Civil War Letters of John W. Derr: Hoch

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Friday, December 9, 2011

Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Rheumatic Fever or Tuberculosis?

In December of 1861, JWD was encamped at Fort Hatteras in North Carolina. Eventually the specific location would be Camp Winfield at Fort Hatteras at the southern tip of the Outer Banks, Hatteras Island. At this time, JWD was very sick...an illness captured in both his letters as well as the pension depositions. It would appear that he was sick for over 7 weeks and that begs the question....what illness did he contract?

In researching Civil War illnesses, there were a vast array of diseases and maladies that afflicted troops on both sides of the conflict, due to the size and close quarters of the men in camp. Additionally, the lack of basic sanitation coupled with the lack of knowledge and effective treatments, meant that 99% of all soldiers during the war suffered from dysentery or chronic diarrhea at some time during their service in the war. Dysentery ranked #2 in the "deaths by disease" category just behind typhoid and just before pneumonia. Horrible camp conditions with refuse, slop pits, animal parts, human waste and animal manure were routinely located near water or food sources. As stated by a federal sanitation inspector at in 1861 upon inspection of various camps... "littered with refuse, food, and other rubbish, sometimes in an offensive state of decomposition; slops deposited in pits within the camp limits or thrown out of broadcast; heaps of manure and offal close to the camp." The results were that bacteria, viruses spread throughout the camps causing more casualties than munitions during the course of the war. Attempts were made, with various degrees of success, to improve sanitation conditions through centralized practices by the U.S. Sanitation Commission.

JWD more than likely, suffered his fair share of dysentery during his four years in the Union army. He also, suffered throughout the war, his fair share of bronchial conditions. I believe that this is the primary reason for his early death in 1876. However, I question what really afflicted him? Could it have started as a simple cold that lead to bronchitis, then pneumonia?....or was it more? Did he suffer from both of these conditions as a result of a lingering case of tuberculosis?...or did he just progressively damage his lungs through repeated cases of bronchitis and pneumonia?

Depositions from fellow soldiers as well as from his civilian doctor, indicate that he died of rheumatic carditis as well as a bronchial condition and "catarrh"...a term no longer used in America...but essentially meaning the same as a chest cold. Clearly, his condition continued beyond his wartime service where it was documented on at least two separate occasions that he was sick and unable to fight. The first is documented here in North Carolina in 1861 during the Burnside's expedition. The second was after his efforts working in the mine while preparing for the Petersburg "Crater" assault. Below are the letters and depositions of friends, soldiers and his doctor, providing insight to the pension board regarding the death of JWD.

Written Deposition from Dr. George W. Ebrite...Physician of John W. Derr

Pension Deposition of Dr. George W. Ebrite...Physician of John W. Derr

Pension Deposition of William Maurer - 48th PVI Co. G.

Pension Deposition of Charles W. Hoch (cousin of Sgt. Franklin Hoch, 48th PVI Co. D)

Union encampment at Fort Hatteras, North Carolina

Fort Hatteras Union encampment

Jim D.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Letter #3 - North Carolina - November 28, 1861

Letter #3 as provided here, though very short in length, reveals the first of many maladies suffered by JWD during the course of the war...maladies that plagued him for the rest of his abbreviated life.

This letter was written for JWD by Franklin Hoch, a neighbor, friend and fellow member of the 48th PVI Company D, who helped him during his illness. Hoch, a Sergeant, would later provide a deposition for JWD's wife, in her military pension application for widows of war veterans.

North Carolina

November the 28, 1861

My Dear Father,

I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am not very healthy, that I am sick. I had a fever but I ain’t well yet. I am very weak. I do not mind any pain but all that ails me and I have no appetite to eat anything. I got paid the 27^th of this month. I sent my money home. It is 18 ½ dollars. I sent my money in Pottsville to Andrew Russel, there you can get it. His office is at the second corner in Mahantengo Street. It is 18 ½ dollars and you can get it any time that you go to Pottsville and take it home and keep it till I come home. Write me as soon as you get this letter and write to me whether you got my money or not. I must come to a close so excuse me I can’t write much just now at present time.

John W. Derr

Direct your letter Company D. 48^th Regt, Penna. Vol. Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, via Fortress Monroe. Writer Franklin Hoch.

* there is an error in the muster roles for the 48th PVI that identifies Sgt. Franklin Hoch as "Hock".

Jim D.

Welcome

With 2011 being the 150th year since the start of the American Civil War, I thought it would be appropriate for me to share letters written by my great-great grandfather, John W. Derr during the course of the war. I have completed posting each letter on the 150th anniversary of their creation (mostly!). Since Private Derr did not write his letters in a consistent pattern...sometimes there are gaps in time better one letter and the next...This blog includes gap filler with other information relevant to him and his regiment. As I posted each letter, I created a corresponding link on the right side of the webpage to provide easy access and reference as you read each posting. I hope you enjoy the history of this common soldier during the most tumultuous time in our nation's history.

Additionally, I recently completed a long anticipated project by publishing a book "A Widow's Due" in June of 2020. This book is primarily about the life of my Great-great grandmother, Magdalena Diehl Derr, the widow of John W. Derr. It is based on years of research and much documentation, and whereas it is a work of "creative non-fiction", it is accurate and true to the documents and records I was able to find. Please visit my other website relating to the book as well as other upcoming projects at: www.jamespderr.com. Thank you.

Biography of Private John W. Derr

John W. Derr (JWD) was born in Barry Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania on October 7, 1839.

He enlisted in the Union Army in September of 1861 and was mustered into the 48^th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company D at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg Pa, in that same month. From Harrisburg, the 48^th PVI transitioned through Baltimore, MD and then down the Chesapeake Bay to Fort Monroe in Virginia. From there, the 48^th PVI was attached to the larger Burnsides Expedition to North Carolina (Hatteras/New Berne area). After the North Carolina expedition the 48^th PVI was moved north and participated in the 2^nd battle of Bull Run, where JWD was wounded on August 29^th, 1862 and taken prisoner. He was paroled by the Confederates, and was transported to Georgetown College Hospital in Washington, D.C. After staying in Washington and missing the battles of Antietam and South Mountain, he was transferred to the Cherry and Broad Street hospital in Philadelphia, Pa in December of 1863. He was subsequently furloed home for further recuperation.

His unit was then detached for guard duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, where his unit re-enlisted in December 1863 at Blains Crossroads, TN. In 1864, the 48^th PVI was involved in Grant’s campaigns of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor, etc…and eventually the Petersburg Campaign. JWD, as part of the 48^th PVI was integral in the digging of the Mine Crater. Documentation of his participation in the actual mining activities and subsequent illness from the damp/cold conditions are documented in his post mortem pension application by his widow, Magdalena Derr. Pension affidavits by his fellow soldiers indicate that his participation in the mining activities, along with his wounding at 2^nd Bull Run were the primary cause of his early death in 1876

In addition to his participation in the Petersburg Siege, JWD participated in the 1863 Army review by President Lincoln in Washington, D.C., the Grand Review of 1865 in Washington, D.C.

He was mustered out of the Army in July of 1865 and returned home to live out his remaining short life, dying on January 12, 1876 at age 37.