Gettysburg
In this Pension Application, Marvin describes a part of his experience at Gettysburg and the injury he recieved there: ". . .while. . . in the line of duty as a soldier, at or near a place called Gettysburg State of Pa. on the 3rd day of July, 1863, affiant's regiment charged Hampton's Cavalry and had a hand to hand contest, during which time he closed in with two men of the cavalry and commenced to fight, and during his fight was struck over the head repeatedly, knocking out pieces of his skull, same pieces being 1 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. The same causes continual headache and mental derangement."
According to family lore, Marvin's brother James was also involved in this combat and his life was saved by Marvin's actions.
14,492 men were wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. More than one third of those (5,291) later died from those wounds. Marvin Bolton was one of the lucky ones who survived his injuries at Gettysburg, though the effects of those wounds would haunt him the remainder of his life.
Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, with a staggering 51,116 casualties.