Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Major General Henry A. Barnum (1833-1892) was Major of the 12th NY Volunteers when wounded severely in the left hip at Malvern Hill in 1862. He was captured, eventually released, and recovered enough to become colonel of the 149th New York, commanding it at Gettysburg and in the Atlanta Campaign, and having brigade command in the March to the Sea. He was injured again at Lookout Mountain and at Peach Tree Creek, won the Medal of Honor for bravery in the battles around Chattanooga, and received brevets to brigadier and major general.
Included in this collection of his items is an original photo where he is shown lifting his major general’s frock coat to show a cord passed through his 1862 wound, caused by a bullet entering to the left and below his navel, passing through his hip bone, and emerging at the back, leaving a track through his torso that never fully healed and troubled him for thirty years with chronic infections. This copy of the image was likely made in the 1890s and comes with a faded typewritten one-page biographical summary signed in ink by his eldest son, Morgan K. Barnum. Also included are two medical items: a circa 1890 cap with insignia reading “M.E.H.” and “Surgeon,” and a period wood crutch that could conceivably be Civil War era and possibly military….
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