men who survived an amputation needed to return to their work after the war. they needed a prosthesis to replace a missing arm or leg. in the case of north carolina, it was the first of the former confederate states to provide artificial legs to its veterans who needed them. in 1866, they passed a law providing artificial legs to their veterans. for those who could not use an artificial leg, the veteran amputee was given $70. north carolina took care of 1,550 veterans who applied for help.