The Tennessee in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Rogersville under Confederate control

Mr. Elliott,

Thank you for your information. I came to the same conclusion that you did. Lots of grades. Big one before reaching Lynchburg where Dr. Holloway would have to change trains to go North to Gordonsville as the North / South rail line was narrower that the lines that ran from Chattanooga to the Chesapeake Bay. Shortly after leaving Rogersville Junction they would have to climb the grade up Bull Gap. Carter Depot was on the "down side" of Bull Gap (if one was traveling East.

About the Medical Department. First off, there was more than one "official" Confederate States army. The Medical Department was a separate command with in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States [PACS]. The HQ was in Richmond with the staff of the Surgeon-General [Brigadier General]. Each Army had a Surgeon-in-Charge as did Corps, Hospitals, etc. Next came the Surgeons, rank of Major and Assistant Surgeons, rank of Capitan. They also had contract civilians at hospitals with the title of Acting Assistant Surgeon. [equivocal rank of Capt.] The official uniform was: Black trousers with a black velvet stripe down the leg with gold trim on each side of the velvet stripe. Matching black vest. Officers coat in Gray with a black collar and cuff. Either single or double breasted buttons. Rank stars and bars on the collar. Many doctors did not use the black trousers or black vest as they would have to be special made and the material was hard to find. Most simply used regular wool officers gray uniforms but with trouser stripes, cuffs and collar in black as opposed to the blue, yellow, & red. If a waist sash was worn for a formal event. It was to be emerald green.

Orders for transfer or promotions all came from Richmond. The medical officers had their own chain of command. By the book, each regiment would have one surgeon and at least one assistant surgeon. In reality...They would be lucky to have one surgeon or assistant surgeon. Placement of doctors had nothing to do with where the doctor was from. Perfect example, Dr. RG Holloway of Virginia was first assigned to Gen Hosp. #6 (Assistant Surgeon) in down town Richmond. Transferred to Gen Hospital, Montgomery White Sulphur Springs, (Assistant Surgeon) near Blacksburg, VA Transferred to the Army of Tennessee, assigned to the 30th Alabama Infantry (Assistant Surgeon but Acting regimental Surgeon) For most of the Atlanta Campaign he had no Assistant Surgeon as his had been transferred. Most regiments in the Pettus Brigade did not have any doctor at all. After the battle at Jonesboro, Holloway was transferred to the Second Corp, Army of Northern Virginia, as Acting Surgeon, 38th Georgia Infantry. Promoted to Surgeon in 1865 still with 38th GA Infantry. Paroled May 1865 Bowling Green, VA. I hope this gives you a better picture of doctors in the CSA military.

Dr. Robert Massey
Phoenix, Arizona

Messages In This Thread

Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control
Re: Rogersville under Confederate control