Fascinating!

A few more facts on this that may bear on the medical aspect. The gunfight that cost Taylor his arm was one-sided. Local citizen guards in the Missouri River bottom fastened a chain across the road and Taylor, Captain John Thrailkill, and their bodyguard rode into it. I remember my military schooling that states that a battlefield obstacle is of no use unless someone is watching it and can bring fire upon any enemy who goes into the thing. That happened here. The citizen guards shot Thrailkill in the neck (serious, but not critical) shot a revolver out of Taylor's hand, hit Taylor one or two other places in minor wounds and pretty well mangled that one arm. Soft lead, you know. The two guerrilla leaders were the only ones hit. The small body of guerrillas was in no position to do more than return fire and depart, so they did not otherwise engage the citizen guards, and I doubt there were any other casualties for the local doctor to treat. I believe Thrailkill crossed the river to his men and obtained medical help there, but Taylor was too badly hit, so remained in the area with his bodyguard who abducted the doctor right away. A searching Union patrol a day or three later found the bloody bandages and some waste material, and the doctor reported what he had done soon after. He had to do that or be sent to prison for violating rules of martial law.

I researched this a few weeks ago, and I did not re-check my sources before I wrote the above. I think the above is mostly correct to my sources.

Bruce