Medical Recollections of the Army of the Potomac

Jonathan Letterman (1824-1872) was an American surgeon credited with being the originator of the modern methods of medical organization in armies. Dr. Letterman is known as the "Father of Battlefield Medicine." His system enabled thousands of wounded men to be recovered and treated during the American Civil War.

In this book, "Medical Recollections of the Army of the Potomac," Doctor Letterman, outlines the system he developed for revolutionizing battlefield medicine, as the medical director of the Army of the Potomac. Prior to his appointment & the institution of his system, the wounded were collected as "catch can" which resulted in long delays, unnecessary suffering, & needless deaths. The army reeled from inefficient treatment of casualties in the battles of the "Peninsula" Campaign, in June 1862, which showed how woefully inadequate the Union Medical Department was. Letterman immediately set to reorganizing the Medical Service of the fledgling army, charged by Major-General McCellan to do whatever was necessary to improve the system.

By the time of the Battle of Antietam in September, Letterman had devised a system of forward first aid stations at regimental level, where principles of triage were first instituted. He established mobile field hospitals at division & corps headquarters. This was all connected by an efficient ambulance corps, under the control of medical staff, instead of the Quartermaster Department, as well as, arranging an efficient system for the distribution of medical supplies.

Letterman's system was proved at the Battle of Fredericksburg in which the Army of the Potomac suffered 12,000 casualties. After this, his system was adopted by other Union armies & by an Act of Congress in March 1864 officially established for all United States' armies . The Army of the Potomac's greatest casualties were suffered at Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. His Medical Corps dealt with 14,000 Union wounded, & 6,800 Confederate wounded. A medical encampment was created off the York Pike, named "Camp Letterman."

An engrossing look at the development of battlefield medical treatment & an important piece of the History of Medicine.

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