Surgeons at Gettysburg
I’ve been researching the surgeons at Gettysburg field hospitals for inclusion in Pocket Gettysburg. One of the best sources is “A Vast Sea of Misery” by Gregory A. Coco (Gettsyburg: Thomas Publications, 1988). As always when I add a new source to Pocket Gettysburg, I try to reconcile that new data with the my previous sources, including especially the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) and the inscriptions on battlefield monuments.
Using the exact spelling of the names in “A Vast Sea of Misery,” some of the surgeons were not found in those other sources. But in the subset of cases listed below I found some other evidence of his possible identity. While I don’t have any plans to research these people further, the data is recorded here for posterity in the hopes that it helps some future researchers.
| UNION SURGEONS | ||||
| Name | Org./Hospital | Comments | ||
| Adams, Z.B. | Surgeon, 32nd Mass. Inf. Hospital: regt. aid station near Wheatfield | Recorded in the CWSS as “Zabdiel B. Adams”. | Link | |
| Akin, Jno. | 71st Pa. Inf. Hospital: 2nd Div., 2nd Corps | Recorded in the CWSS as “John Aiken”. | Link | |
| Bache, Thomas H. | U.S. Volunteers | Listed as a surgeon and Staff Officer on the PA State Memorial. | ||
| Ball, J. Alfred | 50th Ohio Inf. Hospital: 2nd Div., 12th Corps | The 50th OH Inf. was not at Gettysburg. This is almost certainly the surgeon identified by the CWSS as “Alfred J. Ball” of the 5th Ohio Inf. (2D, 12C). | Link | |
| Beck | Hospital: Presbyterian Church | Other than John H. Beech of the 24th Michigan (see next), the CWSS lists only one surgeon in the AOP* with a similar** surname: “Elias W. H. Beck” of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry. Of course, Coco did not say that this surgeon was in the army. | Link | |
| Beech, John H. | 24th Mich. Inf. Hospital: Express Office | (see above) | Link | |
| Brown | The CWSS lists only one surgeon in the AOP with a similar surname: Edward A. Brown of the 120th NY Inf. | Link | ||
| Burchfield, James P. | 83rd Pa. Inf. Hospital: Cared for Col. S. Vincent at L.A. Bushman Farm | Recorded on the PA State Memorial as “J.P. Burchfield” (83rd PA Inf.) but CWSS has a surgeon “James P. Burchfield” in the 53rd PA Inf. | Link | |
| Burr, W.J. | Surgeon, 47th N.Y. Inf. Hospital: 2nd Div., 2nd Corps | The 47th NY Inf. was not at Gettysburg. This is almost certainly the surgeon identified by the CWSS as “William J. Burr” of the 42nd NY Inf. (2D, 2C). | Link | |
| Campbell, Cornelius M. | 150th N.Y. Inf. Hospital: Abraham Spangler Farm | Recorded in the CWSS as “Cornelius N. Campbell”. | Link | |
| Chamberlain, Cyrus N. | Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers Hospital: Med. Officer in Charge of 6th Corps Hosp., and Camp Letterman | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Cyrus N. Chamberlain” who was at one time attached to the 1st MA Inf. | Link | |
| Chambers, William B. | Hospital: Surgeon in Charge, 2nd Div., 1st Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William B. Chambers” who was at one time attached to the 97th NY Inf. (2D, 1C). | Link | |
| Cooper, W.S. | Surgeon, 125th N.Y. Inf. | Recorded in the CWSS as “William S. Cooper”. | Link | |
| Davis, U.Q. | Surgeon, 148th Pa. Inf. Hospital: 1st Div., 2nd Corps | Recorded in the CWSS as “Uriah Q. Davis”. | Link | |
| Dwinell, Justin | Surgeon, 108th Pa. Inf. Hospital: Med. Officer in Charge of Corps Hosp., 2nd Corps | Recorded in CWSS as “Justin Dwinelle” and on the PA State Memorial as “J. Dwinelle”. | Link | |
| Dougherty, Alexander N. | Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers Hospital: Med. Director of 2nd Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Alexander Dougherty” who was at one time attached to the 4th NJ Inf. | Link | |
| Fifield, Amos K. | 7th Ohio Inf. Hospital: 2nd Div., 12th Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Amos K. Fifield” who was at one time attached to the 29th OH Inf. | Link | |
| Gunn | Civilian Physician from Michigan, | Although a civilian according to Coco, the CWSS lists a surgeon “Moses Gunn” who was at one time attached to the 5th MI Inf. | Link | |
| Humphrey, Charles E. | 142nd Pa. Inf. | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Charles E. Humphrey” in the 143rd PA Inf. | Link | |
| Humphrey, William F. | Surgeon, 149th Pa. Inf. Hospital: 3rd Div., 1st Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William T. Humphrey” in the 149th PA Inf. | Link | |
| Hursam, Nahum A. | Surgeon, 17th Me. Inf. | Recorded in the CWSS as “Nahum A. Hersom”. | Link | |
| McAbee, H.M. | Reynolds’ Staff, 4th Ohio Inf. Hospital: 2nd Corps Hosp., near Round Top, Catherine Guinn Farm | This surgeon is listed in the CWSS as “Henry M. McAbee” with alternate names of “Harry M. McAbee” and “H.M. McAbee”. | Link | |
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| McCabe, H.M. | 4th Ohio Inf. Hospital: 3rd Div., 2nd Corps | This surname is phonetically the same and therefore almost certainly the same surgeon as the one listed immediately above. | ||
| McGregor, Murdock | Assistant Surgeon, 33rd Mass. Inf. Hospital: George George House | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Murdock McGregor” who was at one time attached to the 20th MA Inf. | Link | |
| Meyer, Louis C. | 25th Ohio Inf. Hospital: 1st Div., 11th Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Louis G. Meyer” (aka Myer) who was at one time attached to the 25th OH Inf. | Link | |
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| Neff, Henry K. | Surgeon, 8th Pa. (Reserves) Hospital: Poorhouse-taken prisoner | The 37th PA Inf. (8th PA Reserves) was not at Gettysburg but the CWSS does list a surgeon “Henry K. Neff” (aka “Henry R. Neff”) who was at one time attached to the 153th PA Inf. | Link | |
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| Nordquist, Charles J. | Surgeon, 83rd N.Y. Inf. Hospital: 2nd Div., 1st Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Charles Nordhouse, Jr.” who was at one time attached to the 83rd NY Inf. | Link | |
| Oakley, Lewis W. | Surgeon, 2nd N.J. Inf. Hospital: Camp Letterman | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Lewis W. Oakley” who was at one time attached to the 4th NJ Inf. | Link | |
| Palmer | Hospital: Hosp. in Carlisle | The CWSS lists only one surgeon in the AOP with a similar surname: “Henry Palmer” of the 7th WI Inf. Of course, Coco does not claim that this surgeon was in the army. | Link | |
| Potter, George L. | Assistant Surgeon, 5th U.S. Cavalry | The CWSS lists a surgeon “George L. Potter” who was at one time attached to the 145th PA Inf. | Link | |
| Read, Louis W. | Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers Hospital: 3rd Div., 5th Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Louis W. Read” who was at one time attached to the 1st PA Reserves (30th Vols). (3D, 5C) | Link | |
| Rulison, William H. | 9th N.Y. Inf. Hospital: Med. Officer in Charge of Corps Hospital, Presbyterian Church | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William H. Rulison” who was at one time attached to the 155th PA Cavalry. | Link | |
| Russell, Ira | Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers Hospital: 5th Corps, J. Weikert Farm, stayed w/General Weed | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Ira Russell” who was at one time attached to the 11th MA Inf. (1B, 2D, 3C). | Link | |
| Sanger, Eugene F. | U.S. Volunteers Hospital: Presbyterian Church | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Eugene F. Sanger” who was at one time attached to the 6th ME Inf. | Link | |
| Sharp, W.W. | Assistant Surgeon, 140th Pa. Inf. Hospital: 1st Div., 2nd Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William W. Sharp” who was at one time attached to the 18th PA Cavalry (1B, 3D, CC). | Link | |
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| Shippen, Edward | Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers Hospital: 1st Div., 5th Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Edward Shippen” who was at one time attached to the 1st PA Light Artillery. | Link | |
| Sturdevant, Samuel B. | Assistant Surgeon, 139th Pa. Inf. Hospital: Camp Letterman | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Samuel B. Sturdevant” (aka “Samuel B. Sturdevent”) who was at one time attached to the 84th PA Inf. | Link | |
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| Thome, W.H. | Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers Hospital: 3rd Div., 11th Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William H. Thome” who was at one time attached to the 12th PA Reserves (41st Vols.) (3D, 5C). | Link | |
| Weidman, William W. | 2nd Pa. Cavalry Hospital: “Treated Rebs” | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William M. Weidman” who at one time was attached to the 2nd PA Cavalry. | Link | |
| Wolf, Fred | Surgeon, 39th N.Y. Inf. Hospital: 3rd Div., 2nd Corps | Recorded in the CWSS as “Frederich Wolff.” | Link | |
| Woodward, A.T. | Surgeon Hospital: Surgeon in Charge, 3rd Div., 1st Corps | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Adrian T. Woodward” (aka “Adrian F. Woodward”) who at one time was attached to the 14th VT Inf. (3B, 3D, 1C). | Link | |
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| CONFEDERATE SURGEONS | ||||
| Baruch, Simon | Assistant Surgeon, 3rd S.C. Inf. Hospital: Black Horse Tavern | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Simon Baruch” who was at one time attached to the 13th MS Inf. | Link | |
| Black | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS in the AONV* with a similar surname** is “Harvey Black” of the 4th VA Inf. | Link | ||
| Briggs | Surgeon, 30th N.C. Inf. | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS with a similar surname in the 30th NC Inf. Is “G.W. Briggs”. | Link | |
| Clifton, James B. | Semmes’ Brigade Hospital: George Rose Barn | The CWSS lists a surgeon “James B. Clifton” in the 16th GA Inf. (Wofford’s Brigade). | Link | |
| Cullen, J. S. Dorsey | Surgeon Hospital: Med. Dir. Longstreet’s Corps, Black Horse Tavern | Recorded in the CWSS as “J.S.D. Cullen” who was at one time attached to the 1st VA Inf. | Link | |
| Edwards | 8th Va. Inf. | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS with a similar surname in the 8th VA Inf. is “Richard H. Edwards”. | Link | |
| Eldridge | McLaws’ Div. Hospital: J. Cunningham Farm | The CWSS lists only one surgeon in the AONV with a similar surname: “E. J. Eldridge” (aka “E. J. Eldrige”) who was at one time attached to Cobb’s Legion, the infantry of which was in McLaws’ Division. | Link | |
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| Gott | Hospital: Surgeon in Charge of Early’s Div. | The CWSS lists only one surgeon in the AONV with a similar surname: “Louis E. Gott” (aka “Lewis E. Gott”) who was at one time attached to the 21st GA Inf. (Rodes Division). | Link | |
| Green | 55th N.C. Inf. Hospital: Heth’s Div. Hospital | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS with a similar surname in the 55th NC Inf. is “Benjamin T. Green” (aka “B.F. Green”). | Link | |
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| Hays, J.M. | Hospital: Camp Letterman | The CWSS lists a surgeon “John M. Hayes” who at one time was attached to the 26th AL Inf. | Link | |
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| Hubbard | Davis’ Brigade Hospital: Samuel Lohr Farm | The CWSS lists only one surgeon in the AONV with a similar surname: “H. H. Hubbard” of the 2nd MS Inf. (Davis’ Brigade). | Link | |
| Minor, H. A. | 8th Ala. Inf., Anderson’s Div. Hospital: Surgeon in Charge, Butt’s Schoolhouse on Fairfield Road. Camp Letterman | The CWSS lists a surgeon “H.A. Minor” who at one time was attached to the 9th AL Inf. (Anderson’s Division). | Link | |
| Morton | Surgeon, Kemper’s Brigade | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS with a similar surname in Kemper’s Brigade is “C.B. Morton” who was at one time attached to the 7th VA Inf. | Link | |
| Parramore, H.J. | Assistant Surgeon, 58th Ga. Inf. | The 58th GA Inf. was not at Gettysburg. This is almost certainly the surgeon listed in the CWSS as “H.J. Parramore” who was at one time attached to the 50th GA Inf. | Link | |
| Patterson, F.W. | Surgeon, McLaws’ Div. Hospital: Surgeon in Charge, Bream’s Mill | The CWSS lists a surgeon “Frank W. Patterson” who at one time was attached to the 17th MS Inf. (McLaws’ Division). | Link | |
| Pearce, J.F. | 18th S.C. Inf. Hospital: Black Horse Tavern for 6 weeks | The 18th SC Inf. was not at Gettysburg. The CWSS lists a surgeon “James F. Pearce/Pierce” (aka “James T. Pearce/Pierce”) who at one time was attached to the 8th SC Inf. It also lists a surgeon “J.F. Pearce” who was at one time attached to the 3rd SC Inf. | Link | |
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| Reeves | Pickett’s Div. Hospital: Surgeon in Charge at Bream’s Tavern & Farm | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS in the AONV with a similar surname is “Landen C. Reeves” (aka “Landon Reeves”) who at one time was attached to the 1st VA Cavalry (Stuart’s Division). | Link | |
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| Sayers | Johnson’s Div. Hospital: Surgeon in Charge | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS with a similar surname in Johnson’s Division is “Samuel R. Sayers” who at one time was attached to the 27th VA Inf. | Link | |
| Scott | 7th Va. Inf. Hospital: 2nd Corps | The 7th VA Inf. was in the 1st Corps, AONV at Gettysburg. The CWSS does list a surgeon “Isaac Scott” who was at one time attached to the 7th WV Inf. (1B, 3D, 2C, AOP), however. The only surgeons with a similar name that were listed by the CWSS in the AONV were “A. Howard Scott” who was at one time attached to the 4th AL Inf. (1st Corps) and “A.H. Scott” (aka “A.J. Scott”) who was at one time attached to the 4th TX Inf. (also 1st Corps). | Link | |
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| Spence, W. A. | Archer’s Brigade Hospital: Chief Surgeon, Cashtown | The CWSS lists a surgeon “William A. Spence/Spince” who was at one time attached to the 47th VA Inf. (Brockenbrough’s Brigade). | Link | |
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| Stewart | Johnson’s Div (?) Hospital: Fairfield Road | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS in the AONV with a similar surname is “William F. Steuart/Stewart”) who was at one time attached to the 3rd NC Inf. (Johnson’s Division). | Link | |
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| Warren (?) | 11th or 26th N.C. Inf. (?) Hospital: Chambersburg Road | There is no surgeon listed in the CWSS in the 11th NC Inf. with a similar surname. The only surgeon listed in the CWSS in the 26th NC Inf. with a similar surname is “Lewellen P. Warren”. | Link | |
| Warren, L. P. | Brigade Surgeon, 52nd N.C. Inf. Hospital: Pettigrew’s Brigade | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS in the 52nd NC Inf. with a similar surname is “H. Warren”. The only confederate surgeon listed in the CWSS with a similar surname and the initials of “L.P.” was “Lewellen P. Warren” who was at one time attached to the 26th NC Inf. (see above). | Link | |
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| Watson, Major | Alabama Hospital: Dr. M.L. Stoever house | The only surgeon listed in the CWSS from an Alabama regiment with a similar surname was “Benjamin F. Watkins” who at one time was attached to the 44th AL Inf. | Link | |
* In the context of this article, “in the AOP” and “in the AONV” means in units of the respective armies which were at Gettysburg.
** All name comparisons are made phonetically.