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Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Sickles display
Here's the box displaying the Daniel Sickles artifacts. In 1859, Sickles had shot the son of Francis Scott Key who was having an affair with Sickles' wife. He was acquitted. During the Civil War, he had fought in the Peninsular Campaign, at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. A Corps commander at Chancellorsville, he was sent to pursue Stonewall Jackson's "retreating" troops, which left the Union troops open to the real attack from Jackson on their flank and destroyed the Union offensive.
A Corps commander at Gettysburg, Sickles was ordered to cover the Union left near the Round Tops. He advanced his corps to an exposed position covering the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Devil's Den. In such a position, his troops bore the brunt of James Longstreet's Confederate attack. He was severely wounded by a cannon ball which led to the amputation of his right leg. He donated both the cannon ball and the amputated leg to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Here is the display case which shows the shattered leg, the cannon ball, and several pictures of Sickles visiting the leg every year on the anniversary of the amputation. |