Near Shiloh in Hardin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Field Hospital

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

1. Field Hospital Marker

Inscription. After the Battle of Shiloh, Federal soldiers buried the dead, and medical officers faced the enormous task of caring for the 16,400 wounded. Many were crowded onto steamboats for transport to Northern cities, while others were taken to nearby homes. Some of the wounded received professional medical treatment here.

On this high ground surrounding the farmhouse of Noah Cantrell, medical officers of the Union Army of the Ohio set up a large field hospital under canvas. Tents, bedding, and supplies were secured from the infantry camps to accommodate some 2,500 sick and wounded.

Ordinarily, regiments took care of their own wounded. Here was the first consolidated tent hospital - a forerunner of modern military field hospitals.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 35° 7.694′ N, 88° 19.566′ W. Marker is near Shiloh, Tennessee, in Hardin County. Marker is on Federal Road, on the right when traveling west. Located at tour stop 11 (the Field Hospital) on the driving tour of Shiloh National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shiloh TN 38376, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Stuart (a few steps from this marker); Confederate Offense Stalls (a few steps from this marker); Thousands of Wounded

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(a few steps from this marker); 71st Ohio Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 71st Ohio Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackson's Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); Mann's Battery (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gage's Alabama Battery (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shiloh.

More about this marker. In the center is a drawing depicting the field hospital in operation. On the night after the battle, surgeons labored to save the victims of Shiloh. An Ohio soldier who walked by here heard, "groans and cries that would have melted a heart of stone."

In the center is a portrait, captioned: Asst. Surgeon Bernard J.D. Lewin established and organized the hospital. Union and Confederate soldiers alike were given excellent treatment, considering the lack of supplies, the horrible nature of the wounds, and the great number of patients.

On the right is a diagram showing the layout of the field hospital.

Close up of the Portrait and Field Hospital Layout image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

2. Close up of the Portrait and Field Hospital Layout

Field Hospital Site and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 16, 2009

3. Field Hospital Site and Marker

The park service uses this area for living history displays. In the background is the monument for the 71st Ohio.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,397 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 18, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.