Carpenter, Richard 1837 - 1861

CARPENTER

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 4/18/2003 at 19:57:31

Cresco Times April 9, 1868 P3 C3

Richard Carpenter was a native of the State of New York, having been born in the town of Grwell, Oswego County, A. D., 1837. He became a member of Co. D, 3d Iowa Infantry, in April 1861.

It was the fate of Richard (Dick, as he was familiarly known by his comrades,) to die in a hospital, at an early period of the war. Of an apparently robust frame and vigorous constitution, he left Decorah in the latter days of May, 1861, little thinking that before the frosts of October should clothe the woods with autumn's brown hues his strong body would be wasted by disease, and his eyes closed to death.

An unjust and invidious discrimination has been made by many against the soldier who was unfortunate enough to meet death in a hospital, from disease, instead of on the battle field, at the hands of the enemy, but the writer feels confident that every soldier will agree with him when he says that as great a degree of fortitude, and patient self-denying patriotism is required to enable a man to bear up against the trials of a long, weary illness in a hospital, as to give him strength to do his duty on the field or battle unflinching.

The disease which resulted in Dick's death was brought on by exposure while taking care of a comrade, Albert Allen. Allen was attacked with the typhiod fever about the first of July, and Richard Carpentar and a Mr.Lamb were detailed as nurses to attend and care for him. His illness, was long, extending through the greater part of July and August--death relieving him from what had long been considered a hopeless struggle with disease.

Carpenter and Lamb were both very much reduced by the constant care and watching during the long, hot weeks of Allen's illness, and his death found them almost prostrated, and within three days both were taken down with typhoid fever, which resulted fatally in both cases, both dying the same day.

Dick, was taken to a general hospital at Quincy, and in ten days was a corpse, his death occurring September 7th, 1861. He died among strangers, with no kind friend to smooth his dying pillow.