Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private Cyrus W. Beamenderfer, Co. A, 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 20 years, was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia, May 6th, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which entered the left side of the face about half an inch above the angle of the mouth, taking a downward and backward course, and emerged from the left side of the neck, about three inches below the ear, and lodged in the left shoulder. The upper jaw sustained no injury, except the breaking off the first bicuspid. The left side of the under jaw was very much broken, and was resected on the field, from the joint to a point between the two bicuspids. On May 12th, 1864, hæmorrhage occurring, the primitive carotid artery was ligated just above the clavicle by Henry McClain, formerly surgeon 2d New York Volunteers. He was admitted to the 1st division hospital, Alexandria, Virginia, May 25th, and on June 20th transferred to Philadelphia, entering Satterlee Hospital on the 22d. His general health was good, and the wounds were almost entirely healed. Cerate dressings were applied. He was discharged from service November 29th, 1864. On October 5th, 1866, Pension Examiner George P. Lineaweaver reports that the muscles of the left side of the neck are so contracted that he cannot turn his head. His disability is rated total. Surgeon I. I. Hayes, U. S. V., reports the case.