- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
At Gettysburg, as Laura notes in #20, typically a Confederate brigade and Union division established their own hospital run by surgeons belonging to that brigade or division respectively. Those hospitals were established at larger farms or in larger buildings in the town itself; they were intended to be beyond artillery range. Sometimes these surgeons were overzealous and would turn away soldiers from their own army who were not part of their division or corps. Enemy soldiers who showed up were often treated last.
Field hospitals, on the other hand, provided "first aid" and were generally much closer to the fight, in the nearest structure at hand, and were run by more junior assistant surgeons, who would attend to any soldier who showed up at that location. From there the wounded would be sent on to the hospital assigned to their command, further to the rear. These hospitals were typically beyond the range of infantry small-arms, but not longer range enemy artillery.
Virtually every farmhouse or public building within two to three miles of the battlefield was turned into a temporary hospital for a period of days or weeks.
Nearly all of the remaining wounded in the vicinity of Gettysburg were eventually transported to Camp Letterman General Hospital east of the town, enabling the closure of the temporary hospitals and allowing area farmers and townspeople to resume their lives. A few officers were treated at private residences.
Field hospitals, on the other hand, provided "first aid" and were generally much closer to the fight, in the nearest structure at hand, and were run by more junior assistant surgeons, who would attend to any soldier who showed up at that location. From there the wounded would be sent on to the hospital assigned to their command, further to the rear. These hospitals were typically beyond the range of infantry small-arms, but not longer range enemy artillery.
Virtually every farmhouse or public building within two to three miles of the battlefield was turned into a temporary hospital for a period of days or weeks.
Nearly all of the remaining wounded in the vicinity of Gettysburg were eventually transported to Camp Letterman General Hospital east of the town, enabling the closure of the temporary hospitals and allowing area farmers and townspeople to resume their lives. A few officers were treated at private residences.
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