The Amazing Legacy of James E. Hanger, Civil War Soldier Blog Tour
About the Author
Bob O’Connor’s first book was published in 2006. He now has ten books
published including 6 historical novels and 4 non-fiction books. He has been named finalist four different
times in national book competitions conducted by Indie Excellence Awards and
USA Books.
O’Connor writes about the Civil War in a way in which persons of
interest find compelling as he writes about the soldiers on the front lines
instead of the generals and the battle strategy. He speaks around the country on the Civil War
and has appeared over 600 times in 18 states since his first book was
published. His presentations have spanned the spectrum, as he has spoken to
first graders and cadets at the U.S. Naval Academy, in national parks and
public libraries, at historical societies and Civil War round tables.
His main topics include abolitionist John Brown, Abraham Lincoln’s
bodyguard (Ward Hill Lamon), the United States Colored Troops, the invention of
modern prosthetics, and brothers fighting against brothers.
His latest book is the historical fiction, The
Amazing Legacy of James E. Hanger, Civil War Soldier.
You can find out
more about the author at his website www.boboconnorbooks.com or
connect with him on Facebook.
About the Book:
James E. Hanger was
wounded at Philippi, Virginia on June 3, 1861 and became the first amputee of
the American Civil War. He hated the Yankee peg leg his Union doctor gave him.
Instead, he used his ingenuity and engineering background to invent an
artificial leg with a joint at the knee and a hinge at the ankle. He patented
his Hanger Limb.
His invention
revolutionized the prosthetic industry. The company Mr. Hanger founded still
operates today (Hanger Inc.) as the country’s largest provider of artificial
limbs. His story is quite remarkable.
Purchase your copy:
AMAZON
Discuss
this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE
Title: The Amazing Legacy of James E. Hanger,
Civil War Soldier
Author: Robert J. O’Connor
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Pages: 298
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Paperback
Author: Robert J. O’Connor
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Pages: 298
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Paperback
Purchase at AMAZON
James E. Hanger was
wounded at Philippi, Virginia on June 3, 1861 and became the first amputee of
the American Civil War. He hated the Yankee peg leg his Union doctor gave him.
Instead, he used his ingenuity and engineering background to invent an
artificial leg with a joint at the knee and a hinge at the ankle. He patented
his Hanger Limb.
His invention
revolutionized the prosthetic industry. The company Mr. Hanger founded still
operates today (Hanger Inc.) as the country’s largest provider of artificial
limbs. His story is quite remarkable.
Book Excerpt:
We arrived in Philippi in the early morning.
I asked directions and then drove the buggy directly to the Garrett Johnson
farm. I knocked on the door and asked for Mr. Johnson. An elderly gentleman
came to the door. He said he was Mr. Johnson. I introduced myself and my wife,
telling him who I was and why I was here. He invited us to come in and sit
down.
“You are a legend in this town, Mr. Hanger,”
Mr. Johnson said. “The first amputee of the War Between the States. I had heard
the accident and the amputation of your injured leg had taken place in my barn.
You look like you are doing well.” He was looking me over, likely trying to see
if he could figure out which of my legs had been lost in his barn. I don’t
think he could figure it out.
“The action that took place here in your
barn and in Philippi changed my life forever,” I explained. “I now am a
businessman. I didn’t volunteer for the distinction or the fame. But I have
made the best of it. My company provides artificial limbs for veterans from
both the North and the South.”
I rolled up my pants leg and showed him my
Hanger limb. I continued. “I think some good has come out of that crazy war. I
would like to show Nora the barn.” I rolled my pants back down.
“Do you mind if I walk with you?”
“Of course not.”
He walked to the door of his house and held
it for us. He led us to the barn. The closer I got to the building, the harder
my heart began to race.
When we walked into the barn, it looked just
like I had remembered all these years. There was nothing unique about it. I
certainly remembered being in this barn before. I didn’t have to say anything
to Nora. She knew the story. The barn was where the wayward cannon ball had
mangled my leg. This was where the men had lifted me onto what I was told was a
door. And this is where Dr. Robison’s surgery had saved my life.
I had to lean on the wall to hold myself up.
I started to quietly cry. I was embarrassed, but could not stop. I tried to
remember the excruciating pain I must have felt or the horrible sound of the
doctor’s bone saw cutting through my leg. I could not remember either.
But I did remember Dr. Robison’s description
of the operation and the pain that I endured for weeks and weeks afterwards. It
seemed so real, like it was happening all over again. I crumbled onto the
floor. Nora stood by quietly. I cried loudly, unable to stop. My thoughts of
what happened here enveloped me. I was
unable to move.
Dr. Robison’s face appeared clearly in my
mind. He had been so calm in telling me several days later what had happened.
He acted like it was routine – no big thing. Yet he must have been afraid too.
That was his first amputation. I had not felt even one thread of doubt that he
had done the best he could. His determination and confidence helped calm my
fears. Dr. Robison was a Union doctor who had operated on a Confederate
soldier. I still have problems imagining that just any Union doctor would have
tried to save me. After all, I was the enemy. Yet Dr. Robison had conducted the
operation, as he said, the same as if I had been his own son. And his
successful surgery had pretty much been an integral part of every other step
that I had taken in the last twenty years. I owed him everything.
I was so overcome with emotion that I was
unsure if I could go on. I had to take deep breaths to bring myself back into
the present.
Nora stood beside me as she had for so many
years. She had heard my story. We both had wondered what would happen when I
returned. Now we knew. It had been exhausting for me.
I finally struggled to get up. Nora knew I
had to do this on my own, but held out her hand. She wanted me to know it was
there, even if I wasn’t going to take it. This time I did take it. I let her
help me up. She held me tight for several minutes to let me know that
everything was all right.
We finally moved on. I was still shaken, but
knew I had to leave.
My wife wondered out loud if going into the
barn had jarred my memory. She asked me if I remembered getting hit by the
cannonball or going through the operation.
“Not really,” I admitted. “And perhaps it is
a good thing that I don’t remember.”
We walked back to the buggy. I thanked Mr.
Johnson. And we left. I turned the buggy and travelled across the long covered
bridge. I asked a lady on the street to point out the United Methodist
Episcopal Church on Church Street in the downtown.
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