The Acting Assistant Surgeon of 
the United States Army in the 
War of the Rebellion 
BY V 
JOHN T. NAGLE, M.D. 
NEW YORK 
Reprinted from the Medical Record, February 1, 1890 
NEW YORK 
TROW’S PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING CO. 
201-213 East Twelfth Street 
1890 The Acting Assistant Surgeon of 
the United States Army in the 
War of the Rebellion 
BY 
JOHN T. NAGLE, M.D. 
NEW YORK 
Reprinted from the Medical Record, February 1, 1890 
NEW YORK 
TROW’S PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING CO. 
201-213 East Twelfth Street 
1890 THE ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON OF THE 
UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE WAR OF 
THE REBELLION. 
The agitation which has taken place, for a couple of years 
past, to fix the status of the acting assistant surgeon of 
the United States Army, now serving, and give him the 
rank, pay, etc., of second lieutenant of cavalry, should be 
persevered in, as I feel quite sure that, if Congress could 
be made to understand his true position and the arduous 
duties he performs, that it would concede the modest re- 
quest he makes. The Medical Record has from time 
to time informed its readers of the almost humiliating 
position the acting assistant surgeon is now placed in. 
Some of them held, I am informed, medical commissions 
of high rank during the late war, and ought to deserve 
well of their country and receive the sympathy of every 
lover of justice. I sincerely wish them success in their 
movement. 
The position of the acting assistant surgeon of the 
United States Army of the present day is pretty well un- 
derstood by the medical profession, particularly that por- 
tion of it that is interested in military affairs; and as very 
little has been said of the acting assistant surgeon of the 
army during the late war, I think the following brief 
account may be of interest. 
The Medical Staff of the United States Army.— 
The “ Medical History of the War of the Rebellion,” Part 
III., Surgical Volume, page 899, informs us that, at the 
outbreak of the rebellion, the medical department of the 4 
United States Army was composed of one surgeon-gen- 
eral, with the rank of colonel; thirty surgeons, with the 
rank of major; and eighty-four assistant surgeons, with the 
rank of first lieutenant for the first five years of service; 
and that these medical officers formed a portion of the 
general staff of the army, and were not permanently 
attached to any regiment or command, but were subject 
to duty wherever their services were needed ; and that at 
the beginning of hostilities, in 1861, large forces of State 
troops, or militia, responded to the several proclamations 
of the President calling for aid in suppressing the rebel- 
lion, and that each regiment was provided with a surgeon 
and an assistant surgeon, commissioned by the States in 
which the troops had been enlisted. These officers were 
borne on the muster-rolls, and permanently attached to 
the regimental organizations, being seldom detached ex- 
cept for urgent reasons. The calling out of a force of 
five hundred thousand volunteers, on July 22, 1861, ne- 
cessitated an increased medical force to care for the 
wounded and disabled soldiers, and an act to reorganize 
and increase the efficiency of the medical department of 
the army was approved April 16, 1862. The organization 
of the regular staff was increased so as to number 1 sur- 
geon-general, 1 assistant surgeon-general, 1 medical in- 
spector-general, 16 medical inspectors, and 170 surgeons 
and assistant surgeons; there were appointed 547 surgeons 
and assistant surgeons of volunteers ; there were mustered 
into the service, between April, 1861, and the close of the 
war, 2,109 regimental surgeons, and 3, 882 regimental as- 
sistant surgeons. During the same period there were em- 
ployed 85 acting staff surgeons, and 5,532 acting assistant 
surgeons. 
The Regular Army commissioned medical officers, the 
surgeons and assistant surgeons of United States Vol- 
unteers, and the Acting Assistant Surgeons of the 
United States Army, were not attached to any regiment 
or command, but were subject to duty wherever their 
services were needed, while the regimental surgeons and 5 
assistant surgeons were rarely detached from their regi- 
ments. 
The laws of the United States prescribed the age of an 
applicant for the position of assistant surgeon to be from 
twenty-one to twenty-eight years, and no person who was 
under twenty-one years or over twenty-eight years could 
receive an appointment as an assistant surgeon in the 
United States Army. The regimental medical officers 
and the acting assistant surgeons were not limited to this 
age, but were required to be physically sound on entering 
the service. 
The Acting Assistant Surgeon, how Appointed.— 
The acting assistant surgeon United States Army, or con- 
tract surgeon, in order to be appointed as such, had to 
make application to be examined for the position in the 
manner described in the following circular, issued by 
Joseph K. Barnes, who was acting surgeon-general of the 
United States Army, viz.: 
“ Information for applicants for the position of con- 
tract surgeon, in the United States Army. 
“ i. All candidates must make application in their own 
handwriting (accompanied by sufficient evidence of good 
moral character, of physical ability, and of being gradu- 
ates of some regular medical college), to the surgeon- 
general at Washington, assistant surgeon-general at Louis- 
ville, or a medical director of a department. 
“ 2. Upon the receipt of such application, a permit will 
be given for examination before the nearest medical board 
then in session, or before a board convened temporarily 
for that purpose by a medical director. 
“3. If reported favorably by the board, the candidate 
will receive a certificate to that effect, which will secure 
him the position of contract surgeon whenever his services 
may be needed. 
“ 4. In accepting a contract, the physician binds him- 
self to serve the United States for a stated period, unless 
sooner discharged, and to be subject, in all respects, to 
the same control as all other medical officers.” 6 
Requirements and Duties of the Contract Surgeon.— 
The successful candidate is required to subscribe to a 
printed form of oath, which is administered to him, and 
he is now officially designated as acting assistant sur- 
geon, United States Army. The duties of the acting 
assistant surgeon were similar to those of assistant sur- 
geons and surgeons of the medical staff of the army. He 
wore the uniform and insignia of rank of assistant sur- 
geon, and was allowed the same amount of pension that 
was given to a first lieutenant of the military or marine 
corps. He was assigned to commands, in the field and 
elsewhere, which were without medical officers. Many 
were assigned to the charge of United States general hos- 
pitals, where the responsibility was very great, and the 
executive officers of a very large number of the United 
States general hospitals were acting assistant surgeons. 
Nearly all the United States hospitals for the care of the 
soldiers who suffered from small-pox, and other contagious 
and infectious diseases, were in charge of acting assistant 
surgeons of the United States Army. The following account 
of one of them, which was furnished by Dr. J. V. Patter- 
son, of No. 104 West Penn Street, Germantown, Pa., who 
was an acting assistant surgeon, United States Army, in 
charge of the United States Hospital, near Philadelphia, 
is interesting and amusing. Dr. Patterson states that he 
was assigned to duty as acting assistant surgeon, United 
States Army, on August 21, 1862, and after serving two 
months, he states that it was determined to open a hospi- 
tal for small-pox and other contagious diseases. Several 
regular army surgeons refused to have anything to do with 
it, and the medical director of the department requested 
him to open and organize such a hospital, which he did 
on October 7, 1862, and he remained surgeon in charge 
until August, 1865, when he closed up the hospital. He 
not only acted as physician, but he was obliged to serve 
as clerk, paymaster, etc. On account of small-pox pa- 
tients, everyone fought shy of the hospital. The pay- 
master refused to come to the hospital, and he, Dr. 7 
Patterson, was obliged to make out the pay-rolls, and 
take them to the paymaster in the city of Philadelphia, 
and the paymaster, after eying them suspiciously, would 
draw his check for the amount. Of the officers sent from 
Washington to make an official inspection of the hospi- 
tals, there never was but one man who had the courage 
to enter the wards, examine the bedding, and make a 
thorough inspection. At the close of his term of service 
he had the satisfaction of being complimented by the 
medical director with the remark, that he had given him 
the least trouble of any surgeon in the department, and 
that the hospital fund had been so well managed that, on 
two occasions, he had drawn from its surplus to help to 
pay the debts of other hospitals. 
On page 902 of the “ Medical and Surgical History of 
the War of the Rebellion,” Part III., paragraph 5, the fol- 
lowing appears: 
“ As soon as possible after every engagement, the 
wounded were transferred from the division or corps 
hospitals to the base or general hospitals, which at one 
time numbered 205 ; these were under the charge and 
command of the regular or volunteer staff, assisted by 
acting assistant surgeons, medical cadets, and officers of 
the second battalion of the veteran reserve corps.” This 
statement is not altogether accurate, as there were several 
United States general hospitals under the charge and 
command of acting assistant surgeons of the United 
States Army. The hospital railway transportation service 
was generally placed under the charge of acting assistant 
surgeons. Acting Assistant Surgeon J. P. Barnum fitted 
up the ambulance or hospital train for the transportation 
of the sick and wounded between Louisville and Nash- 
ville, a distance of one hundred and eighty-five miles. 
“Surgeon George E. Cooper, U. S. A., Medical Di- 
rector of General George H. Thomas’s Army of the Cum- 
berland, reported that when he arrived in the Department 
he found a train, fitted up by Dr. Barnum, already in op- 
eration on the line, one train, at least, leaving the vicinity 8 
of the field hospitals daily. The trains were prepared 
under Dr. Barnum’s direction, and Dr. Barnum states that 
he conveyed twenty thousand four hundred and seventy- 
two sick and wounded soldiers from the battle fields, 
general hospitals, etc., with a loss of but one man, who, 
despite the advice of his surgeons, implored that he might 
be taken to die in the bosom of his family. Dr. F. L. 
Town, U. S. A., in a report to Assistant Surgeon-General 
R. C. Wood, remarks that Acting Assistant Surgeon J. P. 
Barnum had charge of the first hospital train built at 
Nashville, and that he studiously labored to improve and 
systematize its working, and devised many expedients 
looking to the comfort of the patients in days when the 
theory of hospital trains was not so well understood as 
now” (see pp. 962-3, “ Medical and Surgical History of 
the War of the Rebellion,” Part III., Surgical Volume). 
Dr. Barnum states that he was with General W. S. Rose- 
crans’ advance column, and participated in the battle of 
Chickamauga, and organized the Main Street Hospital in 
Chattanooga on Sunday after the battle. This hospital 
he turned over to Brigade Surgeon J. P. Arter, and took 
charge of the ambulances, which conveyed two thousand 
men from Bridgeport to Nashville. Dr. Barnum was 
afterward placed in charge of the river transportation of 
sick and wounded soldiers, having direct control of the 
steamer Mercury, where he not only acted as surgeon-in- 
charge, but also as post commandant, commissary, quarter- 
master, paymaster, and had authority to sign the name 
of R. C. Wood, Assistant Surgeon-General, by order of 
the Secretary of War; a power granted, he believes, to no 
other official of any rank in the Department. 
Acting Assistant Surgeon Solomon A. Andrews was in 
charge of the ambulance or hospital train between Wash- 
ington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. 
The acting assistant surgeon of the United States 
Army was subject to do duty wherever his services were 
most needed, in accordance with the United States Army 
regulations, and he was liable to be changed from one 
post to another at the will of his superior officers. 9 
There were many very eminent physicians and surgeons 
in this branch of the medical service of the army, as the fol- 
lowing extract from the “ Medical and Surgical History of 
the War,” Surgical Volume, Part III., page goi, entitled the 
Medical Staff, and prepared under the direction of General 
Joseph K. Barnes, Surgeon-General, United States Army, 
will show : 
“ Besides the medical officers of the regular and volun- 
teer staff, and the medical officers of regiments, there was 
a class designated as acting assistant surgeons, who were 
private physicians, uncommissioned, serving under con- 
tract to do duty in the field or in general hospitals. This 
class was very large, and embraced in its number some of 
the most eminent surgeons and physicians in the coun- 
try.” 
The acting assistant surgeon ought to be proud of the 
compliment paid him, as it was the only branch of the 
medical staff of the army that was singled out and re- 
ceived special mention on account of the eminence of 
some of the physicians and surgeons that were attached 
to his corps. The tribute, however, was well deserved. 
Professors in medical colleges, editors of standard medi- 
cal works, and other physicians aud surgeons of eminence, 
abandoned the comforts of home and sacrificed lucra- 
tive practices to share the dangers and discomforts in- 
cidental to camp life, because their country needed their 
services, and their patriotism and sense of duty to their 
country, and the sick and wounded soldiers who suffered 
in its defence needed the most eminent medical and surgi- 
cal care that the country could give. 
The orders that were given to the acting assistant 
surgeon were similar to those that were issued to other 
medical officers. I submit a few of those that were re- 
ceived by an acting assistant surgeon as examples of the 
form, to show that he was as strictly under military laws 
and discipline as the assistant surgeon of the regular army 
who he personated : 10 
Orders. 
Medical Director’s Office, 
Washington, D. C., June 23, 1864. 
Acting Assistant Surgeon John T. Nagle, U. S. A., will 
report for duty without delay to Surgeon John Higgins. 
Surgeon-in-chief of the Cavalry Depot, Camp Stoneman, 
D. C. J. V. D. Middleton, 
Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A., 
For Medical Director. 
Through Assistant Surgeon C. A. McCall, U. S. A., 
Mt. Pleasant Hospital. 
Headquarters Cavalry Division, 
Department of Washington, 
Camp Stoneman, D. C., July 4, 1864. 
Doctor : You will report for duty to the commanding 
officer of the second battalion, consisting of the third 
division and reserve brigade, which is to march to-mor- 
row morning. By order of William Gamble, 
Colonel Commanding. 
A. Hard, 
Surgeon-in-chief Cavalry Division, 
Department of Washington. 
John T. Nagle, 
Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. 
Passes. 
Headquarters Military District of Washington, 
Washington, D. C., July 2, 1864. 
Pass John T. Nagle, acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., to 
Camp Stoneman, Md., for the purpose of joining camp. 
This pass will expire July 2, 1864. 
By order of M. N. Wisewell, 
Colonel and Military Governor. 
William H. Rogers, 
Captain and Aide de-camp. 11 
No 
Office of Provost Marshal, 
Sandy Hook, July 28, 1864. 
Guards and pickets pass John T. Nagle, surgeon, to 
Harper’s Ferry and return. Good for this day. 
William H. H. Gontz, 
Captain and Provost Marshal. 
Pass no goods. 
Several of the acting assistant surgeons served nearly 
during the entire w ir, and the “ Medical and Surgical His- 
tory of the War ” shows that they performed their duty with 
zeal and fidelity, and that they never shirked any duty or 
responsibility imposed on them. 
The following record of military history will show the 
form furnished to an applicant, who served in the late 
war, for a copy of his history, viz. : 
Military history of Charles H. Bowen, M.D., as shown 
by the records of the Surgeon-General’s office. 
October 7, 1861, was appointed medical cadet, U. S. 
Army, and assigned to duty at the Infirmary, Washington, 
D. C. December 31, 1861, was transferred to Circle 
Hospital. January 4, 1862, ordered to report to Surgeon 
Cooper, at Port Royal, S. C. January 9, 1862, order re- 
scinded, and was reassigned to duty at Circle Hospital. 
September 15, 1862, reports from Armory Square that his 
time is about to expire. October 8, 1862, entered into 
contract with the Surgeon General U. S. Army for duty 
as acting assistant surgeon U. S. Army, and was assigned 
to duty at Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D. C. 
November 24, 1862, was on leave of absence for six days. 
December 13, 1862, ordered to report to medical direc- 
tor’s office, Washington, D. C., for temporary duty with 
the army of the Potomac. Returned December, 1862, to 
Armory Square Hospital for duty. April 19, 1863, con- 
tract annulled, and a new one made at an increased com- 
pensation. Remained on duty at Armory Square Hospi- 
tal to November 11, 1863, when ordered to report to 
Surgeon J. C. McKee, U. S. Army, at U. S. General 12 
Hospital, Pittsburg, Pa.; was on duty at General Hos- 
pital, Pa., to February 20, 1864, when his contract was 
annulled at his own request. Under contract April 8, 
1864, was on duty at Chicago, 111., to April 25, 1864, 
when contract terminated. Under contract dated May 
10, 1864, was on duty at Armory Square Hospital, Wash 
ington, D. C., Fort Simmons and Mansfield, Lincoln 
and Armory Square General Hospitals, and U. S. engineer 
brigade, D. C., and at Slough General Hospital, Alexan- 
dria, Va., to November 11, 1865, when his contract was 
annulled at his request. 
Official: C. H. Crane, 
Assistant Surgeon-General, U. S. Army. 
Surgeon-General’s Office, 
December 4, 1880. 
The “Medical History” further says: “Of the amount 
of labor performed by the medical staff during the war 
some idea may be obtained when it is stated that 5,825,480 
cases of wounds and disease occurred among the white 
troops, and 629,354 cases among the colored troops. The 
total expenditure of the medical department to the close 
of each fiscal year, from June 30, 1861, to 1866, inclusive, 
was $47,351,982.24 (exclusive of salaries of commis- 
sioned officers) for the benefit of the sick and wounded 
soldiers of the nation.” The report says : “ It is a matter 
of just pride that it can be said that the medical disbursing 
officers performed their duties faithfully and honestly, 
and that the immense quantities of medical supplies dis- 
tributed all over the country were, almost without excep- 
tion, properly accounted for.” 
To the fidelity and efficiency of this vast body of pro- 
fessional men, the Surgeon-General, in his annual report 
of 1865, bears the following well-deserved tribute: “I 
desire to bear testimony to the ability, courage, and zeal 
manifested throughout the war by the officers of the medi - 
cal department, under all circumstances and upon all oc- 
casions. With hardly an exception, they have been ac- 
tuated by the highest motives of national and professional 13 
pride, and the number who have been killed or wounded 
bears honorable testimony to their devotion and duty on 
the field of battle.” 
Extraneous Duty of an Acting Assistant Surgeon. 
—Occasionally Acting Assistant Surgeons were called 
on to perform unexpected duties; for instance : At the 
battle of Kernstown, near Winchester, in the Shenan- 
doah Valley, which took place in July, 1864, the Second 
Battalion, which consisted of the Reserve Brigade and 
Third Division of Cavalry, which left Camp -Stoneman, 
July 5, 1864, was commanded by Colonel Samuel B. M. 
Young, who is now major of the Third United States 
Cavalry and Brevet Brigadier-General, United States Vol- 
unteers. Colonel Young was a gallant and brave officer, 
and was wounded and disabled while gallantly leading his 
men, and had to be removed hurriedly in an ambulance 
from the field, on account of the vigorous onslaught of 
the enemy. The fire became so hot that the men were 
driven back in confusion, the balance of the officers hur 
riedly left the field, and left the men to take care of them- 
selves. Dr. John T. Nagle, who was an acting assistant 
surgeon in charge of this command, then took charge, 
rallied the men, and on the retreat spiked some abandoned 
guns, had the wheels removed from the gun carriages and 
caissons, and burned them with a number of baggage 
wagons to prevent them from falling into the hands of 
the enemy, and brought the men from the field in good 
order. The particulars of this engagement appeared in 
the Army and Navy Journal of June 22, 1889, headed 
“ Battle of Kernstown,” and in the New York Mail ana 
Express, February 2, 1889, headed “ Mulligan and his 
Men.” 
The particulars are also filed with the records of the 
command in the War Department, adjutant-general’s of- 
fice, and also in the surgeon-general’s office with the 
record of the services of John T. Nagle, late acting assist- 
ant surgeon, United States Army. 
The fault of the acting assistant surgeon, United States 
Army, not having been legally mustered was not his ; he 14 
wore the uniform of first lieutenant and believed that every- 
one wearing the uniform was mustered, and so did every 
other person that he came in contact with; he was sworn 
into the service, and he is now confronted with the state- 
ment that he is not discharged because he never was le- 
gally mustered. Without finding fault with the apparent 
injustice done him, and without entering into any contro- 
versy on the subject, he simply asks to have his services 
recognized and his position acknowledged, so that he can 
profit by any benefits that might be attached to an “ hon- 
orable discharge.” 
Incomplete and Inaccurate Record of the History 
of the War of the Rebellion.—The history of the war 
of the rebellion will be incomplete if the services of 
the acting assistant surgeons are not recognized with 
the commands they served with ; and the omission of the 
services from the adjutant-general’s office of the 5,532 
acting assistant surgeons of the United States Army who 
served in the field, in charge of the railway hospital ser- 
vice, and in the United States general hospitals, is such an 
injustice to the medical officers mentioned, as well as to 
the American people, who are interested in the compila- 
tion of a true history of the war of the rebellion, that if 
for no other reason than to show that the soldiers received 
proper medical attendance, the bill recognizing their ser- 
vices ought to pass. The bill will in no way entail any 
expense to the United States Government, and will be a 
tardy recognition of the services and sacrifices that these 
eminent and hard-worked surgeons performed for their 
country during its hour of trial. The bill is as follows : 
In the Senate of the United States, December n, 1889, 
Mr. Manderson introduced the following bill, which was 
read twice and referred to the Committee on Military 
Affairs : 
A bill to fix the status of the acting assistant surgeons 
of the United States Army, or contract surgeons, who 
served in the war of the rebellion. 
Fifty-first Congress, First Session, S. 1096. 15 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled. 
That all acting assistant surgeons of the United States 
Army, or contract surgeons, who served in the war of the 
rebellion, and whose services were honorably terminated, 
be commissioned as acting assistant surgeons of the United 
States Army, the date of contract to be the date of 
commission and muster into the service, and the date 
when the service was honorably terminated, or the con- 
tract annulled, to be the date of discharge or muster out 
of the service : Provided, That any expense attending the 
issuance of a commission as acting assistant surgeon' of 
the United States Army be borne by the applicant for 
such commission : And provided, That no pay or allow- 
ance be made to any such acting assistant surgeon or con- 
tract surgeon by virtue of this act. 
This bill was introduced in the United States Senate on 
December i ith, by General Charles F. Manderson, United 
States Senator from Nebraska, a brave and gallant soldier, 
who was wounded in the service of his country, and is 
numbered in the Senate as Bill 1096. It was intro- 
duced in the House of Representatives on December 
18, 1889, by the Honorable Amos J. Cummings, member 
of Congress from New York, a well-known and brilliant 
journalist, who served as sergeant-major in the Twenty- 
sixth New Jersey Volunteers during the war. The bill in 
the House of Representatives is numbered H. R. 603. 
Among those interested in this bill are many who were 
commissioned medical officers during the war, but who 
served as acting assistant surgeons, United States Army, 
during some period of the war of the rebellion. The fol- 
lowing are some of those who are most actively interested : 
L. S. Tesson, M.D., Fort Sidney, Neb. 
H. A. Robbins, M.D., Surgeon, Kit Carson Post No. 2, 
and Medical Director, Department of the Potomac, 
G. A. R., 1226 Fifteenth Street, Washington, D. C. 
William Balser, M.D., Surgeon, Koltes Post No. 32, 
and formerly Medical Director, Department of New York, 
G. A. R., 218 East Thirteenth Street, New York City. 16 
John T. Nagle, M.D., formerly Surgeon of Post Sedg- 
wick No. n, Department of New York, G. A. R., 47 
East Twenty-first Street, New York. 
G. M. Bradfield, M.D., Surgeon of Post , G. A. R., 
Department of Philadelphia, Pa., 1236 Spring Garden 
Street, Philadelphia. 
George E. Stubbs, A.M., M.D., 616 Walnut Street, 
Philadelphia, Pa. ' 
James V. Patterson, M.D., 104 West Penn Street, 
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa. 
F. P. Pfeiffer, M.D., 222 North Second Street, Cam- 
den, N. J. 
E. H. Kluber, M.D., Ellinwood, Barton County, Kan. 
J. E. Brooke, M.D., Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind. 
C. R. Reed, M.D., Middleport, O. 
S. C. Ayres, M.D., 64 West Seventh Street, Cincin- 
nati, O. 
Thomas Morrison, M.D., formerly of the Army of 
the Cumberland, Wayne, Mich. 
George M. Paullin, M.D., Shiloh, N. J. 
T. O. Bannister, M.D., Odell, 111. 
J. H. Brownlow, M.D., 55 Caroline Street, Ogdens- 
burg, N. Y. 
Charles H. Bowen, M.D., 601 Massachusetts Avenue, 
N. W., Washington, D. C. 
J. B. Crandall, M.D., Sterling, 111. 
N. A. Robbins, M.D., Fire Department, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Adolph Kessler, M.D., 644 Lexington Avenue, New 
York City. 
J. O. Stanton, M.D., 1344 G Street, Washington, D. C. 
Thomas G. Morton, M.D., 1421 Chestnut Street, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
J. P. Barnum, M.D., 543 Fourth Avenue, Louisville, 
Ky. 
Robert J. Reilly, 3300 Meramac Street, St. Louis, 
Mo. 
M. F. Price, M.D., Surgeon, G. A. R., Colton, Cal. 
Henry E. Woodbury, M.D., 912 Twelfth Street, 
N. W., Washington, D. C. The position of the Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army, 
who served in the War of the Rebellion, was a curious one, and 
puzzled most people who did not know the punctiliousness of the 
U. S. military service. Although the War Department, Adjutant 
General's Office, did not recognize or credit the services of the 
Acting Assistant Surgeons with the commands they served with, 
they were recognized by that office in general orders which gave 
them the same allowance of fuel and quarters as was granted to 
Assistant Surgeons, with the rank of First Lieutenant, as is shown 
by the following orders : 
GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 273. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
WasJungtan, October 19, 1864. 
Acting Assistant Surgeons assigned to duty and serving with regiments, 
will be entitled to the fuel and quarters of an Assistant Surgeon in the Army 
in all cases in which the allowances can be issued in kind. 
By order of the Secretary of War : 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, January 18, 1865. 
GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 8. 
Acting Assistant Surgeons, U. S. Army, assigned to duty and serving at 
posts, will be entitled to the same allowance of fuel and quarters in kind as is 
now granted to Assistant Surgeons of the Army, with the rank of 1st 
Lieutenant. 
By order of the Secretary of War: 
W. A. NICHOLS, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 
Official : 
Assistant Adjutant General.