Robert Salter was born in County Cork, Ireland circa 1840. In 1846, his father, Robert Sr. and family came to the United States and settled on a farm in Washington County, Wisconsin. Robert Salter Sr. served in the state legislature in 1862 and likely knew the local newspaper editors.
Robert enlisted in Company G of the Wisconsin 26th Infantry. Robert did not speak German, though may have picked up some of the language. Most solders of company G came from the Washington County area and most of them were not German.
During the battle of Chancellorsville, Robert’s brother, William, was wounded and also taken prisoner. The Confederates transferred him to a hospital and parole camp near Alexandria, Virginia.
Robert contracted typhoid fever August of 1863 and was sent to Harewood Hospital in Washington D. C. Included in his service record is a medical record stating that he was admitted to the hospital on August 18th and he had been sick one week previous. “Was taken very suddenly … since the second day did not recognize his friends. On entering this hospital he would answer direct questions but seemed to know nothing of the (illegible). Pulse threaded and frequently reaching one hundred and forty per minute.” Treatment was “whiskey and quinine with (illegible)”. A short time later, Robert died. William requested a furlough from his captures to be allowed to take his brother’s body home, but he was denied.
Robert contracted typhoid fever August of 1863 and was sent to Harewood Hospital in Washington D. C. Included in his service record is a medical record stating that he was admitted to the hospital on August 18th and he had been sick one week previous. “Was taken very suddenly … since the second day did not recognize his friends. On entering this hospital he would answer direct questions but seemed to know nothing of the (illegible). Pulse threaded and frequently reaching one hundred and forty per minute.” Treatment was “whiskey and quinine with (illegible)”. A short time later, Robert died. William requested a furlough from his captures to be allowed to take his brother’s body home, but he was denied.
Possible picture of Robert Salter by Megan Mill