sustain you and sanctify to you all this severe affliction, is my prayer.

Be assured of my sympathy with you all in your Savior.

Your friend
D. D. McKee
Chaplain

P. S. I cut a lock of hair and send it. His property and money is in the hands of Dr. Miller, one of the surgeons and will be forwarded by express if you so order it.
D. D. M.

Point Lookout, MD
June 14, 1864

Mr. Irvin Adkinson

Dear Sir:

As you requested, I have drawn up a very brief memoir of your brother which I herewith send you.

Died on Tuesday, June 7, 1864, in the Hammond General Hospital, Point Lookout, Maryland, from wounds received in battle on the 12th of May, Joseph Adkinson of Mooresfield, Switzerland Co., Ind.

He entered the service in the summer of 1861. The regiment was immediately ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, where it has remained ever since. He, with his regiment, shared in all the previsions and dangers of the campaigns of '62, '63, and '64 and having helped to earn, he shared in the honor that belongs to the 3rd Indiana Cavalry.

His regiment formed a part of the cavalry force led by Sheridan in his raid around Richmond and it was in one of the battles fought in that raid in the Chickasome swamp that he was wounded.

He was brought to the hospital at Point Lookout on the 16th of May and for a time his wound appeared to be doing well and he was anticipating a speedy recovery.

But secondary hemorrhaging occurred to a point which amputation of the leg became necessary. But this proved [ ].

Although for a day or two he and his friends entertained hopes of his recovery, yet the shock was more than his system could bear. He was seized with a chill and in a few hours the scene cleared.

He said but little as to his hopes and prospects for the future, yet we have some ground to hope that his thoughts were turned in his last hours to the Savior of sinners. Thus he died another victim to this cruel and wicked rebellion.

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

Joseph, son of Francis Adkinson of Mooresfield, Ind., died in Hammond Hospital, Point Lookout, Md., June 7th from wounds received in battle on the 12th of May last. He entered the service in March 1863. His regiment formed part of the cavalry forces led by Kilpatrick and Sheridan raids around Richmond. It was in the latter of these that he received his wound. He was brought to the hospital at Point Lookout on the 16th of May. He said but little as to his hopes and prospects for the future, yet we have some ground to hope that his thoughts were turned in his last hours to the Savior of sinners. He died another victim to this cruel and wicked rebellion.

D. D. McKee

Point Lookout
June 24, 1864

Mr. Francis Adkinson

Dear Sir:

Your letter of the 17th was received this morning. You will probably have heard before this reaches you that your son from New York, whom I had written before Joseph's death telling him of his condition, got here a few days after his death. He received, from Dr. Miller, Joseph's money and property.

And at his request I wrote a brief obituary of your son and sent it to him a few days after he left.

I did not hear from your son the particulars or the circumstances of his wounding, whether on horseback or not. I am under the impression it was received on foot as both thighs were hit by the same ball. The wound on the left leg was slight - - - it was the right leg that was amputated. He was willing for it to be done. In fact they do not compel any to submit to operations. They state the case to them and let them decide. He was very cheerful and hopeful. I thought he was going to recover and I never had any other thought until the bleeding commenced anew after the amputation. The next day he said to me he felt that he had a better chance now than before. And I felt very hopeful until the second night after the amputation he had a chill. The next morning I saw a marked change for the worse and the night following another chill and in a few hours he died.

He spoke to me of the family at home and appeared to feel much interest in home matters. His grave is marked with his name and regiment on a board at his head. There is an order prohibiting the removal of bodies before the 1st of October.

I desire no other compensation for which I am able to do for the gratification of the friends of the deceased soldiers than to feel that I have contributed something to alleviate the grief and to be permitted to mingle my sorrows with theirs.

May the Lord bless you and every member of the bereaved family and sanctify to you all this bereavement.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplain

I open the letters at this office - - to say that I have several letters here for your son. What shall I do with them? D. D. M.

Hammond General Hospital
Point Lookout, MD

July 11, 1864

Mr. F. Adkinson

Sir:

Your letter of June 17th received. Excuse my delay in answering, as I am much occupied.

The effects of your son were handed over on June 12th to a man who presented himself as the brother of the deceased and gave his name I. D. Adkinson. I hope it was all right. Please let me know whether you have a son named I. D. Adkinson.

Yours,

George McC. Miller
Asst. Surg. U. Vols.

Point Lookout, MD
July 14, 1864

Mr. Adkinson:

The letters to your son were forwarded to Washington by the post master and I suppose from there they will be sent to you.

Yours truly,

D. D. McKee
Chaplin