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- Jan 16, 2015
The focus here is on the ambulance "corps" of the Army of Northern Virginia and Army of the Potomac during the summer of 1863.
Every regiment typically had two ambulances, each drawn by either two horses or two mules. On the march, the ambulances sometimes followed directly behind the regiment, collecting sick soldiers, or those overcome by the heat (with permission of a surgeon). However, Elon Brown of the 2nd Wisconsin lamented that Black contrabands who accompanied the Federal army were denied access to the ambulances when they were sick. It was more than an inconvenience; being left behind invited capture (or worse) by roving guerrilla bands.
Or the ambulances might be grouped together by brigade or division in a train that followed at a greater distance for safety. Generals would frequently be assigned a dedicated ambulance for their staffs, at the brigade level on up. At Gettysburg, Brig. Gen. John Gibbon's ambulance served as the sleeping quarters for himself as well as Generals Hancock and Newton on the night of July 2/3, and then functioned as a field headquarters for Generals Hancock and Alex. Hays and their staffs in the forenoon of July 3. However, when the artillery duel began all the ambulances made a mad dash to the rear. Likewise, Confederate Maj. Gen. Henry Heth returned to the field in his ambulance on July 2, after having been wounded the previous afternoon.
Ambulances were designed with hinged seats to accommodate three men lying down lengthwise, and carried water kegs and beef stock for the wounded, with stretchers hung along the side, and were covered by canvas stretched over bows. The Federals also had one wagon (per two regiments) dedicated to carrying medical supplies, hospital tents and mess chests. The Confederates made due with some inferior quality ambulances that resembled civilian butcher wagons in the opinion of one Federal prisoner, but they also had excellent ambulances captured from the foe. The Washington (Louisiana) Artillery had an ambulance that formerly belonged to the 2nd Rhode Island, while Lt. Col. Thomas H. Carter's artillery battalion picked up two fine ambulances from Milroy at Martinsburg on 15 June. The Louisiana Tigers prized ambulances of the 39th New York that were captured at Harper's Ferry in 1862.
However, whether Union or Confederate, riding in an ambulance was not a pleasant experience. It was a jolting ride over rough and stony roads back to the hospital. William K. Haines of the 5th New Jersey wrote that his wounded companion fainted, revived, and then fainted again on the journey. Haines begged to be let off, but his Irish driver demurred, saying "I know what's best for ye." Confederate wounded, many of them senior officers, took a similar ride on the retreat from Gettysburg, but over a distance of about 80 miles. So it is no wonder that many had to be left behind in residences along the way.
Either one or two men were assigned from each company in every regiment to serve in the ambulance corps, usually under the supervision of a sergeant. Those who served as litter bearers had to be physically strong, while some with weaker constitutions or who had been previously wounded in combat would be assigned as drivers. Col. Fremantle recalled that the ambulance corps men of McLaw's Division (CSA) wore red badges in their hats.
One brigade (with four regiments) of the Federal Fifth Corps had 10 two-horse ambulances and 15 men, while the Federal Second Corps entire ambulance organization consisted of 13 officers, 350-400 men, 100 ambulances, 10-12 forage wagons, and over 300 horses. Administratively, the ambulance wagons were under the charge of the quartermasters, but operationally they were controlled by the medical officers (surgeons).
Approaching a battlefield to within two or three miles, the senior officer of an ambulance train (often a lieutenant) would be directed to set up at a farm house and barn that was selected to receive the wounded, preferably with a good source of water near at hand. From there ambulances would be sent closer to the front to collect the wounded. Some of the ambulances set up at a reasonably safe distance, while others bravely ventured up to the front lines. Private A. F. Santeo of the 25th Virginia was cited for gallantry in Lt. Gen. Ewell's official report at Gettysburg, as was Lt. John S. Sullivan (USA) in Maj. Gen. Alex. Hays' report. Asst. Surgeon Joel B. Lewis of the 43rd North Carolina took his ambulance corps men right into the fighting at the railroad cut to render timely aid. Late at night on July 3, ambulance driver Peyton Hazlewood of the 53rd Virginia along with some others crossed the field to retrieve wounded comrades at the infamous fence on the Emmitsburg Road, just in front of the Federal lines. The ambulance corps was generally respected by both sides during the battle, but not always. Members of the 13th South Carolina avoided being cut down by Federal sharpshooters when they went out to retrieve a wounded enemy from the field, but an ambulance man of the 27th Indiana was killed on a similar mission. The ambulance corps of the Federal Second Corps had six or seven men struck during the battle, along with an equivalent number of horses; three ambulances were hit by artillery, including one where a conical shell passed through one of the wheels.
While it was a dangerous business at times, the ambulance corps of both armies helped saved many men, both friend and foe. Their appearance on the field after a battle inspired hope among the gravely wounded.
Every regiment typically had two ambulances, each drawn by either two horses or two mules. On the march, the ambulances sometimes followed directly behind the regiment, collecting sick soldiers, or those overcome by the heat (with permission of a surgeon). However, Elon Brown of the 2nd Wisconsin lamented that Black contrabands who accompanied the Federal army were denied access to the ambulances when they were sick. It was more than an inconvenience; being left behind invited capture (or worse) by roving guerrilla bands.
Or the ambulances might be grouped together by brigade or division in a train that followed at a greater distance for safety. Generals would frequently be assigned a dedicated ambulance for their staffs, at the brigade level on up. At Gettysburg, Brig. Gen. John Gibbon's ambulance served as the sleeping quarters for himself as well as Generals Hancock and Newton on the night of July 2/3, and then functioned as a field headquarters for Generals Hancock and Alex. Hays and their staffs in the forenoon of July 3. However, when the artillery duel began all the ambulances made a mad dash to the rear. Likewise, Confederate Maj. Gen. Henry Heth returned to the field in his ambulance on July 2, after having been wounded the previous afternoon.
Ambulances were designed with hinged seats to accommodate three men lying down lengthwise, and carried water kegs and beef stock for the wounded, with stretchers hung along the side, and were covered by canvas stretched over bows. The Federals also had one wagon (per two regiments) dedicated to carrying medical supplies, hospital tents and mess chests. The Confederates made due with some inferior quality ambulances that resembled civilian butcher wagons in the opinion of one Federal prisoner, but they also had excellent ambulances captured from the foe. The Washington (Louisiana) Artillery had an ambulance that formerly belonged to the 2nd Rhode Island, while Lt. Col. Thomas H. Carter's artillery battalion picked up two fine ambulances from Milroy at Martinsburg on 15 June. The Louisiana Tigers prized ambulances of the 39th New York that were captured at Harper's Ferry in 1862.
However, whether Union or Confederate, riding in an ambulance was not a pleasant experience. It was a jolting ride over rough and stony roads back to the hospital. William K. Haines of the 5th New Jersey wrote that his wounded companion fainted, revived, and then fainted again on the journey. Haines begged to be let off, but his Irish driver demurred, saying "I know what's best for ye." Confederate wounded, many of them senior officers, took a similar ride on the retreat from Gettysburg, but over a distance of about 80 miles. So it is no wonder that many had to be left behind in residences along the way.
Either one or two men were assigned from each company in every regiment to serve in the ambulance corps, usually under the supervision of a sergeant. Those who served as litter bearers had to be physically strong, while some with weaker constitutions or who had been previously wounded in combat would be assigned as drivers. Col. Fremantle recalled that the ambulance corps men of McLaw's Division (CSA) wore red badges in their hats.
One brigade (with four regiments) of the Federal Fifth Corps had 10 two-horse ambulances and 15 men, while the Federal Second Corps entire ambulance organization consisted of 13 officers, 350-400 men, 100 ambulances, 10-12 forage wagons, and over 300 horses. Administratively, the ambulance wagons were under the charge of the quartermasters, but operationally they were controlled by the medical officers (surgeons).
Approaching a battlefield to within two or three miles, the senior officer of an ambulance train (often a lieutenant) would be directed to set up at a farm house and barn that was selected to receive the wounded, preferably with a good source of water near at hand. From there ambulances would be sent closer to the front to collect the wounded. Some of the ambulances set up at a reasonably safe distance, while others bravely ventured up to the front lines. Private A. F. Santeo of the 25th Virginia was cited for gallantry in Lt. Gen. Ewell's official report at Gettysburg, as was Lt. John S. Sullivan (USA) in Maj. Gen. Alex. Hays' report. Asst. Surgeon Joel B. Lewis of the 43rd North Carolina took his ambulance corps men right into the fighting at the railroad cut to render timely aid. Late at night on July 3, ambulance driver Peyton Hazlewood of the 53rd Virginia along with some others crossed the field to retrieve wounded comrades at the infamous fence on the Emmitsburg Road, just in front of the Federal lines. The ambulance corps was generally respected by both sides during the battle, but not always. Members of the 13th South Carolina avoided being cut down by Federal sharpshooters when they went out to retrieve a wounded enemy from the field, but an ambulance man of the 27th Indiana was killed on a similar mission. The ambulance corps of the Federal Second Corps had six or seven men struck during the battle, along with an equivalent number of horses; three ambulances were hit by artillery, including one where a conical shell passed through one of the wheels.
While it was a dangerous business at times, the ambulance corps of both armies helped saved many men, both friend and foe. Their appearance on the field after a battle inspired hope among the gravely wounded.
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