Hayes Lowe
Surgeon-in-Chief
Tue Apr 17 20:39:01 2001


I've dug out the microfilm copies on Matthew Arnold Jolly. He was appointed an Assistant Surgeon, Company C, 11th Alabama Infantry. He was sent to the Jeff Davis Legion (record also says this is the 2nd Batt. Miss. Cav.) on detached duty. From that unit, he was sent back to the 11th Ala. Inf.

He was then relieved of duty on 5/20/1862, and was ordered to Mobile. From there he was ordered to the 43rd Ala. Inf. as a Surgeon.

By 2/1/1864, he was a Surgeon on the Confederate Medical Board, and was in Houston, Texas.

On 3/31/1865, he is shown as Surgeon, Medical Director for Wharton's Cavalry Corps. He is also shown with the title of Surgeon-in-Chief.

I've run across the term Medical Purveyor, and it seems to be a person that supplies medical equipment, and perhaps pharmaceuticals.

Dr. William D. Lyles' title was Director of Hospitals. At one time, he was Director of Hospitals that included those at Meridian and Lauderdale Springs, Miss. I would assume that his rank must be higher than Major, since the Surgeons he would have been in command of would have at least that rank. Perhaps the Surgeons-in-Charge at each hospital had a higher rank than a "common" Surgeon, too.

I think that Dr. Lyles became a Surgeon General for the Mississippi Militia, and not the State Government. Evidence is sketchy, but that is the indication. Does that mean that he was a "General" in the Mississippi Militia?