Medical recollections of the Army of the Potomac / by Jonathan Letterman.

  • Jonathan Letterman
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical recollections of the Army of the Potomac / by Jonathan Letterman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    under my direction, and I found it in a deplorable condition. The officers were worn out by the exces- sive and harassing labors they had undergone during the time they were attached to the Army of Virginia. A large portion of their supplies had been left be- hind, as I have said, at Fortress Monroe, and even much of what they had brought was thrown away by commanding officers when on the way to join Gen- eral Pope. The labor expended at Harrison’s Land- ing in rendering this Department efficient for active service, seemed to have been expended in vain, and it required to be completely refitted before it would be again in proper condition. The circumstances in which the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Virginia (both of which now came under the com- mand of General McClellan) were placed, made this impossible. As soon as the troops reached the de- fences of Washington, they were marched into Mary- land, and no time was allowed Medical officers again to equip themselves with the medicines, instruments, and stores requisite for another campaign. In a few instances the Medical officers who returned with the first troops procured some supplies. Some troops which did not belong to the Army of the Potomac when it lay at Harrison’s Landing were also marched rapidly into Maryland. I could know nothing of the condition of their Medical Department, except what I 3
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