Accession Number:

ADA235869

Title:

Medical Materiel Support to the Army of the Potomac

Descriptive Note:

Individual study rept.

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Rhodes, Allen E.

Report Date:

1991-03-25

Pagination or Media Count:

61.0

Abstract:

At the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, the Union army found itself in dire straits logistically. War materiel was in short supply in every category, from uniforms to arms to wagons. The Army Medical Department was ill- prepared to serve, with an incumbent Surgeon General who was over eighty years old and inadequate numbers of surgeons to support even the few soldiers in uniform at the time. The reorganization of the Department and establishment of a viable medical logistics system in competition with other commodities was a formidable task. The Army of the Potomac began with little to indicate its Medical Department would be equal to the calling, yet the subsequent assignment of Surgeon Johnathan Letterman as its Medical Director became the first step to excellence. His vision and organizational abilities set the standard for field medical support which would be institutionalized by the entire Union Army, ultimately providing exceptional support in the Civil War. Lettermans system was adopted by European armies and would become the basis for current medical logistics doctrine in Army divisions.

Descriptors:

• *MATERIEL
• *MILITARY MEDICINE
• *MEDICAL SERVICES
• *LOGISTICS
• EUROPE
• POTOMAC RIVER
• SKILLS
• TIME
• ARMY
• STRAITS
• UNIFORMS
• COMMODITIES
• SHORTAGES
• MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
• SURGERY
• PHYSICIANS
• SUPPLIES
• VISION
• VIABILITY
• MEDICINE
• ARMY PERSONNEL
• ORGANIZATIONS
• WARFARE

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research
• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE