America’s Amazing History of Miracles: One Individual’s Miraculous Survival after a Bullet Wound in the Civil War
The miracles highlighted by this blog series so far have been occurrences that enabled our leaders to continue the creation of our nation. This article is, instead, a miracle for one individual instead of the entire nation.
The Civil War was the deadliest of all American wars. The terrible death toll has recently been re-estimated from new research, put at about 750,000 rather than the 650,000 figure used for the last century. Further studies are underway. You may wish to examine this update in the reference below. 1
Carnage experienced by fighters not killed outright was also horrible. Many of the wounded died slow agonizing deaths because of the rudimentary state of medical knowledge at the time. Or because there were so many wounded on the battlefield that they could not be moved in time for medical attention.
If antibiotics had been available, that would have made a huge difference. Some fortunate enough to survive returned home missing limbs or with facial or other head injuries, infections, diseases, and mental disturbances now known as PTSD. Their quality of life must have been incredibly hard to endure.
Imagine receiving a lead ball from a musket that entered the left side of your abdomen and exited from your back. This was the unfortunate experience of Union General Henry A. Barnum.
He miraculously survived and lived for another 30 years, although in pain the entire time. Sadly, he eventually passed away because of this injury. Here is his remarkable story:
www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/medical-miracle-science-general-henry-barnum
1 Zeller, Bob. “How Many Died in the American Civil War?” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, Updated 23 Aug. 2023, www.history.com/news/american-civil-war-deaths. Accessed April 18, 2024.
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