The Surgeon: A Civil War Story

by Schwartz, Richard Alan

  She took a step back, feeling light headed. “The medical tent…right away.”

  “Cpl. Silver, please accompany Dr. Kaplan to the medical tents.”

  As Abbey walked, she slowly shook her head while muttering. “No…Not Jordan…Can’t be…After all the shit we’ve survived…”

  Abbey stopped and felt light headed again. She sensed her knees weakening. Cpl. Silver noticed and threw an arm around her waist to steady her. She put an arm around his shoulder then slowly shook her head. The doctor thought, “My friend and confidant…my assistant…my lover…the one who cared more about me than anyone else…and did his best, always, to watch out for me.” She took a deep breath, steadied herself and, with an uneven gait, continued walking.

  Wearing an expression of sorrow, Abbey realized the loss of her friend tore every bit of joy from her soul which the war’s end created.

  The doctor stopped briefly in front of the medical tents and gazed at the red flag. After years of use, it was little more than a torn and frayed rag; it’s tattered remains hung limply in the still air. Like many of the soldiers, it was a pale and faded reminder of what it once was.

  Dr. Kaplan entered the medical tent. She glanced at Cpl. Silver as he and another soldier gently lifted a wounded man onto the surgical table. “Dan looks old and tired beyond his years,” she thought. Abbey viewed the other men around her. “They all do. No more innocent faces. Likely, I appear the same.”

  Abbey began her last surgeries as a member of the 222nd Massachusetts.

  * * *

  April 1865

  Dear Mom,

  Thank the Lord, it’s over. I should be full of joy but find I’m only experiencing a sense of relief. I yelled and screamed when I learned the war ended but then, I suspect like many others, I began thinking of those who didn’t survive, which deeply saddened me. Even the day we learned General Lee surrendered, I lost a good friend…a man who, from the first day I arrived, assisted and supported me in more ways than I could list in one letter. His death was caused by, of all things, an accident. I doubt he suffered, but his death drove home the heart-wrenching grief and emptiness which so many families came to know during this dreadful war.

  I performed my last military surgery today. As I gazed into the faces of my medical team one last time, they appeared old and worn beyond their years. When they first arrived, they were innocent and enthusiastic boys who were anxious to win a war. The horrors they faced as we repaired grievously wounded men, robbed them of their innocence, and caused them to dig deep inside to find the emotional strength to endure innumerable hideous sights. Soldiers witnessed horrors which caused revulsion and ripped pieces from their sanity causing sleepless nights, terrible nightmares and, for too many, mental breakdown which prevented them from functioning…even pushed some to suicide. We surgically repaired men, occasionally women, and a number of children. But had no medicine or treatment for those whose altered emotional balance caused them unbearable pain and suffering.

  Each of us tried to adjust to the horror of war in our own way. I fear many of the men will be going home to families who won’t recognize them. Many of the men can’t articulate what they endured. And if they can’t…how will their families understand how they’ve changed…and what happened to them? An old-timer told me many will suffer long after their last day in combat.

  I received a commendation today for the medical and surgical work I performed. It was signed by the top officers in the 222nd Massachusetts regiment. A meaningful and well appreciated gesture. In the future, I suspect it will have more meaning but for now, my mind is still occupied with thoughts of those I couldn’t help.

  I’ve become the surgeon I dreamed of…but have a burning desire to learn about a person’s mental health. Little information exists so my current goal is to find like-minded doctors and, together, pioneer a new area of medicine where we learn to heal injuries of the mind.

  The happy, upbeat child you raised has become a woman who rarely smiles. She has scars on her body…and deep wounds in her mind that will take time to heal; if they ever do.

  In a few days, I’ll be traveling to Boston for a few weeks. A doctor and his wife invited me. He will help me exorcise some demons. Heading home afterward. When I do, I may still be limping from a hip injury. Don’t worry. I expect it will heal completely.

  Mom, I’ve reread this letter. Again, please don’t share it with anyone other than to tell them I’m safe and expect to be home in a month or so. Having endured the pain of so many deaths during the Irish Potato Famine, I know you’ll understand what I’ve been going through, but doubt others will.

  Along with this letter, I’ve included a document which details how to repair hare lip. Please pass it on to William. Tell him his big sister successfully used the procedure on male and female adults, a teen girl, a ten-year-old boy, a two-year-old and a two-day-old. You would have loved the expression on the teen girl’s face when she came to thank me for the repair. She literally cried for joy.

  At times during this ordeal, I’ve confronted situations which left me utterly clueless. When this happened, I said to myself, What would Myra do? and most often found a solution.

  Thank you for instilling in me a love of all our fellow men and the importance of perseverance. Those values have served me well.

  Love, Abbey

  * * *

  Three-days-later, Dr. Kaplan left her tent for the last time. She walked to the train station. Abbey stood on the platform with many others headed home. Anytime someone looked her way and knew who she was, they smiled and nodded.

  The train gradually pulled into the station. Footsteps approached.

  “Dr. Kaplan, leaving without saying goodbye?”

  “Dr. Fellows. Sorry…I…I was busy getting some final reports completed.”

  He held out a hand. “An honor to have served with you, Doctor.”

  She shook his hand.

  The major asked, “Where will you go?”

  “Boston for now. Dr. Siegel asked I contact him.”

  “My hometown isn’t too far from there. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”

  “I’m planning a brief stay. I have some demons to excise then home to the Northwest.”

  “I…have something to say that’s long overdue…but the truth is, I should have told you long ago. After working with you and seeing the results of your surgical efforts on my nephew and countless others…it’s obvious anyone needing serious surgical intervention…they’d best pray to the Lord Almighty, Dr. Abbey Kaplan is holding the scalpel.”

  “Dr. Fellows…”

  “If I’m rewarded with a place in heaven, precious lady, it will be a reward for the modicum of training I provided you. Take care of yourself, Dr. Kaplan.”

  He spun and walked away before she could reply. Abbey was shocked to note his eyes were filled with tears. She mumbled to the receding figure, “You take care as well, Doctor Fellows.”

  Her attention was refocused on her immanent travel as the railcars screeched to a halt. After a few passengers disembarked, she entered the coach and found a seat. The railcar jerked as it started moving then rocked side to side as it slowly picked up speed. Two-rows in front of her, she saw a trio of soldiers’ slide into adjacent seats.

  They were quiet for a while then one said, “It’ll be good to be home and get a good night’s sleep.”

  Another said, “I wonder how long I’ll be listening for incoming or jump at loud noises?”

  The third laughed and said, “I been gone five-years. Ah wonder how long it will take my kids to adjust to having a daddy in the house?”

  Abbey took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then thought, “It’s over…wonder if I’ll ever relax…ever have a decent night’s sleep?” She watched the passing fields. “Is my mental state altered due to my war-time experience? I’m not the same person my family knew. I’m certainly not the young girl they remember sending off to medical college.” Another long sigh and she thought, “I wonder w
hat became of Margaret? My dear friend, Maggie. Such a good woman and friend.” She stretched then enjoyed watching a number of newborn calves struggle to remain standing on wobbling legs while a few older calves ran and jumped in the bright sunshine. “New life. Life not knowing the horror of war. That’s what we need…but many of the soldiers are going home with severe mental pain.”

  She unpinned her hat and placed it on the seat beside her.

  “Who will be there to help and understand their suffering? I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished but…after all the horror plus mental and physical pain I’ve endured, I wonder what will become of me?” She closed her eyes and prayed aloud.

  “Lord, please give me strength and direction for the tasks that lie before me.”

  “For the last few years, my life had such meaning and purpose. Will I find that again? Will I find a friend and confidant like blessed Jordan Scharf?”

  She stared at the passing sylvan countryside while pleasant memories of the lieutenant flooded her mind.

  A deep voice interrupted her reverie. “Excuse me. Aren’t you Dr. Kaplan?” a fashionably dressed man said.

  Her expression brightened. “Major Sokolov, the battle-planner who visited the recovery hospitals.”

  “You remember me. Thank you. May I…?” Abbey motioned to the seat across from her.

  He sat then asked, “Boston bound?” She nodded.

  With a pleasant smile, he inquired, “We never found time to continue the conversation we began at the recovery hospital. Perhaps now?”

  “I would enjoy that, Major.”

  ~~~~~~~

  If you enjoyed my novel, please leave a review on Amazon. Reviews help Indie Authors like myself to become known to more readers, ranked with book sites, and earn an income. Thank you!

  ~~~~~~~

  I hope you enjoyed reading about Dr. Abbey Kaplan’s harrowing experiences as a female doctor in the Civil War. Her work regarding PTSD is referenced in another American Journeys Novel. The Soldier: A Novel of the Vietnam War Era is a gripping novel of the Vietnam War and the resulting PTSD epidemic. Buy it today to start reading right away!

  ~~~~~~

  Don’t miss out on promotions, new releases, and author appearances.

  Sign up for the Village Drummer Fiction Newsletter/Blog

  Sign Up Now

  I promise to never spam you nor sell or provide your information to others.

  Author’s Notes and Resources

  Readers interested in further learning about female doctors and nurses in the Civil War may wish to research the following women:

  Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell; The first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. When the Civil War began, this prodigious organizer, assembled four-thousand women to form the Women’s Central Association of Relief.

  Dr. Mary Edwards Walker; First volunteering as a nurse for the Union in 1861, then as an assistant surgeon. Dr. Walker earned a commission for her work as a surgeon in 1863. In 1864, she was captured by Confederate soldiers, suspected of spying, and forced into Richmond’s Castle Prison. She became the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

  Captain Sally Louisa Tompkins of Richmond, Virginia; Created a private hospital for Confederate wounded. This hospital treated 1,333 soldiers. Of this number, only seventy- three died. Of all military hospitals during the war, Capt. Tompkins’ had the lowest death rate.

  To learn more about medicine during the Civil War, I recommend, Learning from the Wounded, by Shauna Devien. Also, Civil War Medicine, by C. Keith Wilbur.

  To learn more about the Civil War in general, I highly recommend, Shelby Foote’s brilliant, three-volume series, The Civil War. His insight and analysis of the motivations of each side, conditions of the troops, descriptions of the battles and the home front are, in this author’s opinion, peerless.

  To appreciate the terrain and troop emplacement where the battles were fought, I recommend, Great Maps of the Civil War, by William J. Miller.

  On our way to somewhere else, we stumbled onto a Civil War prison, Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas. While it is currently under re-creation by the Smith County Historical Society, it none the less provided me with a feeling for prison life in East Texas. Camp Ford is located just south of Interstate 20 at the intersection of Loop NE 323 and highway 271. The Historical Society’s building in Tyler holds artifacts from the site.

  To plan your own trip to many Civil War battle sites, I recommend The Complete Civil War Road Trip Guide, by Michael Weeks.

  While researching this novel, I traveled to a number of Civil War battle sites. Among the notable is the Vicksburg National Military Park located in Vicksburg, MS. We arrived in late June to find identical hot and humid weather conditions as those during June of 1863 when the battle and siege of Vicksburg took place. There is a perimeter road through the park and numbered sign posts that correspond to audio from a CD which can be purchased at the gift shop upon entering the park. Battle lines are demarcated and cannons placed as they were during the battle.

  While at the Military Park, as a former combat soldier, I experienced anxiety and trepidation when I stood where Union troops gathered before their futile attack at Thayer’s Approach. As I hiked the battlefield, the sun beating down and sweat drenching my clothing, my imagination filled my mind with the screams of the wounded and dying, the sound of their guns firing, the buzzing sound of rounds from the Confederate lines at the top of the hill and cannon shells exploding in our midst. Even the smell of gunpowder seemed to assault my nose. Hopefully, dear reader, you will find my writing reflects what Civil War soldiers and medical personnel endured.

  From the heights of Vicksburg, one can view where waterborne cannon lobbed shells from the Mississippi into the town during the siege.

  Lastly, during your visit to Vicksburg, book lovers must visit Lorelei Books at 1103 Washington St. I stopped in after our tour of the Military Park and asked about books concerning civilian life during the siege. The proprietor directed me to many useful books, one of which, My Cave Life in Vicksburg, by Mary Anne Loughborough, will be the basis for at least two chapters in my next novel. Also found at Lorelei Books was Reluctant Witnesses – Children’s Voices from the Civil War, by Emmy E. Werner. The grit and wisdom of the youngsters’ perception of war inspired a new character for my next novel – a young girl whose life is tempered by the crushing weight of her war time experience.

  About the Author

  Richard is a 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam veteran. Having a lifelong passion for history, a creative mind, and being a mesmerizing storyteller, historical fiction was a natural career choice after a life in software engineering. Being a lifelong learner, Richard loves pursuing research for his historical fiction. He and his wife, Carolynn, scour libraries, museums, and historical sites while always on the lookout for interesting historical perspectives, personal stories, and quirky characters.

  You can connect with me on:

  https://villagedrummerfiction.com

  https://twitter.com/villagedrummerf

  https://www.facebook.com/The.Village.Drummer

  Subscribe to my newsletter:

  https://villagedrummerfiction.com/contact

  Also by Richard Alan Schwartz

  The Emigrant: A Journey from Ireland to America

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDXH6SG

  After so much death, this young immigrant will do anything to start her new life.

  Ireland, 1847. Myra McCormick has lost too much to stay. After the sixteen-year-old’s two younger siblings die in the Irish Potato Famine, she resolves to create a new family of her own. As she emigrates to America, she meets a college student who’s both handsome and the perfect candidate to let her live out her new dream.

  The Emigrant: A journey from Ireland to America is the first book in the true-to-life American Journeys historical fiction series. If you like courageous heroines, richly detailed settings, and stories of relentless determination, then you’ll love Richard Alan Schwartz
’s poignant tale.

  The Pioneer: A Journey to the Pacific

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MTPXYV4

  A new generation. A dangerous town. Can an immigrant family make room for new traditions?

  Portland, 1854. David Kaplan dreams of a fresh start. But when he and his family arrive in Oregon, he’s surprised to find the rules of the past no longer apply.

  William Kaplan has seen his share of tragedy on the journey westward. As he matures in a world so different from the one his parents experienced, he endures love and loss and seeks to carve out his own path.

  Can multiple generations of Kaplans survive the spirit-crushing hazards of an ever-changing America. The Pioneer: A Journey to the Pacific is the second book in Richard’s heart-wrenching historical fiction series. If you like multi-generational sagas, beautifully-wrought settings, and stories of the human experience, then you’ll love Richard Alan Schwartz’s rugged tale.