Patriotic Gore

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Abstract
In 1861 the physicians of this country, North and South, contributed their patriotic ardor to the general pools. Eventually about 15,400 served as medical officers—12,000 Federal and 3,400 Confederate. Without any indoctrination in military medicine, and in some states without any examination for proficiency, they bought their uniforms, horses, and accoutrements, packed their surgical cases and medicine bags, and rode off to join their regiments in camp, field, or battle. Additional thousands enlisted as combatants. Some became medical officers; many, however, remained in the ranks or were promoted to be company or regimental officers, and at least 33 finally became combatant generals.1The two groups, the medical and nonmedical, contained a high proportion of the country's physicians. The regimental doctors were designated surgeons and assistant surgeons. One of each was assigned to a regiment, originally containing about a thousand men. The regiments were the basic, important units. They were recruited

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