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After Effects of the War

General Affidavit.JPG

 

 

 

 

Approximately 750,00 men died during the Civil War. Historians estimate that for every man who died in battle, another two died from disease. Thousands of men suffered from their war experience for the rest of their lives.

 

While William McCracken did not lose an arm or a leg, like so many did, he suffered from his war experience for the rest of his life. His pension application cites chronic diarrhea and disease of the rectum. This pension record gives information from his company commander, who testified that McCracken complained of illness as early as June, 1862, and that he still suffered from it in 1887.