Mr. Dayton to Mr.
Seward
No. 497.]
Paris,
June 29, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to send you herewith a
translation of a letter received by my son from M. Dufour,
surgeon-in-chief of the government hospital at Cherbourg.
A telegram received the night before last, from our vice-consul at
Cherbourg, states that Gowan, the seaman of the Kearsarge, most
dangerously wounded, having a compound fracture of the leg, is dead.
I am, sir, your most obedient servant.
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Translation.]
Surgeon Dufour to Mr. Dayton
Cherbourg,
June 23, 1864.
Sir: I am happy to give you favorable news
of the three men of the Kearsarge, who were confided to my care, and
whom you saw during your visit at Cherbourg. The one whose thigh and
leg were seriously injured is in as satisfactory a state as
possible, and I hope to be able to avoid an amputation, the result
of which, as it would have to be made very high up, would be very
uncertain. The sergeant whose arm was amputated is not doing badly;
the last (the third) will certainly recover.
Be pleased to communicate this information to M. your father, and say
to him that everything which solicitude and most lively sympathies
can impose in the way of care will be given to the wounded which the
fight has brought us. Be
[Page 118]
pleased, also, to believe in the great pleasure I will have to
complete your acquaintance when I shall go to Paris. If you need any
further information write me.
Believe me your very devoted. I shake you cordially by the hand.
DUFOUR, 1st Surgeon-in-chief of the
Navy, President of the Board of Health.
Among the men of the Alabama, the one whose fore arm was crushed
gives me much anxiety; the others much less.
