All my life, I have heard of Michael Dunn, the local man who lost both legs in the Civil War. Recently, several of his descendants have generously shared his remarkable story with me. 

On August 17, 1865, Sarah Ellison Dunn drove from Raymond to Shongo, NY with a team of horses and a wagon, to meet her husband Michael, who was coming home for good. Both of his legs had been shattered when struck by canister shot in a battle near Dallas, Georgia on May 25th, 1864. One leg was amputated in a field hospital the day after he was injured. The next day, it was necessary to remove the other one. His wounds refused to heal properly, and more operations followed. For over a year, he was shifted from hospital to hospital, as doctors attempted to heal the stumps of his legs. At last, he was sent home to Raymond, cushioned in a barrel of cotton to protect his stumps. 

Michael Dunn was born in Ireland in 1833, the son of Oion and Colleen McGinnis Dunn. While he was still small, his family immigrated to Canada. Mike went out on his own when very young, and worked his way into the United States in the company of a tin peddler. He was first counted in the Potter County census in 1850. Before the onset of the Civil War, he ran a store and sawmill in Raymond, situated across from the cemetery. 

Mike enlisted in the army September 1, 1861 in Co. H 46th Regiment as a Private. He took part in several battles, and by late 1863 was stationed in Tennessee where he met pretty Sarah Elizabeth Ellison. He re-enlisted November 31, 1863 at Decatur Tennessee, and on December 15th of that year, Sarah became his wife. His regiment remained in winter quarters near Chattanooga until May 6th, 1864, when they began the march with Sherman’s army, ‘to the sea’. He received his injuries during the heavy fighting that took place around Atlanta, probably at the battle of New Hope Church. 

Michael Dunn was awarded a double pension, due to losing both legs, which enabled him to purchase two lots of land near Raymond. Not content to rely on his pensions, he supported his family working in various lumber camps in the area as a ‘scaler’ while Sarah worked as the camp cook. He tried various ways to get around, including patent limbs, dog wagon, and hand carriage. He used a sort of boot appliance to stay on the horse that he rode as he marked trees for the loggers. 

Michael and Sarah Dunn were the parents of six children, the youngest of whom was only six months old when Mike died October 23, 1877 at the age of 44. His legs or the stumps of his legs had tormented him constantly, and he was heard to say, "They will use me up yet." He is buried in the Raymond Cemetery. 

Although he was denied and education when a youngster, he learned the three R’s as an adult. Shortly before he died, Mike Dunn began his autobiography. His account of the horrendous days and weeks after he was wounded is a tale of incredible suffering. There is no way that I could write it as powerfully as he tells it in his own words: 
 

Here, Mike Dunn’s personal account comes to an end. From Nashville, he was sent to Shongo, NY and then to the U.S. Hospital in Elmira where he spent the winter. In the spring, he was moved to New York City, where another surgery was performed. Finally, he was sent back to Shongo and to Sarah, who brought him home, cushioned in that barrel of cotton. 

Descendants of Michael and Sarah Dunn still own and operate the family farm at Seven Bridges. Many others live around Potter County, and still others are scattered throughout the country. They are rightfully proud of the man who never gave up in the face of what would appear, in any generation, to be nearly impossible odds.