Patrick Doyle

Formerly of the Fifth Infantry (?), he transferred as Private to Company D, 69th New York Infantry, date not given. He was promoted to Corporal on 5 January 1862.

He was wounded in the right arm by a "conoidal ball [which] fractured the elbow joint" in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was initially treated at the 1st Division, 2nd Corps field hospital at Sharpsburg. He was sent to US Army General Hospital #5 in Frederick, MD on 24 September where Surgeon Henry S. Hewit resected his elbow and amputated the arm below. Dr Hewit continued treatment:

Resection was performed on October 2nd. The after-treatment consisted of yeast poultice and applications of tincture of iodine to the arm. December 4th, no perceptible improvement. Resection was again resorted to in hopes of saving the arm, but the damage was found to be so great that it was decided to amputate the arm near the shoulder. The stump was dressed with strips of muslin saturated with cold water, and compress and roller used. December 6th, patient comfortable. December 28th, stump looks well; health good; patient complains of pain in back; ordered belladonna plaster. December 29th, transferred to Hospital No. 6.

Service information from the Roster.1 Wound and treatment details from McLernon,2 citing the Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion (1870).