History Note
Each month of 2007,
Access Press will feature an important person or persons in disability
history: local, regional or national
Loss of Legs Unites Soldiers
by the Access Press Staff
Civil war combat veterans
who were disabled continued to serve in the Union Army. Most of
them landed in the Invalid Corps, a unique military unit organized
in May 1863 to meet the Union Army’s
growing need for manpower. During its years of service, the Invalid Corps troops
enforced the draft, guarded prisoners and vital outposts, protected rail lines
and supply depots, and served as military police in cities all across the country.
Members of the Corps even escorted President Lincoln’s body home to Illinois.
Robert Armstrong
and Mason Myers
Two of these members were
Robert Armstrong and Mason Myers. Both Myers and Armstrong lost legs
at the Battle of Gettysburg — Myers
lost his right leg on the first day, Armstrong his left leg on the
second day. This photo is from a June 11, 1910, Syracuse Post-Standard
newspaper article, identifying the men as (left-right) Myers, A.
J. Potter, and Armstrong, “lifelong friends and members of
[GAR] Post 282.” The caption said that Myers and Armstrong “are
neighbors, and even wear the same size of shoe. Now, when their footwear
gives out, they buy one pair of shoes between them, and Mr. Myers
wears the left shoe and Mr. Armstrong the right.” ![]()
Source: Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil
War
