My Name is Mary Sutter: A Novel - My Review

About a week ago, my wife Laura, recommended a book that I might like to read and that would dovetail nicely with this blog.  The book is titled; "My Name is Mary Sutter:  A Novel", by Robin Oliveira, and was one she had read earlier in the year.  In general, Laura and I enjoy different types and styles of books.  Her...dramas, historical novels, and fun reads....me...history, sci-fi and the occasional literature in order to assuage my embarrassment over having read Cliff's Notes all through high school and college.  So, I was a little nervous about taking up one of "her" books to read.  I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this book!  For what it's worth, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars...where 5 stars are reserved for classics and my sci-fi favorites.

The book is centered on the life of a young (20 year old) woman, Mary Sutter, who a wealthy northerner during the time just prior and during the Civil War.  She lives with her Mother, twin sister and brother with the father having just died prior to the start of the book.  Mary's mother is a midwife and Mary grew to love the medical field through support to her mother's midwifery.  After becoming an acknowledged midwife of her own, Mary's single desire in life is to become a medical doctor...specifically a surgeon...in a time where women were not welcome in that profession.  Many attempts at both medical school applications and internships with physicians failed and a frustrated Mary decides to answer the call to become a nurse during the onset of the Civil War.  The story takes the reader through the horrors that was the medical field as well as the hospital situation at that time.  From the battle of Bull Run through Antietam, Mary becomes an accomplished physician in her own right.  A story well told and gripping.

Laura hit the nail on the head with this one.  With JWD's wounding at the Second Battle of Bull Run, I was able to "live" the experience he must have had, being wounded in the leg...being taken prisoner...being parole to Georgetown College Hospital and ultimate transferred to Philadelphia's Cherry Street Hospital and released.  His total time from the wounding on August 30th, 1862 to his release in January 1862 was 5 months.  I never really understood why it took so long.  Now I know.

As Oliveira describes in the book, if the wound didn't kill you...infection would.  If infection didn't kill you...other disease would.  If disease didn't kill you...starvation would.  Quite amazing that JWD survived.  Not surprisingly....it was also the reason for his short life.

Jim D.

Bull Run and John Derr

With the 150th anniversary of the 1st Battle of Bull Run, and with all of the events and festivities in the Washington D.C. area, I thought I'd reflect a bit on this battle and the subsequent battle in August of 1862 (2nd Battle of Bull Run) and their effects on John.

After the initial wave of 90 day "First Defenders'" enlistment had expired and after the 1st Battle of Bull Run there was a sense in the North that the war would not be as quick and romantic as originally anticipated.  A new wave of recruitment and enlistments began in July of 1861, which fielded many more men and a series of regimental reorganizations.  Those that had been in the initial "First Defenders" wave and re-upped their enlistment, were mostly reorganized into newly formed regiments.  Though John was not part of the first wave of enlistments, I believe he was influenced by neighbors and friends who were part of the "First Defenders", as well as the disastrous events of 1st Bull Run.  His first few letters show a man who was ready for adventure and caught up in the wave of patriotism.

I am excited and a bit impatient to share the 2nd Bull Run letter with all of you.  It is probably my favorite and is filled with information that has given me many hours of very satisfying research.  During this battle, as part of the 48th, he was wounded, taken prisoner and eventually paroled.  This short letter provides subsequent clues, links and questions that I have been researching for years.  Fortunately, with the internet, the research activities are much easier and more accessible that when I started this project many years ago.

Back in the 1980's I spent some time at the National Archives photocopying John's military and pension records along with other Civil War ancestors.  If you are ever inclined to do a project such as this, the Archives is essential.  I have found more information that provides more links and clues, than anything else.  For example, in John's case, his widow's pension request from 1878, provides affidavits from family, friends, and fellow soldiers.  It has allowed me to understand better the character and condition of the man who was my great great grandfather.

Last night, I sat down and re-read the pension application affidavits.   There were numerous signed documents from fellow soldiers attesting to the character of John.  Some of them were very touching.

Below, I share a few of these documents....

Affidavit from fellow soldier Pvt. Henry F. Gottshall Company "D" 48th PVI

Affidavit from fellow soldier and cousin Pvt. Daniel Derr Company "D" 48th PVI

Jim D.