I was trying to find more information about this man who Tony Horwitz wrote about in his "PTSD: The Civil War's Hidden Legacy" in the January 2015, Smithsonian Magazine.
At first I just knew he was from Michigan so figured he probably was in a Michigan regiment. However, I found that there were quite a few regiments from the state involved in the Seven Days Battles in 1862. Then. later in the article I found he was in Company K of the 1st Michigan.
This really helped, but I still could not find out at which of the battles he was wounded. However, Union casualties during the battles were 1,734 killed, 8,066 wounded and 6,055 missing/captured. The Co. K roster lists a John Hilt from Ann Arbor, Michigan, but mention was also made that he might be John Hildt because of a spelling error.
--Old Secesh
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label 1st Michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1st Michigan. Show all posts
Thursday, December 10, 2015
PTSD in the Civil War-- Part 9: Corp. John Hildt, Co. K, 1st Michigan
They returned to a society without a Veterans Administration, a G.I. Bill or modern pharmaceuticals.
PTSD didn't enter the language until 1980, but Civil War soldiers certainly were afflicted with it. They had flashbacks, panic attacks, insomnia and suicidal thoughts.
Historian Eric Dean has examined the records of 291 veterans admitted to the Indiana Hospital for the Insane and found cases like Elijah Boswell who "Sobbed & cried & imagined that someone was going to kill him" and that "the rebels was after him."
Another one, who survived a horrific artillery bombardment, would shout at his wife, "Don't you hear them bombarding?" Another one considered suicidal and sleepless was convinced he was "bleeding to death from imaginary wounds."
The brother of John Hildt, the Union soldier described in the first post after losing his arm in the Seven days Battle, wrote a letter in his native German in hopes "he will recognize anything I say to him. He is John Hildt Corporal Co K 1st Michigan Vol."
Hildt's family also sought a pension for both his physical and mental disability. The latter was denied, the pension office wrote, due to "lack of proof" that Hildt became insane due to his wartime service and wounding.
--Old Secesh
PTSD didn't enter the language until 1980, but Civil War soldiers certainly were afflicted with it. They had flashbacks, panic attacks, insomnia and suicidal thoughts.
Historian Eric Dean has examined the records of 291 veterans admitted to the Indiana Hospital for the Insane and found cases like Elijah Boswell who "Sobbed & cried & imagined that someone was going to kill him" and that "the rebels was after him."
Another one, who survived a horrific artillery bombardment, would shout at his wife, "Don't you hear them bombarding?" Another one considered suicidal and sleepless was convinced he was "bleeding to death from imaginary wounds."
The brother of John Hildt, the Union soldier described in the first post after losing his arm in the Seven days Battle, wrote a letter in his native German in hopes "he will recognize anything I say to him. He is John Hildt Corporal Co K 1st Michigan Vol."
Hildt's family also sought a pension for both his physical and mental disability. The latter was denied, the pension office wrote, due to "lack of proof" that Hildt became insane due to his wartime service and wounding.
--Old Secesh
Friday, November 27, 2015
PTSD in the Civil War? You Betcha-- Part 1: "Acute Mania"
From the January 2015, Smithsonian Magazine "PTSD: The Cuvil War's Hidden Legacy" by Tony Horwitz.
IN THE SUMMER OF 1862, JOHN HILDT LOST A LIMB. THEN HE LOST HIS MIND.
John Hildt was a 25-year-old corporal from Michigan who saw the elephant (action) for the first time at the seven Days battles in Virginia where he was shot in the right arm. It had to be amputated close to the shoulder which caused a severe hemorrhage.
He survived, but was transferred to the Government Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D.C., suffering from what was termed "acute mania."
Before the war, he had been a laborer with no prior history of mental illness. In the Army, he had risen quickly through the ranks as an able soldier. His family wrote to the hospital expressing surprise that "his mind could not be restored to its original state.
Hildt remained in the hospital for years without improvement. He was described as withdrawn, apathetic and at times so "excited and disturbed" that he hit other patients at the asylum. He finally died there in 1911.
--Old Secesh
IN THE SUMMER OF 1862, JOHN HILDT LOST A LIMB. THEN HE LOST HIS MIND.
John Hildt was a 25-year-old corporal from Michigan who saw the elephant (action) for the first time at the seven Days battles in Virginia where he was shot in the right arm. It had to be amputated close to the shoulder which caused a severe hemorrhage.
He survived, but was transferred to the Government Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D.C., suffering from what was termed "acute mania."
Before the war, he had been a laborer with no prior history of mental illness. In the Army, he had risen quickly through the ranks as an able soldier. His family wrote to the hospital expressing surprise that "his mind could not be restored to its original state.
Hildt remained in the hospital for years without improvement. He was described as withdrawn, apathetic and at times so "excited and disturbed" that he hit other patients at the asylum. He finally died there in 1911.
--Old Secesh
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