James Dervin

From Wickford, he enlisted on 13 September 1861 in Company H, 4th Rhode Island Infantry.

He was wounded by a gunshot in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862 which entered at his left buttock, cut his urethra, damaged his right testicle, and lodged in his scrotum.

He was on the field for two days then treated at the Locust Spring field hospital on the Geeting Farm near Keedysville by Surgeon M. Storrs of the 8th Connecticut Infantry. He could not urinate and a catheter was unsuccessful, so Surgeon Storrs punctured his bladder to drain through his anus. This was a temporary solution, but not viable long-term and in December Surgeon Squires, 89th New York Infantry, performed surgery to clear his urethra and repair the bladder. On 20 January 1863 he was transferred to US Army General Hospital #1 in Frederick, MD where the bullet was extracted on 14 February.

He was moved again, to Jarvis Hospital in Baltimore on 13 June and to Hammond Hospital in Washington, DC on 3 July. By August he was largely recovered and urinating nearly normally, and was recommended for discharge in September. In January 1864 he was sent to the convalescent camp before returning to duty, but was back in a hospital in February before finally returning to his unit in May. He mustered out 15 October 1864.

He began receiving a pension for disability in May 1868.

His service basics from Dyer,1 also as James Dervine. Wound and hospital details from the MSHWR.2

James Dervin(e) is probably an alias for James Connelly.