George W. Palmer (1838-1863) was a 23 year-old barber of Lynnfield, Essex county, Massachusetts, when he enlisted in the fall of 1861 as a private in Co. A, 19th Massachusetts Infantry. He was slightly wounded in the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 but fell ill in the winter of 1862-63. He died of “disease” at the USA Hospital on Islington Lane in Philadelphia on 26 February 1863 leaving a wife, Louisa (Mansfield) Palmer, and their five year-old daughter, Carrie, to grieve his loss. The disease was undoubtedly smallpox as the Hospital on Islington Lane was reserved for those soldiers suffering from contagious, or “eruptive” diseases. Such “loathsome” diseases may have also included measles, erysipelas, or scarlet fever, but the surgeon’s description of George’s symptoms point to smallpox. The purplish color of the skin is a sure symptom. Likewise. the surgeon’s concern with sending George’s personal effects home to his wife that might result in the transmission of the disease to her and her child also points to smallpox. It may even be that George’s wife was prohibited from visiting him in the hospital due to his being quarantined.
How common was smallpox during the Civil War? According to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, “from May 1861 to June 1866, there were 12,236reported cases of smallpox among white troops in the Union army, or 5.5 per thousand men annually. In addition, there were 6,716 cases among the U.S. Colored Troops, or 36.6 per thousand men annually. The death rates from the disease were approximately 23 percent for the white troops and 35 percent for the colored troops.”
The Islington Lane Hospital was located one-third of a mile north of Ridge avenue and beyond the Old Glenwood Cemetery where George was first laid to rest. Prior to its being turned into a hospital, the 33 acre property was occupied by the Fleming family. The hospital was sited in the three-story stone building and a stone barn was used as an annex. Glenwood Cemetery was a 20-acre cemetery founded in 1850 at the corner of Ridge Road and Islington Lane in North Philadelphia. During the Civil War, Glenwood, along with other cemeteries in the city, became the resting place for Union soldiers who died in Philadelphia’s military camps and hospitals, with around 700 interred in Glenwood alone. In 1888, more than two decades after the end of the war, all of these soldiers’ remains, along with others, were moved to the newly formed Philadelphia National Cemetery.
Attending George as the Surgeon-in-charge of that hospital was Dr. Patterson—the sole physician—as well as one Matron, one Ward Master, and ten other subordinates. [Source: Sunday Dispatch, 18 October 1863. I could not find a biographical sketch for Dr. James V. Patterson although it appears he was a life-long resident of Philadelphia, having been born there about 1825, and he was working as a physician there when the war began, his office located at the corner of Chestnut and 13th Streets near the city center.
What is most incredible about these three letters is the sensitivity displayed by the physician pertaining to just one case of the hundreds of patients he must have seen during the war. I’ve seen similar letters but none that convey such compassion, and rarely penned by a physician as opposed to a matron or nurse.
Note: These letters are from the personal collection of Greg Herr and were offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.
Letter 1
U. S. A. Hospital
Islington Lane, Philadelphia
February 25, 1863
Mrs. Louisa Palmer,
My dear Madam, it is with great anxiety I pen you these lines. When I last wrote your husband was doing as well as could be expected & I hoped for his recovery but within the last two days unfavorable symptoms have set in. His lungs are becoming congested. His face today has a purple color showing obstruction to the circulation & his whole appearance betokens anxiety and distress. I would not deceive you but tell you candidly & frankly that he is in a very critical condition.
My heart feels for you, deprived as you are of the consolation of being at his bedside & ministering to his wants. I asked him just now f he had any message to send home. He replied, no, and turned over upon his side and closed his eyes. May God grant us both assistance at this time. I, to do my duty by your husband, & you to bear all that he may see fit to place upon you.
Very respectfully yours, — J. V. Patterson, Surgeon in charge
U. S. A. Hospital
Islington Lane, Philadelphia
February 26, 1863
Mrs. Louisa Palmer,
My dear Madam, I mailed you a letter yesterday informing you of the critical condition of your husband. I have still a harder task today. My worst fears are realized. Your beloved husband is no more. He died this morning about 2 o’clock very quietly & with little suffering. The Matron read to him yesterday a couple of letters from home & he seemed much affected. She asked him if she should write for him, he dictating the words. He said, “Yes, tomorrow, not now.” Poor fellow, his tomorrow never came. Before that came round, his spirit had winged its immortal flight. Death has entered the happy circle of your household & taken away a loved one. In this dark hour of your better trial, heart-stricken & bereaved, there is but one source of consolation. We are in our Heavenly Father’s hands. “Even so Father, for so it seemeth good in thy” sight. The ways of Providence are mysterious & past finding out, but when we shall come to trace for ourselves in the mass of time the wisdom of all his inscrutable dealings, we shall be able to say, “Righteous art thou, oh Lord.”
I shall look over the personal effects of your husband and those that can be safely sent away from the Hospital without the fear of conveying the infection, I will carefully pack up & hold them subject to your further order.
Be pleased to accept my warmest sympathy for you & yours in this hour of sadness, & believe me, very truly yours, — J. V. Patterson, Surgeon in charge.
Letter 3
U. S. A. Hospital
Islington Lane, Philadelphia
March 13th 1863
Mrs. Louisa Palmer,
My dear Madam, I send you by Adams Express the personal effects of your late husband which I judge there will be no danger in transmitting to you. You will be kind enough to sign the receipt for the articles & transmit it by mail to me.
The remains of your husband have been interred in Glenwood Cemetery & his grave is numbered, “Section N, Row A, Grave No. 64” so that perhaps in some future time you may be permitted to look upon his last earthly resting place. Very sincerely yours, — J. V. Patterson, Surgeon in charge
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