Charles Trainor

Son of Irish-born and prosperous master saddler Thomas Trainor, in 1860 he was a 15 year old living with his father and 3 siblings in New York City. Giving his age as 18, he enlisted in New York City on 9 September 1861 and mustered as a Private in Company H, 63rd New York Infantry on 19 October. He was promoted to Corporal, date not given.

He was mortally wounded by a gunshot to his head in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

The MSHWR says

Charles T----, Company H, 63d New York Volunteers, age 17 years, was admitted to Hospital No. 1, Frederick, Maryland, on September 28th, 1862, with a fracture of the skull. He was wounded at Antietam, September 17th, 1862, by a conoidal musket ball, which struck at the lower anterior angle of the right parietal, fractured both tables of the cranium, and lodged under the scalp in the occipital region. The scalp was lacerated, and a dark pulsating mass protruded in the wound. The left side of the body was paralyzed. The patient's mental facilities were unimpaired.

On September 29th, flaps of integument were reflected by a T ñ shaped incision. The ball and a number of fragments of bone were removed, some of the latter being imbedded in the brain substance. The inner table was found badly splintered, but the fracture of the external table was still more extensive. The protruding cerebral mass was shaved off. The rough edges of the fractured bone were smoothed by cutting forceps. The following day the paralysis was more complete than before the operation. There was severe headache. The pulse was slow and weak. On October 3d, the fungus was sprouting and sloughing. The left arm was powerless; the paralysis of the left leg was less complete.

On October 4th, the hernia was again sliced off and gentle compression was applied. There was great irritability and restlessness. On October 21st, the patient had improved. His appetite was voracious. He was less irritable and the hemiplegia was much less complete. He was very sensitive to cold. The temperature of the left side was lower than that of the right. The fungus was the size of a pigeon's egg.

On November 17th, a dilation of the left pupil was first noticed. Sensation in the left leg and partial control of the muscles had returned. Since the last report the tumor of the brain had continued to grow and slough away, so that it remained about the same size.

On December 7th, the report states that little change had taken place, except a gradual amelioration of the hemiplegia, and improvement in regard to the fretfulness and irritability. On this day there was a severe chill. After this the patient never regained his accustomed readiness and clearness of mind. The discharge from the wound became watery, unhealthy, and more copious. There was an exacerbation of fever every afternoon.

On December 17th, there was a severe convulsion which lasted half an hour, and was terminated by death. At the autopsy, an irregular portion of the right parietal, four inches in diameter, was found to be necrosed and detached. The dura mater was much thickened in the vicinity of the fracture, and was adherent to the margins of the healthy bone. Except in the immediate vicinity of the hernia, the brain matter appeared to be in a healthy state. Assistant Surgeon R. F. Weir, U. S. A.., reported the case."
Two drawings accompany the text, Figs. 153 and 154. External and internal view of gunshot fracture of right parietal, followed by necrosis. Spec. 3859, Sect. I, A. M. M.

His basic service from McLernon1 and his Muster Roll Abstract, online from fold3. The quote above from the MSHWR.2 Further details from the Patient List,3 as Pvt. C. Trainer. Personal details from the US Census of 1860.

c. 1845 in NY

12/17/1862; Frederick, MD