Sergeant John A. Dixon, a 32-year-old soldier from Company I, 116th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was admitted to Harewood U.S.A. General Hospital on April 12, 1865, after sustaining a gunshot wound to his left leg during the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia. The injury, which occurred on March 31, 1865, affected the lower third of his leg and caused damage to the soft tissues. Upon admission, both Dixon’s overall health and the condition of his injured leg were considered good. His recovery progressed relatively smoothly until May 10, 1865, when gangrene developed in the affected area. Despite this complication, Dixon’s outcome was ultimately favorable, and he began to heal under the care of Surgeon R.B. Bontecou, who was in charge of the hospital. Sergeant Dixon’s case serves as another example of the resilience of Civil War soldiers and the medical treatments available at that time. Despite the challenges they faced, many soldiers managed to recover and heal from severe injuries, thanks tothe dedicated efforts of medical professionals.
