Served as a private in Co. H, 159th New York Infantry; 1862-1865.

"Case 370. — Private M. Murthra, Co. H, 159th New York, aged 18 years, was wounded in the right thigh, at Irish Bend, April 13, 1863, and admitted to the Marine Hospital, New Orleans, four days afterwards. Surgeon J. Bockee, U. S. V., described the injury as a "compound fracture of the femur at or near the trochanter," and reported that the patient was assigned to the Veteran Reserve Corps March 9, 1864. Surgeon G. Sutton. U. S. V., recorded his entrance into Augur Hospital, Alexandria, with "chronic ulcer," and his transfer to Sickels Hospital several days afterwards. On May 31, 1865, the man was discharged from service, Surgeon E. Bentley, U. S. V., certifying to "great deformity resulting from the fracture." Examiner C. Rowland, of Brooklyn, reported, July 28, 1865: * * " .Many pieces of bone have been extracted from a large abscess still existing. The leg is three inches shorter than the other and quite lame. He is obliged to walk with a crutch," etc. The pensioner subsequently entered the National Military Asylum at Augusta, whence Surgeon J. O. Webster contributed his photograph in August, 1869, with the following recapitulation of his case: "The wound was caused by a minie ball, which entered the anterior aspect of the thigh in the upper third, emerging posteriorly, nearly opposite, and lodging in the pants. On admission to the hospital the limb was treated by sand bags, and by manual extension once a day. The femur united in bad shape, and another Surgeon coming in charge, it was rebroken and a straight splint applied. He was able to bear his weight on the leg eight months after the injury. The wounds have never healed, and the thigh now discharges in four places. Several splinters of bone have come away. He can walk comfortably with a cane." The Augusta Examining Board certified, August 6, 1873: * * * "The parts being thickly invested by muscles, masses of new bone have been thrown out around the fragments from the surrounding inflamed tissues. Owing to the nature of the fracture, it being greatly comminuted, proper apposition could not be maintained. Masses of new bone were deposited as supports and the splinters enveloped with provisional callus, producing an enlargement of the limb at the point of the fracture. We are of the opinion that superficial exfoliation is going on in some part of the bone on account of the nature and quantity of the discharges, the limb having to be dressed several times during the day. The pensioner has, at short intervals, profuse haemorrhage from the posterior opening near the ischium. These bleedings are no doubt produced by sharp spicula; of bone cutting small arteries." The pensioner died December 26, 1873." -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U. S. Army Surgeon General's Office, 1883.

NATIONAL HOMES FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS

--enlisted in Sep., 1862, Co. H, 159th NY - until May, 1865

—a single resident of Brooklyn, NY a waiter, Catholic, no relative recorded

—died 26 Dec 1873, interred in home cemetery

Name: Michael Murtha

Birth Year: abt 1845

Keyed Birth Location: Jersey City NJ

Birth State: NJ

Birth City: Jersey City

Admitted Year: 1869

Age at Admission: 24

State: Wisconsin

County: Milwaukee

[Washington]

City: Milwaukee

[Wood]

Branch: Northwestern Branch