Lieutenant William Sutherland of the 38th Foot was one of four British officers wounded during the gunfight at Concord’s North Bridge. Sources conflict somewhat on the severity of his wound. How bad was it?
The Records
In his report written within days of the fight [Murdock 1927, p21], Sutherland says of his wound:
“I received a shot a little above my right breast which turned me half around . . . I called to Capt. Laurie that I was wounded and came off the best way I could.”
So, Sutherland was hit in the chest and made a less than gallant retreat from the field. Crawling, perhaps.
How badly was he wounded? Sutherland says the wounded officers were “put into two one-horse chairs” for the return march to Boston. Presumably he meant himself included.
Ensign Jeremy Lister of the 10th, who fought beside Sutherland that day even though they belonged to different regiments, says in his 1780s memoir [Murdock 1931, p33] that after the retreat he found “Lt. Sunderland” waiting to be loaded into a boat with the rest of the wounded for the crossing from Charlestown to Boston:
“Lt. Sunderland complained very much I believe he was in violent pain and did not expect long to survive.”
Questioned at home by friends later that night, Lister says [Murdock 1931, p34]:
“I was ask’d whether I had seen Lt Sunderland of 38th Regt when I reply’d I had and supposd by that time he was dead.”
Pressed on the issue, Lister added:
“I imagin’d from the situation he [Sutherland] appeard to me to be in when I saw him last and from his speeches, I suppos’d by that time he was no more.”
By contrast, Lieutenant Frederick Mackenzie’s report of wounded officers [French, p61] includes this line:
“38th Lieut. Sutherland . . . Breast. Slight”
I couldn’t find any further references, but even these require some reconciliation. Mackenzie notes that Sutherland’s wound was “slight” while Lister’s account places Sutherland at death’s door. How can both be true?
The Analysis
Since Sutherland was able to write his own report within a few days of the fight, promoted to captain with months, and ultimately survived the war, we can conclude his wound was not as life threatening as Lister believed on the day.
That said, Lister was the one who saw Sutherland, while Mackenzie—the adjutant of the Royal Fusiliers—merely compiled a report about men he may have barely known. It’s possible that “slight” refers to wounds that would not cause lasting disability or keep an officer from active duty. Two marine officers—Lieuts. McDonald and Potter—received the same note. Remember, this is the army where, even today, broken legs are treated with aspirin.
So, what kind of chest wound causes violent pain, looks fatal, but results in little lasting injury?
It’s possible Sutherland played up his wound, or had difficulty bearing pain, but these options appear out of character for the veteran of the French War campaigns in Germany.
Some have suggested “a little above my right breast” meant a shoulder wound. This seems unlikely. Why would Sutherland describe his own wound as he did (vs. “I received a shot in the shoulder”)? Why would Lister think a shoulder wound would kill Sutherland before the night was out?
The lieutenant’s appearance and words convinced Lister he would die. Sutherland probably thought so himself.
At the time, neither thought Sutherland had a slight wound to the shoulder.
A Fitting Explanation
What if Sutherland had broken ribs?
If a musket ball became lodged in Sutherland’s upper ribcage, cracking or breaking bones, it would cause violent pain with every breath. Observers—even Mister Simms, the surgeon’s mate from the 43rd Foot—might mistakenly assume a punctured lung, a lethal wound. A young non-doctor like Lister might easily deduce from the location of the wound and Sutherland’s suffering that the lieutenant did not have long to live.
Extract the ball with a pair of forceps, however, and both the pain and fear for Sutherland’s life quickly dissipate.
Sutherland would be sore for days but could write a report and soon resume his pre-adventure duties. Mackenzie, learning this, would be justified in writing that Sutherland’s wound was “slight”.
Sources:
French, Allen, A British Fusilier in Revolutionary Boston, 1926
Murdock, Harold, Late News of the Ravages, 1927
Murdock, Harold, The Concord Fight, 1931
The Lexington Fight 