Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private Orrin C. Spencer, Co. F, 11th Connecticut Volunteers, aged 18 years, was wounded at the battle of Antietam, Maryland, September 17th, 1862, by a musket ball which fractured the outer table of the frontal bone at its superior portion and to the left of the median line. He was stunned, but after reaction, endeavored to walk, but was too faint and giddy to go far. With the assistance of two comrades he retired to a field hospital where cold water was applied to the wound. He was transferred to Frederick, and thence to Washington, entering Capitol Hospital on the 22d. On the 24th he was sent to the DeCamp Hospital, David's Island, New York Harbor, where he arrived on the 28th. The wound was discharging freely. At the expiration of a week erysipelatous action set in, which was, however, readily combatted​ by a purge and the local application of iodine. On October 26th two pieces of the outer table of the frontal bone were removed. At times he suffered severe pain over his eyebrows which extended over the left side of his head, and occasionally he was so dizzy that he could not walk across the ward. He was discharged from the service on November 12th, 1862. The wound had healed, but dizziness occasionally recurred. On January 3d, 1868, the Commissioner of Pensions stated that Spencer was a pensioner, that his disability was rated at one-third, and the prognosis of its duration doubtful. Surgeon S. W. Gross, U. S. V., reports the early history of the case.