Call 911: Civil War Style
Today when we get hurt, we can call an ambulance and get whisked away to the hospital quickly. During the Civil War, they did not have the luxuries we do today. In the beginning of the war, there were not enough ambulances to carry all the wounded, so many soldiers died from lack of care. To counter this, the medical director of the Union Army, Dr. Johnathan Letterman, created the first ambulance corps in August of 1862. When this unit was first implemented at the Battle of Antietam, medical personnel were able to remove all of the wounded from the field in just 24 hours, saving hundreds of soldiers' lives.
In a letter home to his family, Alexander Hunter, of the 17th Virginia Infantry [CSA], said,
"...Many became ill from exposure and starvation, and were left on the road. The ambulances were full, and the whole route was marked with a sick, lame, limping lot..."
[Large photo caption reads]
The ambulance in front of you is a reproduction of a Tripler Model ambulance from the Civil War. The U.S. Ambulance Corps used this type of ambulance extensively throughout the Civil War, even though it was cumbersome and very heavy. The Tripler ambulance was built to hold ten men; four lying down and six seated. It also required four horses to pull it.
Ambulances at Fort Scott brought Union wounded from battlefields
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[Smaller photo caption reads]
Staged image of Zouave soldiers (not at Fort Scott) loading wounded men onto the ambulances.
Erected 2018 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Fort Scott, Kansas series list. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1862.
Location. 37° 50.672′ N, 94° 42.251′ W. Marker is in Fort Scott, Kansas, in Bourbon County. Marker is adjacent to a building behind Officers' Row, on the Fort Scott National Historic Site grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Old Fort Boulevard, Fort Scott KS 66701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Back Yards (a few steps from this marker); Tallgrass Prairie Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); "But I Can Fire a Pistol" (within shouting distance of this marker); Rank, Privilege, and Officers Row (within shouting distance of this marker); "Hardy, Dashing Looking Fellows"
Regarding Call 911: Civil War Style. The contributor was the NPS site historian when the ambulance wagon replica arrived at Fort Scott NHS in April 2012.
Also see . . .
1. Civil War Ambulance at Fort Scott National Historic Site. (Submitted on January 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Fort Scott in the Civil War. (Submitted on January 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Lloyd Wiley (left) provided the horses and NPS Ranger Galen Ewing dressed the part
Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
