Confederate Infirmary Corps

[major bill]

Each regiment was to have a 30 man Infirmary Corps. Their job was to evacuate injured soldiers. To accomplish this they were to have one litter for every two men. They were to have a canteen of water and a cup to aid wonder men. They were to wear knapsacks containing lint, bandages, sponges, tourniquets, four sprints, and a bottle of alcoholic stimulants. Member of the Infirmary Corps were to be unarmed and their status shown by special badges.

So let us say I am a company commander and I am asked to provide three men to the Infirmary Corps, would I send my best soldiers or send soldiers I would just as soon be rid of?

 

[lelliott19]

So let us say I am a company commander and I am asked to provide three men to the Infirmary Corps, would I send my best soldiers or send soldiers I would just as soon be rid of?

Definitely not your best soldiers. In the regiment I am researching, two of the men who were part of the infirmary corps in Spring 1865 had returned to service after "recuperating from" amputations - one an arm and the other part of a hand. I doubt either would have been able to load and fire a gun. But that late in the war, I suppose even an amputation was not considered a severe enough injury to justify discharge. Both men surrendered at Appomattox CH.

 

[major bill]

Definitely not your best soldiers. In the regiment I am researching, two of the men who were part of the infirmary corps in Spring 1865 had returned to service after "recuperating from" amputations - one an arm and the other part of a hand. I doubt either would have been able to load and fire a gun. But that late in the war, I suppose even an amputation was not considered a severe enough injury to justify discharge. Both men surrendered at Appomattox CH.

This would seem to make it difficult for them to carry wounded men on litters.

 

[UCVRelics]

This sounds like one of those questions we would discuss at the US Army War College, ie, who do you send in with the NBC expert to check and see if the area is clear. I always answered the last 3 soldiers that PMO

 

[Belle Montgomery]

This would seem to make it difficult for them to carry wounded men on litters.

I'm guessing just like a waiter carrying a tray you can use the underside of your forearm between your hand and elbow...I guess even one arm situated to a balance on the side of your body (hip) was better than nothing when short of men.

 

[lelliott19]

This would seem to make it difficult for them to carry wounded men on litters.

I guess the theory was that one man missing an arm and one with half a hand was better than none?
EDIT TO ADD: I don't think they had enough men to be real particular about who was carrying the litter. The regiment only had about 150 +/- men left at that point - including the two amputees. The names of 45 have been located who were KW& C at Sailor's Creek and 59 surrendered at Appomattox. I figure a few may have straggled or escaped capture somehow at Sailor's Creek and just headed home - but somewhere between the 104 and 150 is probably pretty close.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

I guess the theory was that one man missing an arm and one with half a hand was better than none?

Only takes one hand to hold a whiskey bottle steady to pour into the soldier's mouth!

 

[major bill]

Oh so the bottle of alcoholic stimulants was for the wounded soldiers. Well you can forget me volunteering for the Infirmary Corps.

 

[ikesdad]

I'm sure glad the Corpsmen aren't in the sick, lame, and lazy squad now.

 

[Belle Montgomery]

Oh so the bottle of alcoholic stimulants was for the wounded soldiers. Well you can forget me volunteering for the Infirmary Corps.

 

[AUG]

It wasn't unusual for soldiers disabled by wounds, even missing an arm or leg, to be detailed to the infirmary (or ambulance) corps. Sgt. George A. Branard, former color bearer of the 1st Texas Inf., lost his arm in the Knoxville Campaign and was thereafter placed in command of the Texas Brigade's ambulance corps.

Each regiment was supposed to have two ambulances, so men who couldn't lift a litter could rather serve as an ambulance driver. During a battle regimental band members often joined the infirmary/ambulance corps as well.

 

[Tom Elmore]

Litter bearers had to be physically strong enough to carry the wounded over rough terrain, repeatedly. As of mid-1863, they wore red badges in their hats, according to British observer Col. Fremantle.

According to Val C. Giles of the Texas Brigade: Gen. J. B. Robertson used to say that [litter bearer J.J.] Haynes was the bravest man in Lee's army. In the battle of Gettysburg, as he was going in for "another load," a shell struck the soft earth about six feet in front of him and exploded almost under his feet. The old general said he could see nothing but dust, pieces of litter, etc., flying through the air for a few seconds; then he saw Haynes rise Phoenix-like, draw his sleeve across his dusty brow, pick up his old wool hat, wave it over his head, and shout at the top of his voice ("---- you, shoot again!").

Col. William C. Oates, 15th Alabama, regarding Allen F. Harp, Company L, detailed as litter bearer: "Served faithfully until the close of the war. He was a good man."

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/support-services-litter-bearers.111633/#post-1087651

 

[lelliott19]

It wasn't unusual for soldiers disabled by wounds, even missing an arm or leg, to be detailed to the infirmary (or ambulance) corps. Sgt. George A. Branard, former color bearer of the 1st Texas Inf., lost his arm in the Knoxville Campaign and was thereafter placed in command of the Texas Brigade's ambulance corps.

I wish I knew more about the two amputees in the 16th GA that were surrendered at Appomattox. Since neither could have handled a litter very well, I assume they would have been detailed as ambulance drivers? There are no records in their files to indicate any extra duty.

Martin VanBuren Bagwell, Pvt. Co C - wounded severely in the hand (reportedly) at the Wilderness, and fingers/part of hand amputated. But he was not listed as admitted to Stuart Hospital in Richmond until July 4, 1864. Issued clothing July 8, 1864 at Stuart Hospital, Richmond, VA. Furloughed for 30 days July 16, 1864. Issued clothing again Nov 5 & 24th <place not stated.> Evidently, from the dates of clothing issues, he returned to duty in, or prior to, Nov 64. He was among those surrendered at Appomattox CH.

Joseph White Woods, Corporal, Co D - wounded severely in the arm November 29, 1863 at Knoxville in the failed assault on Fort Sanders. Right arm amputated. Left behind under the care of Surgeon R. L. Johnson (15th SC, Kershaw's Brigade) and captured in the Field hospital December 5, 1863. Luckily, on January 6, 1864, he was sent to a "Hospital in the country" where he recovered well. According to an article in the Athens Southern Banner, Mar. 23, 1864, page 3, Surgeon Johnson left Union lines on February 14, 1864 and reported Woods' condition at that time as "doing well." On February 25th Woods was transferred to Military Prison, Louisville, KY. He was transferred to Fort Delaware February 29, 1864 and imprisoned until September 28, 1864 when he was paroled until exchanged. He reported to Camp Lee to await exchange and applied for a furlough October 9, 1864. He too was among those surrendered at Appomattox CH.

 

[38thVirginiaSnow]

Each regiment was to have a 30 man Infirmary Corps. Their job was to evacuate injured soldiers. To accomplish this they were to have one litter for every two men. They were to have a canteen of water and a cup to aid wonder men. They were to wear knapsacks containing lint, bandages, sponges, tourniquets, four sprints, and a bottle of alcoholic stimulants. Member of the Infirmary Corps were to be unarmed and their status shown by special badges.

So let us say I am a company commander and I am asked to provide three men to the Infirmary Corps, would I send my best soldiers or send soldiers I would just as soon be rid of?

thanks so much for the description!

 

[lupaglupa]

Would service in the infirmary corps show up on a record somewhere? I have never seen anyone with this noted as an assignment. But then I haven't been through tons of records

 

[Coonewah Creek]

Each regiment was to have a 30 man Infirmary Corps.

Wonder how long into the war it took for that regulation to be scrapped? 30 men? By late '63 that would be about 10% of the average regiment. In the 2nd Mississippi's case in particular, I've never noted anyone's CMSR designating them member's of the "infirmary corps," although individuals were occasionally designated to serve as nurses or orderlies at the hospitals...

 

[lelliott19]

In the 2nd Mississippi's case in particular, I've never noted anyone's CMSR designating them member's of the "infirmary corps," although individuals were occasionally designated to serve as nurses or orderlies at the hospitals...

Same for my regiment the 16th GA. Ive never seen notation of assignment to "infirmary corps" either.

 

[Lubliner]

Each regiment was to have a 30 man Infirmary Corps. Their job was to evacuate injured soldiers. To accomplish this they were to have one litter for every two men. They were to have a canteen of water and a cup to aid wonder men. They were to wear knapsacks containing lint, bandages, sponges, tourniquets, four sprints, and a bottle of alcoholic stimulants. Member of the Infirmary Corps were to be unarmed and their status shown by special badges.

So let us say I am a company commander and I am asked to provide three men to the Infirmary Corps, would I send my best soldiers or send soldiers I would just as soon be rid of?

When a Major asks you to select three men, wouldn't the first option be for volunteers? Morale would govern the selection, and the common sense of opportunity. Weren't the engineers chosen for projects, such as locating saltpeter or potash ingredients by selection? Same with the medical department searching for intrinsic plants for healing assigned by the Head of the Department. The opportunity to advance in a chosen field could override the negativity of 'slacker' and other reproachful synonyms. Troublemakers would be assigned more likely to dirtier details.
Lubliner.

 

[Lubliner]

I wish I knew more about the two amputees in the 16th GA that were surrendered at Appomattox. Since neither could have handled a litter very well, I assume they would have been detailed as ambulance drivers? There are no records in their files to indicate any extra duty.

Martin VanBuren Bagwell, Pvt. Co C - wounded severely in the hand (reportedly) at the Wilderness, and fingers/part of hand amputated. But he was not listed as admitted to Stuart Hospital in Richmond until July 4, 1864. Issued clothing July 8, 1864 at Stuart Hospital, Richmond, VA. Furloughed for 30 days July 16, 1864. Issued clothing again Nov 5 & 24th <place not stated.> Evidently, from the dates of clothing issues, he returned to duty in, or prior to, Nov 64. He was among those surrendered at Appomattox CH.

Joseph White Woods, Corporal, Co D - wounded severely in the arm November 29, 1863 at Knoxville in the failed assault on Fort Sanders. Right arm amputated. Left behind under the care of Surgeon R. L. Johnson (15th SC, Kershaw's Brigade) and captured in the Field hospital December 5, 1863. Luckily, on January 6, 1864, he was sent to a "Hospital in the country" where he recovered well. According to an article in the Athens Southern Banner, Mar. 23, 1864, page 3, Surgeon Johnson left Union lines on February 14, 1864 and reported Woods' condition at that time as "doing well." On February 25th Woods was transferred to Military Prison, Louisville, KY. He was transferred to Fort Delaware February 29, 1864 and imprisoned until September 28, 1864 when he was paroled until exchanged. He reported to Camp Lee to await exchange and applied for a furlough October 9, 1864. He too was among those surrendered at Appomattox CH.

@lelliott19 have you considered the possibility that these men chose to evacuate Richmond when the Army fled west?
Lubliner.

 

[lupaglupa]

If I had to guess I'd say this was one of those aspirational ideas that sounded great on paper and never worked in the field. Leadership sees a problem - we need to get wounded men off the field and treated - and crafts a solution - we should assign people to this job and set out their supply list - and then sends it off. When it trickles down to commanders who have a whole lot of other issues to deal with RIGHT NOW that are more important than this it gets ignored or followed in a very half-arsed way. I mean, a lot of units in the CSA didn't have uniforms, didn't have standard weapons, didn't get rations, didn't get pay, etc. etc. I can just imagine how their commanders felt when this order came down. Eye rollin' and cussin' would have been my reaction.