As a result of the large number of casualties, field hospitals were established close to the front lines to provide immediate care to wounded soldiers. These hospitals were often overcrowded, understaffed, and lacked proper sanitation and medical supplies. Due to the lack of modern medical knowledge, many wounded soldiers succumbed to infections and diseases rather than their initial injuries.
The lack of proper medical care also resulted in widespread amputations. Surgeons, often working under extreme pressure and with limited resources, would amputate limbs to prevent the spread of infection or to save the soldier's life. The amputation rate during the Civil War was estimated to be around 30%, much higher than in previous conflicts.
In addition, many wounded soldiers were captured and taken prisoner by the opposing side. Prisoner-of-war (POW) camps were notoriously overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacked proper medical care. Disease, starvation, and neglect resulted in a high mortality rate among POWs, with some camps reporting death rates as high as 30%.
The experience of wounded soldiers during the Civil War was marked by immense suffering, limited medical care, and a high risk of death. Despite advances in medicine, the Civil War remains one of the deadliest conflicts in American history.