Worsening Effect

Marvin Bolton sustained dramatic injuries while engaged in hand to hand combat at the Battle of Gettysburg. While he was fortunate to recover from these injuries and live a long and full life--marrying, raising a family, and running a succesful farm--the effects of his injuries did cause him pain and suffering for the remainder of his life.

Reports from surgeons and doctors who examined him to determine his pension eligibility paint a clear picture of his declining health. The saber wounds to his head never properly healed--a surgeon who examined him in 1886 noted that the bones which had been severed in battle never fully reuinted. Another report describes portions of his skull as having been "scooped out" and pressure to that area as causing pain and "a sensation of fullness in the whole cranium." Doctors also describe scars in almost every part of his body--he is recorded to have taken a saber thrust to the shoulder as well as the incapacitating blows to his head and scars are noted on his legs, arms, and torso as well.

These injuries, not surprisingly, had lingering effects on Bolton's daily life. He describes headaches, dizziness, confusion, periods of blindness, and "mental derrangement."

Despite these incredible obstacles, Bolton was a stalwart member of his community and family. He spent his life engaged in hard manual labor--working on his farm until the day of his fatal accident.

Surgeon's Certificate 1877

September 1877, Bolton was examined by a surgeon and determined to be 1/4 incapacitated due to injuries sustained at Gettysburg.

He described having headaches about 1/2 of the time and experiences occasional confusion.

Surgeon's Certificate 1878

In September of 1878, Bolton was again examined by Dr. Nash. He is now complaining of freqent attacks of dizziness and of numbness on the side of his head.

He is declared 1/2 incapacitated for farm work.

Surgeon's Certificate 1881

June 1881, Bolton was examined by a panel of surgeons.

Bolton describes his health at this time: "I have pain in my head and am often dizzy. I am more forgetful than formerly. I seen to be absent—minded and this feature is growing on me. I severe neuralgic pains in my head. I have a good deal of injury in my ears. My stomach pains me a good deal and is often very sour."

At this point Bolton is recieving a pension of $8/month

Surgeon's Certificate 1886

Examined by a panel of Surgeons in 1886, Bolton's health seems to be declining sharply: "Have sharp neuralgic pain in head most of the time; so hard at times as to keep me in bed. Am getting worse fast."

This report also contains detailed medical descriptions of the state of his head wounds. The report states that at one portion a "Depression in [the] skull [is] deep and for l in. union of bone has not taken place," also that "Pressure at this point hurts and gives a sensation of fullness of whole cranium."

He is declared 3/4 incapacitated at this point.

Surgeon's Examination 1902

In 1902 Bolton was examined by surgeons for the last time before his death the following year. In addition to the complaints listed in previous reports, all of which have considerably worsened, Bolton is now experiencing periods of blindness brought on by his headaches and dizzines. Problems with his bowels, liver, and heart are also observed.