Engineer Corps Ambulance Train - Falmouth, Va. - April 1863
3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/pictures/
LOC Title: Falmouth, Va. Men and wagons of the Engineer Corps ambulance train
[From Wikipedia: "During the American Civil War, Falmouth was occupied by Union forces in 1862 and 1863, and Northern commanders located their headquarters southeast of the town during the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns."]
Date: April 1863
Photographer: Timothy H. O'Sullivan (1840-1882)
Link to glass plate: www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/civwar/item/2018666291/
Notes: On Aug. 2, 1862, Gen. McClellan issued Special Orders No. 147, "for the organization of the ambulance corps and the management of ambulance trains." These regulations were the brainchild of Jonathan Letterman, M.D., Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac. In his "medical recollections" published in 1866, he stated why it was needed:
"The subject of the ambulances became, after the health of the troops, a matter of importance. No system had anywhere been devised for their management. They were under the control both of Medical officers and Quartermasters, and, as a natural consequence, little care was exercised over them by either. They could not be depended upon for efficient service in time of action or upon a march, and were too often used as if they had been made for the convenience of commanding officers.
The system I devised was based upon the idea that they should not be under the immediate control of Medical officers, whose duties, especially on the day of battle, would prevent any proper supervision ; but that other officers, appointed for that especial purpose, should have direct charge of the horses, harness, ambulances, etc., and yet under such regulations as would enable Medical officers at all times to procure them with facility when needed for their legitimate purpose.
Neither the proper kind nor the number of ambulances was in the army at that time, but it was necessary, nevertheless, to devise such a system as would render most available the materials upon the spot without waiting for the arrival of the additional number that had been asked for, only a portion of which ever came."
The regulations In "Special Orders 147, set forth strict guidelines as to who had control over the ambulances, restrictions as to their use, required training of personnel, and stipulation of uniform insignia. Its not readily apparent that the soldiers pictured here got the orders as relates to insignia, but perhaps a closer look is needed.
Below, I've excerpted a few key paragraphs from the order. It's rather dry reading, but gives a good idea as to what was allowed and what was not in the use of army ambulances.
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,
Camp near Harrison’s Landing , Va., Aug. 2, 1862.
Special Orders, No. 147.
".....3. The privates of the ambulance corps will consist of two men and a driver to each ambulance, and one driver to each transport cart.
4. The captain is the commander of all the ambulances and transport carts in the Army Corps, under the direction of the Medical Director. He will pay special attention to the condition of the ambulances, horses, harness, etc., requiring daily inspections to be made by the commanders of the division ambulances, and reports thereof to be made to him by these officers. He will make a personal inspection once a week of all the ambulances, transport carts, horses, harness, etc., whether they have been used for any other purpose than the transportation of the sick and wounded and medical supplies, reports of which will be transmitted, through the Medical Director of the Army Corps, to the Medical Director of the Army every Sunday morning. He will institute a drill in his corps, instructing his men in the most easy and expeditious method of putting men in and taking them out of the ambulances, taking men from the ground, and placing and carrying them on stretchers, observing that the front man steps off with the left foot and the rear man with the right, etc. He will be especially careful that the ambulances and transport carts are at all times in order, provided with attendants, drivers, horses, etc., and the kegs rinsed and filled daily with fresh water, that he may be able to move at any moment.
11. When in camp the ambulances, transport carts, and ambulance corps will be parked with the brigade, under the supervision of the commander of the corps for the brigade. They will be used on the requisition of the regimental Medical officers, transmitted to the commander of the brigade ambulance corps, for transporting the sick to various points and procuring medical supplies, and for nothing else. The Non-commissioned officer in charge will always accompany the ambulances or transport carts when on this or any other duty, and he will be held responsible they are used for none other than their legitimate purposes. Should any officer infringe upon this order regarding the uses of ambulances, etc., he will be reported by the officer in charge to the commander of the train, all the particulars being given.
12. The officer in charge of a train will at once remove everything not legitimate, and if there be not room for it in the baggage wagons of the regiment, will leave it on the road. Any attempt by a superior officer to prevent him from doing his duty in this or any other instance, he will promptly report to the Medical Director of the Army Corps, who will lay the matter before the Commander of the Corps. The latter will, at the earliest possible moment, place the officer offending in arrest for trial for disobedience of orders.
13. Good serviceable horses will be used for the ambulances and transport carts, and will not be taken for any other purpose, except by orders from these headquarters.
14. The uniform of this corps is — for privates, a green band, two inches broad, around the cap, a green half chevron, two inches broad, on each arm above the elbow, and to be armed with revolvers ; non-commissioned officers to wear the same band around the cap. as the privates, chevrons two inches broad, and green, with the point toward the shoulder, on each arm above the elbow.
15. No person will be allowed to carry from the field any wounded or sick except this corps."
************************
Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / American Battlefield Trust. CCWP Link: www.civilwarphotography.org/
Engineer Corps Ambulance Train - Falmouth, Va. - April 1863
3D red/cyan anaglyph created from glass plate stereograph at Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: www.loc.gov/pictures/
LOC Title: Falmouth, Va. Men and wagons of the Engineer Corps ambulance train
[From Wikipedia: "During the American Civil War, Falmouth was occupied by Union forces in 1862 and 1863, and Northern commanders located their headquarters southeast of the town during the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville campaigns."]
Date: April 1863
Photographer: Timothy H. O'Sullivan (1840-1882)
Link to glass plate: www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/civwar/item/2018666291/
Notes: On Aug. 2, 1862, Gen. McClellan issued Special Orders No. 147, "for the organization of the ambulance corps and the management of ambulance trains." These regulations were the brainchild of Jonathan Letterman, M.D., Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac. In his "medical recollections" published in 1866, he stated why it was needed:
"The subject of the ambulances became, after the health of the troops, a matter of importance. No system had anywhere been devised for their management. They were under the control both of Medical officers and Quartermasters, and, as a natural consequence, little care was exercised over them by either. They could not be depended upon for efficient service in time of action or upon a march, and were too often used as if they had been made for the convenience of commanding officers.
The system I devised was based upon the idea that they should not be under the immediate control of Medical officers, whose duties, especially on the day of battle, would prevent any proper supervision ; but that other officers, appointed for that especial purpose, should have direct charge of the horses, harness, ambulances, etc., and yet under such regulations as would enable Medical officers at all times to procure them with facility when needed for their legitimate purpose.
Neither the proper kind nor the number of ambulances was in the army at that time, but it was necessary, nevertheless, to devise such a system as would render most available the materials upon the spot without waiting for the arrival of the additional number that had been asked for, only a portion of which ever came."
The regulations In "Special Orders 147, set forth strict guidelines as to who had control over the ambulances, restrictions as to their use, required training of personnel, and stipulation of uniform insignia. Its not readily apparent that the soldiers pictured here got the orders as relates to insignia, but perhaps a closer look is needed.
Below, I've excerpted a few key paragraphs from the order. It's rather dry reading, but gives a good idea as to what was allowed and what was not in the use of army ambulances.
Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,
Camp near Harrison’s Landing , Va., Aug. 2, 1862.
Special Orders, No. 147.
".....3. The privates of the ambulance corps will consist of two men and a driver to each ambulance, and one driver to each transport cart.
4. The captain is the commander of all the ambulances and transport carts in the Army Corps, under the direction of the Medical Director. He will pay special attention to the condition of the ambulances, horses, harness, etc., requiring daily inspections to be made by the commanders of the division ambulances, and reports thereof to be made to him by these officers. He will make a personal inspection once a week of all the ambulances, transport carts, horses, harness, etc., whether they have been used for any other purpose than the transportation of the sick and wounded and medical supplies, reports of which will be transmitted, through the Medical Director of the Army Corps, to the Medical Director of the Army every Sunday morning. He will institute a drill in his corps, instructing his men in the most easy and expeditious method of putting men in and taking them out of the ambulances, taking men from the ground, and placing and carrying them on stretchers, observing that the front man steps off with the left foot and the rear man with the right, etc. He will be especially careful that the ambulances and transport carts are at all times in order, provided with attendants, drivers, horses, etc., and the kegs rinsed and filled daily with fresh water, that he may be able to move at any moment.
11. When in camp the ambulances, transport carts, and ambulance corps will be parked with the brigade, under the supervision of the commander of the corps for the brigade. They will be used on the requisition of the regimental Medical officers, transmitted to the commander of the brigade ambulance corps, for transporting the sick to various points and procuring medical supplies, and for nothing else. The Non-commissioned officer in charge will always accompany the ambulances or transport carts when on this or any other duty, and he will be held responsible they are used for none other than their legitimate purposes. Should any officer infringe upon this order regarding the uses of ambulances, etc., he will be reported by the officer in charge to the commander of the train, all the particulars being given.
12. The officer in charge of a train will at once remove everything not legitimate, and if there be not room for it in the baggage wagons of the regiment, will leave it on the road. Any attempt by a superior officer to prevent him from doing his duty in this or any other instance, he will promptly report to the Medical Director of the Army Corps, who will lay the matter before the Commander of the Corps. The latter will, at the earliest possible moment, place the officer offending in arrest for trial for disobedience of orders.
13. Good serviceable horses will be used for the ambulances and transport carts, and will not be taken for any other purpose, except by orders from these headquarters.
14. The uniform of this corps is — for privates, a green band, two inches broad, around the cap, a green half chevron, two inches broad, on each arm above the elbow, and to be armed with revolvers ; non-commissioned officers to wear the same band around the cap. as the privates, chevrons two inches broad, and green, with the point toward the shoulder, on each arm above the elbow.
15. No person will be allowed to carry from the field any wounded or sick except this corps."
************************
Red/Cyan (not red/blue) glasses of the proper density must be used to view 3D effect without ghosting. Anaglyph prepared using red cyan glasses from The Center For Civil War Photography / American Battlefield Trust. CCWP Link: www.civilwarphotography.org/