Union Soldier Turns Medic on the Gettysburg Battlefield

After two days of fierce fighting, nearly 40,000 battered soldiers lay scattered across the blood-soaked fields of Gettysburg. As the torrential summer rain continued to pour down on the wounded, Private Elbert Corbin of the First New York Light Artillery was thrust into an unexpected role when he was ordered to remain behind and take care of his fallen comrades. In this rare letter, penned by this soldier turned medic, Corbin provides extraordinary detail of his quick rudimentary training that helped in assisting his wounded compatriots. Corbin's account also presents the paradox he faced when asked to help save the lives of his enemy. Several raw descriptions of the operations and procedures he preformed are contained in Corbin's letter to his wife. Written at the end of an emotionally draining day, Corbin states, "Help to wound and kill men then patch them up I could show more suffering here in one second than you will see in a Life at home It is strange how I have disciplined my feelings to see Dying and suffering men and have no feelings..."  The language seems to try and convince, both himself and his wife, of his ability to "discipline" himself enough to ignore the gruesome tasks set before him. Through the stories he shared with his wife it is obvious that Corbin's experience troubled him greatly. At one point he notes, "I can see an Arm or Leg taken off and it has no more affect on my feelings, than cutting so much Beef." It is evident that Corbin wrestles with the disturbing realization that he is becoming numb to the atrocities of war. 
 
Brian Riggs, Research Associate
Gilder Lehrman Collection
 
** Gilder Lehrman would like to thank the following people in helping us to identify Corbin as the author of this letter: Thomas E. Corbin (great grandson of Private Elbert Corbin), Greg Goodell and Scott Hartwig at the Gettysburg National Military Park and Stephen J. Dreher, historian for Pettit's Battery B).

Click to see the document.

GLC03685 Union soldier in Pettit's Battery account of caring for wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.

[Elbert Corbin to Emily] Gettysburg, PA , 5-6 July 1863. Autograph Letter, 4 pages.

[3] (Corp R. F. Thorn - wounded both Feet) (" Hooker Rt " Run over) John M Scovil " Rt arm & sides Minnie B. Lt. A.S. Sheldon Rt. & Lt Groin ") S. Sherman Gun Shot Lt Arm August Roger, Rt Leg ampt'd upper leg & gun shot in Rt arm Coraden Wallace Lt Foot Gun Shot A.B. Mallery Shell, head Geo Rabb, " " Theo Denoyer " " O.L. States Lt. arm gun shot Sarg Childs Bruised leg John Buckley Rt upr leg slight Pat McGowan Lt Sholder Gun Shot 89 Horses killed - 3 wheels smashed 3 Cassions smashed - nearly all our clothing - This is all I can say this Sabbath Eve - I want to rest A kiss love. Kiss our Darlings. God Bless us - Monday Eve July 6 th. 10. O'Clock - Em I have passed another busy day - Lieut Sheldon was fixed up by me and made as comfortable and sent off with some other officers I am left here in Care of the Boys - Several of the boys who had very slight wounds are with the Battery. We have Patched up just so as to man 4 guns all told and the Battery is ready for the front. I have an other Recommend form Lieut Sheldon [4] for a Commition in an Independant Command,- if you can use it - Charley Minard has been clerk at Head Qtrs of our Corps a long time and Gen Hays is in command of our Corps now- And he would not keep on his staff of a Volunteer Officer, there was a splendid Officer who was Adj't Gen. and he would not keep him because he was a Vol and has put in a Pumpkin head - (A Regular) - All tell me to give that up, and try for A Com in some of the new Batteries, Independant - It is a long time since I got a letter from you but I hope in time we shall get a mail - After getting off Lt. S. I dressed our Boys wounds then 15 or 20 of the Boys of other Batteries then I was sent to work assisting to cut out balls and dress the wounded Rebels and we now have an quanity of them and I shall have to help tomorrow I can do up wounds from shot or shell or Bullits quite like an M.D. - I have had quite a Dicipline I do it for that I can see an Arm or Leg taken off and it has no more affect on my feelings, than cutting so much Beef - Dead men and plenty here and I saw plenty [5] in all shapes and on the field - Help to wound and Kill men then Patch them up I could show more suffering here in one second than you will see in a Life at home It is strange how I have disciplined my feelings to see Dying and suffering men and have no feelings only a passing thought, I have some but they that were cut out of men I have had quite a chat to day with Rebels - We get no mail of any kind here - I hope you will get my last letter It is a bright starlight night and I hope a dry day for the morrow I think of you at home and I know you know of this Battle and I think of your anxiety for me. I think of you as at home, But cannot know what news you have recd of this Battle, - Give God the Glory so to him with me in prayer and thank him that he has kept me through this Bloody Battle - Oh that I was more thankfull to him His mercy endurith forever such a 4 th of July such a Sabbath I shall long remember and these days work here among the wounded & dying - But I have learned much - I must say a little only we suffered so much in this Battle and I think if Capt Pettit had been here instead of this fool of a Rority we should have lost [6] less The first day we [illegible strikeout] (ie our Corps) was thrown in to fill a Gap in our lines where the enemy were marching and here we here we suffered much - we were driven back about ¼ mile took another Position and held until we had No support and were ordered out - the second day the line of battle was the same shape only farther back. the enemy had their Artillery conceled much - and then the Position that our Capt. put us in was the worst we could have Capt Pettit would never have put us in such a Place. I will mark out a little and show a little as to our Position and the Position Capt would probily have taken had he been here. I cannot map out the whole but will where we were (the center)

Sheldon, George, When the Smoke Cleard at Gettysburg. Tennessee: Cumberland House,2003.
 
Maust, Roland R., Grappling With Death; The Union Second Corps Hospital at Gettysburg. Ohio: Morningside House, Inc., 2001.
 
Coco, Gregory A., A Strange and Blighted Land; Gettysburg: The Aftermath of a Battle. Gettysburg, PA: Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, 1995.