Medical Apothecary Used at Gettysburg / Sold

Medical Apothecary Used at Gettysburg - Inventory Number: MED 165 / Sold

Civil War Medical Chest of Nathaniel B. Coleman 17th Maine.  This wooden chest contains various original bottles.  An early typed and yellowed from age is taped to the center of the chest.  It states: "This medicine chest was the property of Nathaniel Bryant Coleman M.D.  Born in Vassalboro, Maine and was used by Dr. Coleman in the Civil War, where he served as an Army surgeon.  He died in Los Gatos, California in 1910."

On the inside of the lid is an original ink paper label in the lid reads: "The following is Dr. Coleman's Writing": "Monsel's Solution of Iron - Stops bleeding - when applied to the bleeding part - If sniffed up the nostrils for nose bleeding dilute with 2/3 water". 

"Chloral Hydrant will quiet delirium will quiet delirium and give sleep - but it must be used with great caution so as not to give too much - from 10 to 15 grams dissolved in sweetened water may be given to an adult every 1/2 hour two or three times.  If quiet and sleep is not gained - but if more should be necessary, it must be given in smaller dose and less frequently.  Every teaspoonful to 1/2 Pt. water, tablespoon a dose.

"Sugar of Lead is useful as an external application in cases of extensive inflammation.  1/2 teaspoon dissolved in 1 Pt of water, apply by wetting a cloth." 

Dovetail construction hardwood box with divided interior compartments.  Measures: 6" tall x 8 1/2" deep x 13" wide.

"they frequently stood where the fighting was the fiercest and faced the heaviest fire.  They suffered more casualties than any other infantry regiment from Maine.  the 17th easily laid claim to the honor of being one of the best combat units in the union army."

A very  historic Civil War medical artifact!

Nathaniel B. Coleman

Enlisted on 8/15/1862 as a Hospl Steward.

On 8/15/1862 he mustered into Field & Staff ME 17th Infantry

He was Mustered Out on 6/4/1865 at Washington, DC

Promotions:

* Asst Surgeon 11/22/1863

MAINE SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

     Seventeenth Infantry.--Cols., Thomas A. Roberts, George W. West, Charles P. Mattocks; Lieut.-Cols., Charles B. Merrill, William Hobson; Majs., George W. West, Charles P. Mattocks.  This regiment was recruited chiefly from the counties of York, Cumberland, Androscoggin and Oxford, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Camp King, Cape Elizabeth, Aug. 18, 1862, to serve for three years.  On June 4, 1864, 129 of the recruits of the 3d Me., whose term of service had not expired on the date of the muster-out of that command, were transferred to the 17th.  The war department also directed on Feb. 1, 1865, the transfer to this regiment of Co. D, 2nd U. S. sharpshooters. 

The members of the regiment whose term of service expired prior to Oct. 1, 1865, were mustered out at Bailey's cross-roads, June 4, 1865, and the remaining men were transferred to the 1st Me. heavy artillery.  The 17th left the state for Washington Aug. 21, 1862, and occupied the line of forts on the east side of the Anacosta and north side of the Potomac rivers, until Oct. 7, engaged in both heavy artillery and infantry drill and garrison duty.  It then joined the 3d brigade (Berry's), 1st division (Birney's), 3d corps, at Upton's hill, Va.  On Dec. 13, 1862, it participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, losing 2 men killed and 19 wounded, and was complimented by Gen. Berry for the steadiness of the men, who were under fire for the first time.  The regiment remained encamped at Falmouth, Va., until May 1, 1863, when it took part in the Chancellorsville campaign, being hotly engaged at Chancellorsville on May 2-3, losing 113 men in killed, wounded and missing out of about 625 men in the action.  The regiment was next engaged at Gettysburg, during the last two days of the battle, where it lost 132 in killed, wounded and missing.  On Nov. 27, it took a prominent part in the battle of Orange Grove, losing 52 men.  It wintered at Brandy Station until March 25, 1864, during which time its ranks were filled by returned convalescents and recruits, and numbered about 500 men for the spring campaign.  It was now assigned to the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 2nd army corps, and participated in the battle of the Wilderness, losing 24 men killed, 147 wounded and 12 missing.  On the 12th, the corps made its famous charge upon the enemy's lines at the Po river, where the regiment lost 53 men, and on the 23d, in the charge which drove the enemy across the North Anna river, it lost 23 men.  It was under fire at Cold Harbor, and in two assaults on the enemy's works at Petersburg it lost 84 men.  Subsequently it encamped near Fort Sedgwick, where it remained until Feb. 5, 1865, having mean-while taken part in the attack on the Weldon railroad under Gen. Warren.  They subsequently participated in all the movements of the 2nd corps in the vicinity of Hatcher's run, until March 29, 1865.  On May 1, it left Burkesville, Va., for Washington, where it was mustered out on June 4.  Its aggregate losses during the years 1862, 1863 and 1864 were 745.

Inventory Number: MED 165 / Sold