Assistant Surgeon Rank Equivalent

[Bryan_C]

At Fort Sumter, Samuel W. Crawford (front row, second from right) was at the rank of Assistant Surgeon. What was the rank equivalent to in the army? I'm assuming he did not outrank Major Robert Anderson.

 

[Dan Kohli]

In the Regular Army, the assistant surgeons had a rank equivalent to a 2nd lieutenant at the beginning of their service. They could have the the ranks equivalent to 1st lieutenant, or captain the longer they are in the Army.

 

[Bryan_C]

Thanks, do you have a source for this? After posting, I googled ad found that the rank was equivalent to 1st Lieutenant at the beginning of the war.

Also, in this case of Crawford, it appears that he was a Captain equivalent when the war began, as he joined the army as an assistant surgeon in 1851. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1850.

The Civil War Federal Army Surgeon

Civil War Federal Army surgeon information. Michael Echols discusses antique surgical instruments and the Civil War. CDV's of surgeons, and links to other Civil War surgical instrument information. Both complete sets and individual instruments are wanted to buy.

www.medicalantiques.com

 

[Dan Kohli]

In all honesty, out of laziness I only looked at the pay tables at back of the 1861 U.S. Army Regulations.

 

[Bryan_C]

No worries. I suppose I should have checked more thoroughly myself.

 

[Dan Kohli]

My reasoning on the ranks is since the assistant surgeons get the equivalent pay of 2nd lieutenants, 1st lieutenants, and captains of cavalry, They were the equivalent ranks of these officers. 2nd lieutenant for the first five years, 1st lieutenant the next five years, and captain after ten years service.

I forgot to add a link for the 1861 regulations
The medical department section might have the actual answer.

https://www.11thovc.com/_files/ugd/0d3674_a7e008b9c9234cd3988fd599a585b895.pdf

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

In the Regular Army, the assistant surgeons had a rank equivalent to a 2nd lieutenant at the beginning of their service. They could have the the ranks equivalent to 1st lieutenant, or captain the longer they are in the Army.

The text of the book, "Doctors in Gray" pretty well agrees with you even though it is addressing the opposing side when doing so.

 

[52ndFandS]

The text of the book, "Doctors in Gray" pretty well agrees with you even though it is addressing the opposing side when doing so.

One of my relatives had medical training. He was a circuit doctor. After Shiloh he got elected first Luetenant.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

Thanks for all of the posts…I am doing my School of Surgery next month. I will be going the contract civilian Army surgeon impression route or with my Society of CW Surgeons. As I am apt to say: "How hard can it be?"

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

In the Regular Army, the assistant surgeons had a rank equivalent to a 2nd lieutenant at the beginning of their service. They could have the the ranks equivalent to 1st lieutenant, or captain the longer they are in the Army.

I had s relative in the 10th Arkansas that was a 1st Lt as assistant surgeon.

 

[Dan Kohli]

I had s relative in the 10th Arkansas that was a 1st Lt as assistant surgeon.

That's neat.

 

[Salterr]

At Fort Sumter, Samuel W. Crawford (front row, second from right) was at the rank of Assistant Surgeon. What was the rank equivalent to in the army? I'm assuming he did not outrank Major Robert Anderson.

View attachment 517884

The engraving shows the officer second from right front row as a 2nd lt. His single row of buttons and lack of insignia on his boards is how that's represented. A full surgeon is a major rank. Above that rank of surgeon general was a colonel

 

[Salterr]

Thanks for all of the posts…I am doing my School of Surgery next month. I will be going the contract civilian Army surgeon impression route or with my Society of CW Surgeons. As I am apt to say: "How hard can it be?"

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

View attachment 583263View attachment 583264View attachment 583265

Good for you and your effort!

 

[Salterr]

Good for you and your effort!

Just fun to see real pieces, I am puzzled myself actually. I had read years ago that a 1st Lt was an assistant and as the war progressed, the need for more medical personnel prompted the army to lower the ranking to 2nd for assistants. Full surgeons still being majors with the surgeon general being a colonel and after the war a brigadier general

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Just fun to see real pieces, I am puzzled myself actually. I had read years ago that a 1st Lt was an assistant and as the war progressed, the need for more medical personnel prompted the army to lower the ranking to 2nd for assistants. Full surgeons still being majors with the surgeon general being a colonel and after the war a brigadier general

I have only read one book about CW medical service. It was "Doctors in Gray," by Cunningham, and it makes me appreciate your efforts.

 

[ColonelBuckwalter]

That's neat.

It is.

 

[67th Tigers]

Assistant-surgeons ranked as a 1LT on appointment, and as a CAPT after three years service. Surgeons ranked as a MAJ, and assistant-surgeons were promotable to surgeon after 5 years service. Medical purveyors ranked as LT COL, and the surgeon-general as COL.

However, this is rank on the Medical Staff. Their shoulder straps have M.S. in the middle, and they are not in the line of command, and have no authority to give commands outside of the Medical Staff.