Release of Union Medical Officers - May 1862

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Jarvis Jackson Johnson 27th Indiana.jpg
Francis Leland 2nd Mass.JPG

James Jackson Jarvis, Surgeon, 27th Indiana Volunteers (left*) and Francis Leland, Surgeon, 2nd Massachusetts Volunteers (right**)

Until May 1862, medical officers of both sides who remained with the wounded were captured by opposing forces and treated as prisoners of war. In May 1862, eight US Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons had been left behind at the Union Hotel in Winchester Va to care for sick and wounded Federal soldiers. On May 25 1862, Confederate forces under General T J "Stonewall" Jackson captured the town, the hospital, nurses and these medical officers:

James Burd Peale, Surgeon 1st Brigade, Blenker's Division.
Jarvis Jackson Johnson, Surgeon 27th Indiana Regiment, Banks' Division.
Francis Leland, Surgeon 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, Banks' Division.
T.M. Mitchell, Surgeon 1st Maryland Regiment, Banks' Division.
Philip Adolphus, Assistant Surgeon, United States Army, in charge of 4th Artillery.
Lincoln R. Stone, Assistant-Surgeon, Banks' Division.
Josiah F. Daly, Assistant-Surgeon 10th Maine, Banks' Division.
Evelyn M. Bissell, Assistant-Surgeon 5th Connecticut, Banks' Division.
http://www.nytimes.com/1862/06/24/n...orward-movement-gen-banks.html?pagewanted=all

Dr. Harvey Black was acting Medical Director of the Army of the Shenandoah and Dr Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Director Army of the Valley, under the command of General T J Stonewall Jackson. These doctors and General Jackson agreed that military surgeons should be considered "noncombatants." Arrangements were made for the release of the eight Union Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons who had been captured. They signed their paroles of honor on May 31, 1862. A few weeks later, all medical officers who had been confined by both sides as prisoners of war were released and returned to their respective commands.

In 1865, Dr. McGuire was captured by Sheridan's army at Waynesboro. Upon learning of McGuire's identity and knowing of McGuire's release of medical officers, some of whom were from Sheridan's own command, General Sheridan ordered McGuire's immediate release. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242462/pdf/annsurg00087-0015.pdf

*Image of Jarvis from https://blog.newspapers.library.in.gov/a-skeletons-odyssey-the-forensic-mystery-of-watson-brown/
**Image of Leland from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19380305
 
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Lincoln R Stone 54th Mass.jpg
Lincoln R Stone, Asst Surgeon, 2nd Massachusetts Volunteers

Transcription of the parole of honor:

WINCHESTER, Va., May 31, 1682.

We, Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons United States Army, now prisoners of war in this place, do give our parole of honor, on being unconditionally released, to report in person, singly or collectively, to the Secretary of War in Washington City, as such; and that we will use our best efforts that the same number of medical officers of the Confederate States Army, now prisoners or who may hereafter be taken, be released on the same terms.

And, furthermore, we will, on our honor, use our best efforts to have this principle established, viz.: The unconditional release of all medical officers taken prisoners of war hereafter.

[signed]
J. BURD. PEALE, Surgeon, First Brigade, BLENKER's Division.
T.E. MITCHELL, Surgeon, First Maryland Regiment.
J.J. JOHNSON, Surgeon, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, Gen. WILLIAMS' Division.
FRANCIS LELAND, Surgeon, Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers.
PHILIP ADOLPHUS, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A., in charge of Fourth Artillery.
LINOT [sic] B. STONE, Assistant Surgeon, Second Massachusetts Volunteers.
JOSIAH F. DALY, Jr., Assistant Surgeon, Tenth M.E. Regiment Volunteers.
EVELYN L. BISSELL, Assistant Surgeon, Fifth Connecticut Volunteers.

Approved. HUNTER McGUIRE,
Medical Director, Army Valley, Va., C.S.

http://www.nytimes.com/1862/06/24/n...orward-movement-gen-banks.html?pagewanted=all
 
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