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Moses S Herrick
Dr. Norman Smith's amputation patient
1861
(The following are the personal edited research
notes of Michael Echols, the source of which may or
may not be completely documented)
Dr. Norman Smith did in
deed perform the first amputation of the Civil War in the Rotunda of the
Capital due to a ankle bullet wound obtained from a rifle which fell over
when stacked, and this is the name and information regarding that patient:
Moses S Herrick:
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Residence: Beverly,
Massachusetts
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Enlistment Date: 30
April 1861
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Distinguished
Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
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Side Served: Union
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State Served:
Massachusetts
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Unit Numbers: 987
987
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Service Record: Shot
by accident on 26 April 1861 and foot amputated
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Enlisted as a
Lieutenant 4th Class on 30 April 1861 at the age of 29
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Enlisted in Company
E, 8th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 30 April
1861
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Discharged Company
E, 8th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 19 May 1861
8th Regiment History
EIGHTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS
VOLUNTEER MILITIA (INFANTRY)
THREE MONTHS
The 8th Regt. Mass. Vol. Mil., "Minute Men," was called
to Boston by Special Order No. 14, issued on the afternoon of
April 15, 1861, by the Adjutant General of Massachusetts.
Having only eight companies, one company was added from the
7th Regt., a Salem unit, and one from Pittsfield, taken from
the 1st Battalion of Infantry. Leaving the State April 18, it
proceeded to Annapolis, Md., on its way to the national
capital. At Annapolis two companies were placed on the
frigate CONSTITUTION, guarding her until she was safely
removed to the harbor of New York. Another company was
detached to do guard duty at Fort McHenry near Baltimore, Md.
The remainder of the regiment, after repairing the road-bed
from Annapolis to Annapolis Junction and restoring the rolling
stock of the railroad, proceeded to Washington, arriving April
26. Not until April 30 were the men mustered into the service
of the United States.
On May 11 the regiment was ordered into
camp at the Relay House, Md. Here Col. Munroe resigned on
account of age and ill health, and was succeeded by Col.
Edward W. Hinks, an officer destined to attain high rank
before the war was done. On July 2d the entire regiment was
ordered to Baltimore, Md., the left wing arriving in the
morning and the right wing in the evening of the following day.
On July 29 it was ordered to
Boston, Mass., and here on
August 1, 1861, it was mustered out of the service.
This information researched
and graciously provided
by Eleanor Gavazzi, Groton, Mass.
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