Trivia 11-11-2020 The Scarlet Lantern

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On a Steam Engine, what was the significance of three red lanterns in a row hung under the headlight, scarlet painted smoke stack and other trim painted scarlet? These devices indicated a Federal hospital train.
 
Found in Google Books from Google search for "three red lanterns in a row hung under the headlight"

Another innovation was the hospital car For the first time in military history wounded were brought from battlefield to hospital by rail Hospital trains were hideous by modern standards but lifesavers in their day Built with strong springs and cushioned running gear they were equipped with upright interior posts from which 24 stretchers were hung from huge rubber bands There also was a small kitchen water container surgeon's facilities and rudimentary ventilation lighting and heat

There were never enough hospital cars especially after a major engagement They ran in all theaters of the war A typical hospital train consisted of a woodburner locomotive five ward cars the surgeon's car cook car dispensary passenger coach and caboose The train was marked by a red smokestack and at night by three red lanterns hung in a row under the headlight The railroads also spawned another wartime development
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hoosier
 
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The answer is found in Robert R. Hodges book "American Civil War Railroad Tactics" :

Before the International Red Cross Organization was established and all hospitals and transport of wounded soldiers were marked with the Red Cross, the scarlet painted smoke stacks indicated that this train is a hospital train, so that the enemy would not fire at it. At night, the three red lanterns served the same purpose:

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