At Gettysburg during the fierce fight for Little Round Top, a Confederate bullet struck Sgt. Helim Spaulding Thompson of the 44th New York Infantry in the mouth and came out behind his ear. Left for dead, he spent nine months recuperating in the U.S. military hospital at York, Pa. When he left in April 1864, he had missing front teeth, paralysis of the right side of his face and deafness in the right ear. He also made 11 lifetime friends during his recuperation. They pledged to meet at Niagara Falls in 20 years time—if they should survive the war. In 1884, eight of the 12 made the reunion and shared their stories. Here's what Thompson had to say, taken from his original notes shared by descendant Eric Musil.

Read the story of Thompson and the other 11 patients and medical personnel at the general hospital in York, Pa., who pledged to meet 20 years later at Niagara Falls: https://www.militaryimagesmagazinedi...

"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com and shopmilitaryimages.com.

This episode is brought to you in part by Gettysburg Publishing, specializing in the American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. Pick up a great read today at gettysburgpublishing.com.

Image: Ronald S. Coddington Collection

This channel is a member of the YouTube Partner Program. Your interest, support, and engagement is key, and I'm grateful for it. Thank you!