Wounded Soldiers in Ward of Harewood Hospital - Oct 1864

3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog at:
www.loc.gov/pictures/

LOC Title: Washington, D.C. Patients in ward of Harewood Hospital; mosquito nets over beds

Date: Oct 1864

Photographer: Not Identified

Notes: For background, below are a sampling of items I found, from Civil War newspapers, and books published in the decades following the war, that reference Harewood Hospital. Near the very bottom is a link to the Yale University Library collection of photos of wounded soldiers treated at Harewood, with descriptions of their wounds and treatments - the photos are quite disturbing.
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The Pioneer
Bridgeton, NJ
Jan 17, 1863
DIED
On the 28th of Dec. in the Harewood Hospital, Washington, D.C., of wounds received at the battle of Fredericksburg, Richard Rettig, in the 19th year of his age, only son of Mrs. Racheal Rettig, of this town, a member of Co. H 24th Regiment, N.J.V.”
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The Alexandria Gazette
Thursday Evening,
May 07, 1863
“The steamer John Tucker arrived in Washington with over three hundred wounded who were taken to Harewood Hospital. These were mostly wounded in the engagements of Friday and Saturday. There were but a few officers among them.”
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A history of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry in the Rebellion war, 1861-1865 by Leander W. Cogswell, Published 1891

"A Terrible Experience.
Comrade Charles C. Pike, Company F, who was at the battle of Fredericksburg, says, — "We marched upon the railroad in full view of the rebel defences, and just here, I think, the first man in Company F was killed, my dear camp-mate, Ben Nelson. We were talking together, and I had my hand on his arm, when, spat! and poor Ben's head sank lower, his frame slightly quivered, and he was gone, the bullet striking over his left eye and passing directly through his brain. We were ordered to advance, and advance we did, upon the 'bloody acre.' It always seemed miraculous that any one could get out of that hellish carnage alive….."

"I had got three slight scratches by this time, but kept at work. I had replenished my cartridge-box twice from a dead or dying comrade's, and was just getting up to get some more ammunition when a bullet struck me on the side of my face at the angle of the lower jaw, passing left through my mouth, cutting off about one half of my tongue, knocking out eight teeth, and coming out on the opposite side near the right ear. The hemorrhage was very free, and this, with the loss of blood from my other wounds, soon made things look dusky. I became unconscious soon afterward, and the next I knew the firing had ceased. It was dark and cold, and the air was filled with groans and moans of the hundreds of wounded who were lying about me. I am told that a large number of us who were severely wounded were allowed to be carried off the field when our boys came to bury the dead….."

"December 26, thirteen days after the battle, I was sent to Washington, arriving the next day more dead than alive, and was placed in the Harewood hospital, where I received the most kindly and skilful treatment from both surgeons and nurses. After several months I became able to take care of the sick and wounded as they were brought in, and was afterward detailed as hospital steward. During the eight months I served as such, I suppose I extracted at least three thousand teeth…”
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The Prodigy: A Brief Account of the Bright Career of a Youthful Genius, Dr. G. E. A. Winans, Together with Some Interesting Extracts From His Correspondence and Manuscripts. By O. VanDusen, Published 1870

Harewood Hospital, Washington,
Sunday May 29th, 1864.

“Dear ones at home….After writing from New York, I concluded to go on to Washington, so I completed my arrangements with the officials of the W. S., and on Friday night received my commission, and was ordered to report immediately at Washington, passports being furnished me. I purchased my uniform, and left New York Saturday night for Washington, where I arrived this morning at 11 o’clock. I presented myself at the director’s office, and was ordered on to Harewood Hospital, and I am just now reminded of my military position, by hearing the clear blast of the winding bugle echoing over hills and dales, calling the soldiers in from their wanderings for the evening. Oh, what a place is this ! would I had a painter’s pencil and an inspired pen to paint what I see, and tell you what I hear. But it is Sabbath evening, and I must not transgress. This afternoon, on my arrival here, I witnessed the funeral of a captain. The ‘Stars and Stripes’ were laid on his coffin, and they marched away to the deadhouse, the band playing an old Methodist tune. The afternoon was lovely, the sky rich blue, the grass dark green and three feet high, and the procession in uniform winding around the picturesque valley, and up the hill slopes, while the solemn tones of the band mournfully falling upon the ear; all caused a strange feeling of sadness. I am so tired and sleepy, I must close….

Monday Morning
This is one of the loveliest spots on earth. It was formerly the pleasure grounds of a Virginian gentleman, and is known as the Corcoran Estate. We are just two miles from Washington, and have a beautiful view of the capitol as it majestically towers above the city. Nature seems to have surpassed herself in beautifying this spot. We are stationed on a slight elevation of ground, amidst an endless succession of hills, dales and plains, all carpeted with long, green, waving grass; bowers of trees and bushes rise here and there ; a beautiful stream runs in front of our headquarters. But it cannot be described, the swells of ground are so graceful; groves resting on grassy slopes, and the bright luxuriance of Southern vegetation, adds a charm most powerful.

Our hospital is about as much like what I expected as an elephant resembles a mouse. Why, it is a town instead of one building; it covers about eight acres of ground. The buildings are in long rows, side by side, each one being much longer than the long woodsheds at railroad stations. Then there are tent hospitals, each one about 90 or 100 feet in length. I have one barrack and six tent hospitals under my charge. These are filled with wounded and sick, comprising one hundred and sixty patients, which I have to visit twice every day. Why, they think no more of cutting off a leg or arm, than you do in Canada of pulling a tooth. During the few hours I was here yesterday, I saw more surgery and blood than I had seen in all my life before. I do not know how many legs and arms I have seen amputated since I have been here; they were heaped upon the floor, legs and arms in great piles together, and blood covered the floor so thickly that we might well say, we were wading in blood.

We have about 2,200 patients which, with the officers and soldiers on duty, give a population of over 3,000. Think of all this at one hospital. Before I wrote last night, I had visited my 160 patients, and administered to their wants. The work is very heavy and trying, but the practice is most excellent, and will do me much good. The surgeon I am to replace, leaves in the morning for another field of labor. The officers and surgeons occupy one of the long barrack hospitals. It is fitted up into private rooms. The business is all done here. The surgeons rank with the officers, and are treated in every respect the same way, eating and associating with them.

By the time I write again, I will know more of this extensive hospital, the largest around Washington. The weather is very warm and sultry; vegetation far in advance of Canada. Yesterday I had a good dinner at Washington, on green peas and other vegetables, just sprouting with you.
Affectionately yours,
Geo. E. A. Winans.”
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The Evening Star
Washington, D.C.
May 29, 1866

“SALE OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AT HAREWOOD HOSPITAL.
Chief Quartermaster's Office, Depot of Washington, Washington. D. C., May 24, 1866.

Will be sold at Public Auction, on the premises, under the direction of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel James M. Moore…. on SATURDAY, June 2, 1866, at 10 o'clock a.m., the Government buildings, situated at Harewood Hospital, near the northern terminus of Seventh street west, as follows:

Fifteen (15) Hospital Wards, each 24 by 187 feet.
One (1) Hospital Ward, 24 by 48 feet.
One (1) Building. 38 by 189 feet.
One (1) Dining Room, 25 by 185 feet.
One (1) Dining Room, 28 by 152 feet.
One (1) Kitchen. 30 by 89 feet.
One (1) Kitchen and Quarters. 30 by 117 feet.
One (1) Water Closet, 18 by 20 feet.
One Chapel, 30 by 73 feet.
Three (3) Wards each 20 1/2 by 102 feet.
One (1) Tank and Stand
Ten (10) Sinks, each 6 by 8 feet.
One (1) Dead House. 22 by 31 feet.
One (1) Laundress Quarters, 24 by 71 feet.
One (1) Wash-House, 24 by 118 feet.
One (11 Saw-Shed, 12 by 18 feet.
One (1) Laundry and Bath House. 30 by 73 feet.
One (1) Shed adjoining, 12 by 16 feet.
One (1) Quarters, 21 by 26 feet.
One (1) Coal Bunk, 12 by 12 feet.
Two (2) Plank Walks, 2 1/2 by 200 feet.
Covered Ways.

BARRACKS ATTACHED TO THE HOSPITAL
Three (3) Barracks, 24 by 58 feet.
One (1) Office, 16 by 26 feet.
One (1) Sink, 5 by 8 feet.
Three (3) Sinks, each 8 by 8 feet.
One (1) Guard-House, 16 by 25 feet.
One (1) Addition to same. 10 by 16 feet.
One (1) Watch-Box, 8 by 10 feet.
Foot Walks.

The buildings will be sold singly, and must be removed within ten days from date of sale. Terms Cash, in Government Funds. D.H. Bucker, Bvt. Maj. Gen. and Chief Quartermaster, Depot of Washington.”

[The proceeds of the sale was only $3,000 - PT]
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Link to Yale University Library Photos of Wounded Civil War Soldiers treated at Harewood Hospital: findit.library.yale.edu/?f%5Bdigital_collection_sim%5D%5B...
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Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / Civil War Trust. CCWP Link: www.civilwarphotography.org/

Taken on: July 14, 2020

Sets appears in: • 3D Civil War - 1864 • 3D Civil War Glass Plates

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