Private George W. Lemon, from George A. Otis, Drawings, Photographs and Lithographs Illustrating the Histories of Seven Survivors of the Operation of Amputation at the Hipjoint, During the War of the Rebellion, Together with Abstracts of these Seven Successful Cases, 1867 (15/62)

Private George W. Lemon’s story, as documented by George A. Otis, provides valuable insight into the experiences of soldiers during the American Civil War. Otis, an Assistant Surgeon in the Union Army and the curator of the Army Medical Museum, was responsible for collecting and preserving medical and surgical specimens, photographs, and case histories from the war. According to Otis, Private Lemon was shot in the leg during the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864. Following his injury, it seems that Lemon faced considerable challenges in receiving proper medical care. As mentioned earlier, many soldiers faced delays in treatment, infections, and other complications, which sometimes led to amputations.