USA > South Carolina > Documentary history of the American revolution: consisting of letters and papers relating to the contest for liberty, chiefly in South Carolina, from originals in the possession of the editor, and other sources, V.2 > Part 24
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Telfair, fellow prisoners; Zubly was in irons. Dr. Read lay all night without any bedding, laying on his breast, on account of the wound of his head, making of his arms a pillow. The prisoners reasoned and consoled each other, agreeing that it was chiefly from party rage that these irregularities took place. On the third day Dr. Read was released, leaving his fellow prisoners behind. He rode home, and met with his father's tender sympathy, and a regret in the old British officer that it was not in his power to redress his wrongs. Mr. Read now consented to his son going to the Northern army, enjoining him only to serve medically, by way of improving himself. Dr. Read then, as soon as his wound was healed, set himself about settling his affairs, and set out for the North. His employers generally approved of his purpose, and paid him in coin, Mr. William Elliott especially doubled his account, and presented him with the finest young horse in his stable. He took a solemn farewell of his father and mother, and young brother and sister, and set out about 31st May, 1778, with little hope of ever seeing them more. He made some improvements in his arms and travelling equipments, discharged a drunken servant and employed a steady, re- spectable Englishman. When he reached Georgetown, Winyaw, a letter overtook him, informing him of his father's death. Dr. Read returned express, and, after visiting his beloved father's grave, near Savannah, he rode to his late seat to offer consolation to his mother. In a few days he set out again on his expedition, and after some singu- lar adventures, reached the field of battle at Monmouth; the battle was raging, Gen. Washington having rallied Gen. Lee's retreating columns, and ordered Lee into the rear. Dr. Read saw Gen. Lee standing at a tavern window with the landlady, and heard him call aloud to an officer riding by, and was told that the General asked, " What news?" The officer replied : " They are fighting on the plains of Monmouth, and the British grenadiers have given way;" when Gen. Lee replied, "That is a d-d lie, the British grenadiers never give way. Was an angel to come from Heaven and tell him so, he would say he was a liar.". This was certainly said, as it came out in testimony on Lee's trial. Dr. Read, after a singular adventure, reached the battle-field. All appeared to him confusion and smoke; the weather was excessively hot. Dr. Read's enquiry was for the Pennsylvania line, and was told by a wounded soldier that Gen. Wayne had pushed it on to the field of battle; presently he saw an officer borne off by six soldiers, in a dying condition, and knew it to be that of Col. Bonner, the man he was on the enquiry for. He stayed by him a few minutes, when he rode into the thick of the battle, his servant all the time remonstrating with him
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to go no further, reminding him of a promise "not to carry him into battle." Dr. Read saw Gen. Washington riding to and fro along the line, sometimes at full speed, looking nobly, excited, and calling loudly to the troops by the appellation of brave boys. He saw Washington standing to the right of the line, with a number of officers near him, and saw a cannon ball strike a wet hole in the side of a hill, and the dirt fly on him. Two officers then rode up, and seemed to reason with him, and lay hold of the bridle of his horse. The General, coolly standing in his stirrups, was said to say to the officers who urged that that was no place for him, he being observed by the enemy. "that he was admiring the manner in which Proctor was handling their right." Dr. Read was near enough to hear the word Proctor, and was told what the General said. He then moved off at full speed, all the throng fol- lowing, and Read among the rest. It was Col. Laurens and Hunting- don, he thinks, who prevailed on the General to change his position. The dust and smoke would sometimes so shut out the view, that one could form no idea of what was going on-the roar of cannon, the crackling of musketry, men's voices, making horrible confusion ; then the groans and cries of the wounded. Dr. Read watched for an oppor- tunity to speak to Gen. Washington, from old acquaintance, but it was not obtained, or of Col. Laurens. The evening at length came on, and the battle ceased, except some skirmishing at a distance, and some struggles to the left in arranging off prisoners.
The battle ceased with the approach of night, both armies exhausted by fatigue and the heat of the day-a deep morass lying between them. They lay down, man and horse, just where they halted; Washington and suit lay upon the field. It was generally understood the battle was to be renewed at the dawn of day. Dr. Reed, with his servant, rude on to the left of the line, seeing, in a few instances, regimental surgeons officiating, and administering to some wounded soldiers, and hearing the groans and cries of some men who had crawled, or been brought off into the rear. They reached a wagon which stood in an inclined situation, having the fore-wheels shot away; this position afforded a comfortable shelter to the two adventurers; their horses being tied to the wagon, lay down likewise. They had been rode seventy or eighty miles that day; but, being the finest horses in the army, they bore it well, and were not in the end hurt. At the dawn of day they beard the hout of victory-"the British are gone!" Dr. Read mounted. and rode down the hill which bounded the morass, and, ob- serving several men entering the low ground to cross over, he did so also. The bog was very deep, and required the utmost effort of his and
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his servant's horse also, to get through it. As objects became visible, he saw several dead soldiers in the bog, mired to the waist, and probably shot. On the opposite side he saw an officer lying a few yards from the morass, nearly cut in two by a cannon shot; he was alive, and spoke, implored Dr. Read to lift him to a tree which stood near, alleging that he had been all night trying to do so, " that he might die easy." The elotted blood was piled up several inches on his front, and it had ceased to flow. Dr. Read, with the assistance of his servant, essayed to lift him tenderly, and, stepping backwards, they placed him against the tree. The blood now began to flow perceptibly, and in all probability ter- minated his life; they heard him utter a few words of thankfulness, and proceeded on. At the summit of the hill, dismal, indeed, was the scene; there lay fifty or sixty British grenadiers-some dead, some alive. calling for " help" "water"' uttering the most dreadful and severe imprecations on "the rebels." Dr. Read and his servant ran down the hill, and found plenty of water; with his servant's hat he administered many draughts of water to these poor, famished soldiers; it was busy occupation for an hour. Dr. Read now found himself em- barked in the business in a most remarkable manner; he proceeded to dress wounds and apply bandages. Tearing off shirts from the dead, · he made bandages, and applied them, to the best of his skill, for remedy- ing hemorrhage. Some country people and negroes coming to the field of carnage, Dr. Read enlisted their feelings, and hired them to assist in lifting and turning these wounded men, and, at length, in procuring wagons and straw to remove them to the court-house. In all this arduous undertaking, and work of humanity, he was greatly assisted by his servant, Peter Houston, who, until his death, must have felt it the sweetest solace of his life. They succeeded in moving twenty- one grenadiers, all with broken legs, or muscles so lacerated as to render them helpless. Dr. Read, seeing no medical aid come to him, proceeded to amputate wherever the patient would consent to the operation. In these operations he was aided by lint and bandages being sent, he knew not from whence, and every article of nourishment. Dr. Read continued to dwell in the court-house, sleeping, when he was enabled to sleep, in the Judge's bench. There he was observed by sundry groups of officers, who came riding around on a tour of observation, and his name enquired into. His servant sometimes entered into tull explana- tions whence he was, and his motives, &c., and all he would say was, " at his own expense." This explanation must have had an effect, as on the third day he received from the Secretary a special commission, which gave him rank in the medical department, and extra rations and
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forage: This circumstance fixed Dr. Read in the medical department, whereas, he had left Georgia with an intention of obtaining a company of horse, or foot, and serve in the line. No crusader erer set out for Palestine against the crescent with more sincerity than did he in de- votion to the cause of freedom; but the above circumstance changed his purpose, and gave a more settled turn to his mind. On the fourth day of his care of the wounded grenadiers, two medical men came out of New York. and relieved him from the arduous duty. He explained to these gentlemen the nature and circumstances of the several cases, his amputations, &c. ; to which they coolly observed, that he " had only given so many subjects to the Chelsea Hospital." Dr. Read then re- paired to a house where lay a British officer, severely wounded through the groins, and in a dying condition. He barely spoke, and pointed to his wound. Dr. R. witnessed, on this occasion, the appalling circum- stance of this gentleman's servants, a male and female. reasoning on the sharing of his silver, camp equipage and watch, which he evidently understood. While Dr. Read stood listening to this scene, he was accosted by an officer of rank, who, after enquiring if "he was Dr. Read ?" desired that he would go immediately to Englishtown, and take charge of Col. Wessen. who lay there in a wounded condition. He did so, and found that gentlemen in a most deplorable state. Hle had received a wound from a cannon ball, which, striking his neck, he being in a stooping position, raked along the spine, tearing away clothing, skin and integuments, and muscles, to its extremity. He lay all night on the field of battle, supposed to be dead; but, being alive next morn- ing, he was carried to Englishtown, about three miles distant. There Dr. Read found him attended by three of his artillery men, in a very sunken situation, while they appeared only to wait for his death. Dr. Read, with care and exertion, immediately undertook the case; by examining the wound, declared it not mortal, but capable of remedy. By his manner and cheering language, he raised the drooping spirits of the wounded man and his attendants, cleansed and dressed his wounds in such a manner as to revive hope, and afford ease and comfort. The patient was a large, heavy mau, and difficult to manage; the suppura- tion of his wound was prodigious, and required four dressings in the day and night. In all this Dr. Read found his servant eminently use. ful; lint and dressings were seut in by some persons in the country in abundance, and many articles of nourishment. On the fourth day. Gen. Washington, with a number of officers, rode up to this nursery scene; Gen. W. alighted, and, enquiring for Dr. Read, was informed of the condition of the wounded Colonel. The General accosted hitu
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tenderly, and prevailed on him to take a tonic dose prepared for him, ending with telling him to obey the orders of his surgeon, and get well, " I cannot spare such officers as you are." Col. Wessen evidently im- proved after that day, and was more tractable. Dr. Read had the satis- faction of seeing his patient recover in twenty-three days, so far as to be conveyed away on a litter on men's shoulders. It is a remarkable circumstance, thar thirty years after this scene, Dr. Read being in the town of Ipswich, in Massachusetts, met a gentlemen who knew Col. Wessen, and who had heard him speak of "a young surgeon from the far South, who attended him, and saved his life." The Colonel had died an old man a few months previously. Some interesting circum- stances took place during this attendance, one of which we will relate. In walking out to enjoy a little fresh air, he met a chaise driving towards him, when suddenly he saw it guided out of the road, and turn over with a crash. He ran up, and saw two ladies on the ground; they appeared much disordered and disconcerted. the horse struggling with the entangled harness. He first lifted the old lady, the daughter had got up, and appeared in great confusion ; he then seized the horse, dis- entangled the harness, and righted the chaise. Some civilities passed, some thanks were made; but with coldness and ceremony. It, however, became necessary for him to assist the ladies iuto the vehicle, and lead the horse around to the road. The ladies then seemed to rally their good feelings, and invited him to their house, which appeared in view. The mother and daughter, Mrs. and Miss English, became talkative and civil; Mrs. E. said she had an aversion to the American rebel offi- cers, and did not wish to meet one, which was the reason of her turning out of the road in which she met with the disaster. Many gallant and reconciling things were exchanged, and the parties became acquainted. The old lady inquired of Dr. Read in what manner, with most security, she could put away her plate and wine. He advised her; but said, of the wine, madam, I should be apt to be a plunderer myself, as I have a patient in town whose life might be saved by a few bottles. Dr. Read took leave of the ladies, and that evening a dozen of old Madeira was sent, of which Col. Wessen benefited, and it was greatly instrumental in restoring him. Dr. Read now received orders to repair to Princeton, where the general hospital was fixed. There he found a dismal scene; a typhus fever prevailed to a fatal degree. Out of twelve medical men, five or six had died, others retired, and the department left to a German surgeon. Dr. Read took charge of the hospital, and endeavored to remedy the disorder, but in vain; five or six patients died daily. The attendants refused to do the duties assigned them; an awful scene of
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superstition prevailed. The duties all devolved on Dr. Read and the German, aided by a Scotch lady, the matron, with a few women, not one of whom would go into the hospital after night. At length Dr. Read was attacked with the fever, and underwent a severe illness; his first and second attendant died, and he was left to an Indian woman In a state of delirium he ordered the sick all to be carried out of town, and deposited in the farmers' barns. Although illegal and unwar- ranted, it was done, and it pleased God that the measure succeeded, as no new case ensued, and no death happened after. Dr. Read's case terminated in an abscess of his arm, and resulted favorably. On his recovery, he was surprised at being told of his orders respecting the sick, being unconscious of it; but rejoiced at the happy consequences, At Princeton it was Dr. Read's good fortune to obtain of Mrs. Living- ston a chamber, and a closet as an office, which gave him an opportunity of accommodating the young soldier, Marquis Lafayette, on a very cold night, when not a bed or blanket elsewhere could be had; and, on another occasion, of lodging Col. Tatnall, of Georgia, and his lady and daughter, who were passing through, prisoners of war on parole, on their way to embark for England. Washington lay at winter quarters at Morristown. and a general hospital was ordered at Brunswick. Dr. Read, dismissing the hospital at Princeton, went on to Brunswick to seek employment. Dr. Scott was the principal, and he being ordered to appoint an assistant, was on the look-out for some surgeon who might snit his purpose, and act in concert. Many were the offers made him by medical men of high standing, who were driven from various cities by the British army, some leaving their stations from principle. Dr. Read arrived at the time of this contest for preference, and saw little or no prospect of employment for him-young and a stranger, far from home and friends and resources; but, being one evening in company, in a large mess, accounts were brought of a battle at Spotswood, and that a wounded soldier lay in a dangerous situation, and wanted surgical aid. No one offered to go; the distance was twelve miles from Brunswick, the weather extremely cold. Dr. Read enquired : " Will none of you senior surgeons go?" Nobody consented. At length he said, with an asseveration, " that if he could get a guide he would go." It was reasoned against by several, both medical and officers of the line, and Dr. Read was told that the thing was impossible, and counselled him not to attempt it; he, however, persevered-a hardy carman, who knew the way, was obtained, who undertook the business for a promised reward. The whole country being covered with snow, no road could be discovered. The guide was excessively clad, and rode a tine horse
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of his own; Dr. Read was comfortably clad, and made no addition to his clothing, except a linen shirt over his body linen (at the suggestion of his landlady). Several gentlemen, learning the chivalric undertak- ing of a young Southerner, came to advise and take leave of him ; they advised him to keep speaking to the guide -- he did so, frequently eu- quiring if " he was sure of the way," as nothing was to be seen except the white expanse of snow for miles. At length, having accomplished about eight miles of the way, the man ceased to reply ; on riding up to him, he was still-senseless-dead. Dr. R. led the horse to a house now in view, when the inhabitants pronounced that he was cold-struck, and that all was over. Dr. Read obtained another guide, and made the ride, found the wounded man bleeding, a ball having passed deep into the muscles of his thigh, and taken a direction around the bone, and which he extracted. The thigh bone was broke; he set it with great difficulty, having very little assistance. Dr. R. then became so ex- hausted as to be nearly insensible, when he was beckoned by a little girl to follow her, she taking up his saddle and bridle; he followed her into a room, where he found a gentleman and lady, and child, in a warm chamber, the only room in the house which had window shutters, or a door. The gentleman said something civil to him, and pointed to the floor, before the fire-place; Dr. Read sat down, and was helped to a bowl of chocolate, scarcely conscious of anything he did, or what was said to him-fell backwards, was covered by the humane inhabitant of the chamber, and fell asleep. The good man felt his pulse, and was satisfied that he was alive, and let him lay undisturbed until he awoke in the morning, quite refreshed. Dr. Read found that his horse was safe, being taken away and cared for by some fellow-soldier of the wounded man, who likewise moved him from the cold and dreary house where he lay; he saw the man some months afterwards, a tolerable cure. A day or two after this occurred, Dr. Scott appointed the several appli- cants for office to meet him. Dr. Read had travelled back to Bruns- wick, on the track he went as his guide; he repaired to the meeting, when Dr. Scott, hearing the several merits and pretensions, which were of the first character, said: "Where is the young Southern man who went to the wounded soldier lately?" Dr. Read replied, "I am he." "Then you are my man, I like such hardy enterprise and zeal for the service."
Dr. Read went on acting with Dr. Scott in the utmost harmony, in fixing and organizing this new establishment, and in receiving patients and prescribing. Their practice was similar, Dr. Read's first medical preceptor, David Brady, of Savannah, being coeval with Dr. Scott in
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Edinburgh. There is a fashion in medicine as well as in other science. Dr. Read established a practice of an afternoon visit to the hospital, a thing never done by any other hospital surgeon; but, on a very stout horse, with corked heels, he used every day twice to ascend the frozen hill to the barracks. This was pleasing to the Doctor, whose corpulency and senior time of life rendered it irksome to him. It has been re- marked above that the weather in 1775-779, was extremely cold. This close attention to business was noticed by the Superintending Officer, Col. Carvel Hale, and by several other officers residing in the town, which attached them to the young, stranger Ductor. The army was at this time very full of women and children, and in its destitute situa- tion they partook especially of its discomforts; widows, deserted wives and girls were many. Often they were seen walking down to Bruns- wick bare-footed, carrying an infant in their arms, with one or two little ones holding on to their skirts, through the snow; their resort was to the doctor's, and to the quarters of the officers. A camp woman was generally considered of loose character; but it was not strictly so in our army-many were innocent and correct, whose real history would be affectingly interesting. Dr. Read has at times, during a snow-storm, had three of these poor sufferers, with several children, sheltered in his chamber, whose protection from the weather, and a good fire, were their chief object; this was the case likewise with the other officers in the town. Charity, and its means and forbearance, being nearly ex- hausted, Dr. Read, with Col. Carvel Hale, Col. Abraham Beauford and Major Graham, met and devised a plan of aiding, clothing and support- ing these wretched beings. They resolved to erect a theatre, and play, to raise funds for the purpose; a spacious room, called Whitehall, was gratuitously furnished by Mrs. Voorhees. The party contributed, and furnished materials, and fitted up a pit and scenes, and all the necessary appendages of a play-house, and commenced acting. The ladies of Brunswick, and the vicinity, took much interest in the plan, and did much for them; young college boys took the parts of women, and their sisters furnished dresses. It was the custom in those days to act in the costumes of the nation they represented. They played from Shakespeare and Addison; the dresses were made of camblet, which was got out of New York by strategem, and it was made up and fashioned by the ladies according to the cuts in the volumes they played from. They formed companies of working parties, and worked industriously to meet the occasions, while they retired to study their parts, and sometimes met in joint board to communicate with each other, and give the cue to the young scholars who acted the
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female parts. Dr. Read has often valued himself and his associates on their moral good habits and good conduct. A Mr. Harley, who had been a manager of a theatre in England, offered himself as director and prompter. Each of the gentlemen had seen some stage playing; Dr. Read, especially, had made it a scholastic exercise in Savannah, and was pronounced by Stanley master of the business. They played to full audiences, frequently twenty tickets were purchased, and only one or two were used. The intention was understood, and greatly applauded. Major Graham was the treasurer; the money was economically and judiciously laid out; many suits of warm clothing, and shoes and stock- ings, were got out of New York by industry and private correspondence. At length, all communication ceasing by flags of truce, an adventurous man was procured who would go in at night a slender frame, and come out next night a Falstaff in form, with goods of various sorts, which bestowed comfort on numerous needy women and children. It is highly satisfactory to reflect on the satisfaction felt on the grateful acknowledg- ment of the receivers; it was like bestowing life. There may be some actors in this drama still in being, and it would be a pleasant reflection to think on their associates; life, however, is fugitive and unstable. In 1809, thirty years after these scenes, Dr. R., on a visit, found no one scarcely that he knew; Dr. Scott was living. but very infirm, and it was with difficulty that he could make him recollect him, and not until Dr. R. Read pointed out a deep scar on his forehead, given him by a Commissary, in which Dr. R. attended him, and resented the out- rage, that Dr. Scott could fully recollect him; on which, he embraced him tenderly, shed tears, and made many enquiries. The scenes at Brunswick having ceased, Dr. Read broke up the establishment, and moved the invalids to White's house, over the Raritan, where, covered by a detachment under Baron DeKalb and Major Hamilton, of the Pennsylvanians, they were supposed to be secure, and the battle of Springfield was fought. The department being moved back to Bruns- wick, was conducted by Dr. VanBuren. Dr. Read, ever on the alert for service and distinction, joined Col. Posey, of the Virginians, on an expedition up the East River. On the second night of their being on the river, Dr. R. being sentinel, discovered, by his peculiar long sight- edness, an embarkation of horse and foot, on which it became necessary for the Colonel to retreat, having no horse with him. On the retreat, Dr. Read was taken suddenly ill, and obliged to go into a farm-house, uncertain of the principles of the landlord; he interested a young woman servant to give him early secret notice of the approach of the enemy, he having laid down with warm applications to a painful face.
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