Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
L2020.5.8 |
Collection |
Civil War Exhibit |
Object Name |
Prosthetic Leg |
Scope & Content |
This Prosthetic Leg of Private Charles E. Burns, 12th Mass. Infantry. On June 26th, 1861, 21 year old Charles E. Burns of Salem, Massachusetts enlisted as a private in Company D, of the 12Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He would see action at Edwards Ferry (part of Ball's Bluff campaign), Winchester, Gaines Mill, Cedar Mountain and Thoroughfare Gap before being severely wounded on August 30th, 1862 at 2nd Manassas. He would lie for hours on the battlefield: being counted among the 79 killed or wounded, 9 POW's and 46 missing in action members of the 12th Massachusetts Infantry. Private Buns is recorded in the Civil War Medical / Surgical History Part III, Volume II as having a double flap amputation of the right leg which was performed by Surgeon J. H. baxter U.S. Vol. Finally discharged on July 11 th , 1863, Pvt. Burns returned home to his native Salem where he became a member of the Sheridan Post, #34, GAR (Grand Army of the Republic). Pleased with his locally manufactured Salem;me Leg Company prostheses, in 1870, Burns wrote praising their product which he began wearing in the summer of 1863, "and had been in constant use ever since", a testimonial they published in their period brochure. Charles Burns died in Salem in 1916 and was interred in Salem's Greenlawn Cemetery. |
Notes |
Kenneth M. Fleming 17765 Lakefield Road Round Hill, Va. 20141 |
Number of images |
1 |
Accession number |
L2020.5.8 |