Oneonta Herald, Oneonta, NY, November 6, 1861
Civil War Letter - Dr. Meigs Case
Camp Griffin, Near Lanesville, Va., October 26th, 1861
Editor Herald: Thinking that some of your readers would be glad to hear from the 43d, which to a certain extent, is an Otsego Regiment, I for some time past have endeavored to get the leisure to give you a full account of our doings in Virginia.
No battle has been fought in which we have been engaged, but the honorable position which we have occupied in the front of the enemy has imposed on us the most arduous duties. Three miles of pickets have been furnished by the 43d on the extreme outposts for nearly three weeks, and all the available force of the regiment aside from them have been employed in felling the forests, an operation in which the Otsego wood choppers have greatly distinguished themselves.
Two companies of the Regiment are formed principally of Otsego men and was recruited principally in Laurens and Milford and is commanded by Capt. Garfield(?), the other in Oneonta, under command of Capt. Griffin. The way the Otsego boys stick together is a remarkable instance of brotherly love. As a general thing they are well and seem to enjoy themselves, but the climate and change of diet is rather hard on some of them. A young man from Milford, named Lindsay, is quite sick with typhoid fever. Mason and Houghtaling are now in our hospital.
A curious incident occurred to me in connection with my duties. On Sunday a fine-looking man was brought into the hospital by the Brigade Surgeon. He had been scouting three miles beyond Vienna and belonged to the 4th Regular Cavalry. Gen. McClellan was reconnoitering and asked someone to go to a commanding point but a short distance from their position, from which shots had been received. The report was unexpected. It was necessary for someone to ascertain whether the rebels were in force in that direction. A Captain was solicited to enter the woods and search for the rebels and report. He declined on account of the hazardous nature of the errand. A private offered himself to go, and darted into the woods. Several shots were fired, which told his friends that he was in eminent danger and while going to his rescue, he returned. More than one rebel had fallen under his practiced eye, but the brave man had received three shorts, one which passed through his ear, grazing the skull; one penetrated his side; one the calf of the leg. He was conveyed to our hospital, which is at Johnson's house, in the door yard of which my tent is pitched. One ball could not be found, and he now lies in a critical condition and time only can determine the result. But we think his recovery is not impossible.
Gen. McClellan and Staff visited the hospital shortly after and conversed with the patient and said, "I would rather have taken that myself than that you should have got it. You behaved so bravely, your conduct was that of a true soldier. You will soon recover and will pay those fellows for this." He visited all the patients in the ward, and kindly conversed with them and appeared really interested in their welfare. Since then, the wounded patient has been continually under my care, but I have refrained from any conversation until today. As I was standing by his side, he asked me my name. I told him. His countenance brightened up and grasping me by the hand he said, from Oneonta?. I nodded assent. Another grasp of the hand, "I was born in Laurens, my name is Byron Barton, and I am glad to see you." So much for the romance of our hospital.
The weather is not so bad as it might be, nor as good as we would be pleased to have it. The building (Johnson's House) is a comfortable four roomed house with basement, and the sick of the entire Brigade are quartered in those four rooms, a back plaza which we have boarded up and negro quarters in the rear. Besides our share in the building, which we devote to the worst cases, we have in the front yard three large wall tents connected together, the floor covered with rails closely packed together and covered with straw, which is changed every three days. Other tents are used for ourselves and employees.
I suppose many people are entirely ignorant of the comforts to which camp life afford and if you will excuse me, I will describe out tent. First, two wall tents are pinned down and connected together, making a dining or sitting room and a bedroom. A trench is then dug around the tent and the dirt thrown up against the tent. In short, it is banked up. We have a good floor laid, two camp bedsteads, a carpet, a writing desk made of a dry goods box and a "secesh" round table for meals, and as a general thing, our fair is as good as at any Hotel in Otsego County. It is a very cold and rainy fall evening and yet, I am writing this letter by as comfortable a fireplace as you would wish to use. It is made by digging a hole in the ground ten inches broad, eighteen inches deep and two feet long, then another trench, say six inches deep on the top of the ground, connecting the first hole which is in the middle of the tent, on the outside and extends three or four feet. After this is done, two thirds of the larger part is covered with stone and the small trench entirely covered, forming a chimney. It is rendered complete, or mine is, by setting an empty port barrel over the aperture and putting a flour barrel on the top and a Cracker barrel top of the whole. This forms a splendid extempore chimney and my fire rears as cheerily as I could wish, despite the rain and cold.
Sunday, Oct. 27th
As I failed to conclude my letter, I will endeavor to do so in as few words as possible. A week ago today, having come to the conclusion after mature deliberation, that I ought to see something of the country, I set out accompanied by a friend and armed with a pass to visit Washington, Alexandria and return along the line of pickets, via Munson's hill, Fall's Church, &c. We visited the Smithsonian Institute and Washington monument, thence across the Long Bridge into Virginia. The road laid through a succession of splendidly constructed forts for a mile and a half from the bridge, which undoubtedly make the position impregnable. Towards Alexandria not an object worthy of notice presented itself. The road is level, or nearly so. One or two of those old rookeries known as Virginia Mansions, presented themselves fit emblems of a desolation which war even could not desolate. One of the first inquires which was made on our arrival was for the Marshall House, where the gallant Ellsworth fell. It is situated in the center of the business part of the city and is now occupied by soldiers who guard the city, which is under the strictest military Surveillance. the stairway on the third landing of which Ellsworth was killed is completely torn out by those anxious to preserve a memento of the melancholy event which it typifies. One of these relics I procured by cutting out a small portion of the flooring immediately at the foot of the staircase and on which he is said to have fallen.
On my return, I was fortunate enough to find Warren Cutshaw, an Oneonta man, in the 30th N.Y. Regiment, and had a pleasant visit with him. I can give him the credit of having the best and cleanest kept tent I have seen. Nothing of peculiar importance occurred until leaving Fall's church. I was challenged by a sentinel and while giving the countersign I heard a voice that I had heard before and soon after had the pleasure of seeing George Meigs, who belongs to the 24th N.Y. Reg't and will be remembered by Oneonta people.
A reconnaissance was made by our Regiment on Thursday last, which went considerably farther into the enemy's country than any previous expedition and resulted in the capture of eleven secession prisoners. Our boys went to within one mile of Fairfax Court House, to a point called Flint Hill. We expect to remain here sometime to drill and prepare for the struggle which must come and ought to have come before this. Our cause is a just one, men and money are not wanting. The brilliant morning of the Republic is in danger of going down in a black night of despair, and with it the best hopes of mankind everywhere and yet in the face of all this infamous catalogue (and if I was at all responsible for it, I should say it with shame) the army of the Potomac is doing comparatively nothing.
I am, &c. Meigs Case.
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Adjutant General's Report, 43rd New York Infantry
CASE, MEIGS: Age, [25] years, Enrolled August 9, 1861, at Albany [Albany Co. NY], to serve three years; mustered in as assistant surgeon, August 10, 1861; as surgeon, December 13, 1861; discharged, March 28, 1864; commissioned assistant surgeon, November 6, 1861, with rank from August 10, 1861, original; surgeon, December 20, 1861, with rank form December 13, 1861.
Oneonta Daily Star, Oneonta, NY, June 17, 1909
Dr. Meigs Case - Obituary - d. 14 June 1909, Oneonta, NY
Largely attended, especially by the older residents of the city, was the funeral of the late Dr. Meigs Case, held from his late residence at No. 11 Dietz Street at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The deceased had been a resident of the city [Oneonta] for many years, and he had been in the active practice of his profession all those years, that among the older families he was recognized as one of the very few remaining of a former generation. The services were conducted by Rev Edward S. Barkdull of St. Jame's Church of which the deceased was a communicant. They consisted of the ritual of the established church. There was a profusion of beautiful floral tributes, and every evidence of sincere regret was manifest. The bearers were Drs. O.W. Peck, J.C. Smith, L.P. Chapman, G.S. Olin, A.H. Brownell and O.C. Tarbox. The body was interred at Riverside cemetery, in the family plot, where sleeps his father, Dr. Samuel H. Case, who was for more than half a century also one of the leading physicians of the then village. The only relatives from out of the city in attendance at the funeral were Prof. Oscar Lang and two daughters of Jersey City [NJ].
Dr. Chase was born August 30, 1836, in the house that was for so many years the residence of his father, then standing upon the site of the present Barnes, Lennon and Hill block. His education was received in the Oneonta schools and the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin, the latter then in its prime as an educational institution. He attended later the Albany Medical College and was graduated by the University of the City of New York in 1857. He first located for the practice of his profession in Milwaukee and later went to Chicago, where he remained however but for a short time. He then came to Oneonta and was practicing here at the outbreak of the civil war. He became surgeon to the Forty-third New York volunteers and served from August 1861 until April 1865. He gave untiring service during the prolonged struggle to the Union cause and gained recognition for his services. He was at one time in charge of the hospital at Hagerstown, Md. During the entire war he was devoted to his work and refused repeated proffers that would have been profitable but dishonorable.
At the close of the war he returned to Oneonta and continued the practice of his profession here until his death, with the exception of about three years, during which he resided at New York and Washington. He returned here in 1885 and has since remained continuously a resident. He was, for many years, the only resident surgeon and he was called to give surgical aid in a wide territory. For years he made a specialty of spinal trouble, and he attained wide repute as such. He was distinctively a physician and surgeon characteristic of the generation now fast passing away.
Originally possessed of a robust physique, he had been occasionally subject to fainting spells during his life. He had a brief illness while at the home of his daughter in Jersey City during the winter but soon recovered and was about as usual. He was taken ill at Albany, while on his way home a few weeks ago and has been troubled with asthma and shortness of breath since his return. Death is attributed to heart failure.
Dr. Case married in April 1859, Elizabeth A.W. Hill of New Hampshire, who had been engaged as teacher for two years previous to the marriage. They have been most devoted to each other during the half century that elapsed before his death. They celebrated their golden wedding at the Home of Mr. and Mrs. Lang in April last. To Mrs. Case and the two daughters who survive him, Mrs. Harry Millward of Bournemouth, England and Mrs. Oscar Lang of Jersey City, N.J., the sympathy of the community will be extended. One daughter, who died in 1904, Miss Anna Meigs Case, had attained fame as an artist, she having exhibited paintings in both Paris and London.
Dr. Case was in many respects a remarkable man. He was a great reader and absorbed readily and few could converse as intelligently about countries and places the world over as he. He was recognized by many with whom he chanced to converse as a man of wide travels, yet the facts and knowledge were gathered by reading and conversation with others. He was a good conversationalist and thoroughly familiar with men and events. He was devoted to his family and friends and never considered his own convenience or profit in service for them. He was uncompromising in his adherence to his convictions and an ardent republican. He was the Republican candidate for member of Assembly when the late George Scramling was elected, the vote being divided with three tickets in the field. Among those who knew him intimately he was recognized as a man of big heart and generous impulses and many indeed will mourn his death as the departure of one who was actuated to an unusual degree to the principles of true brotherhood.
