Jonathan Letterman-- Part 2: Organized the Medical Service

He was born in Pennsylvania. and graduated from medical college in 1849 and became am assistant surgeon in the Army.  Served in campaigns against the Seminoles in Florida, then in Minnesota and New Mexico and later California.  In these places he was involved in Indian conflict.

With the start of the Civil War, Letterman was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and  a month later, became a major and placed in overall charge as medical director for that Army.  In this position he immediately set about reorganizing the Medical Service.  Things were still a mess when it came to casualties in the Seven Days Battles in June 1862, but by the time of the Battle of Antietam, things were much better.

There were forward treatment stations at the regimental level where principals of triage were first instituted.  Mobile field hospitals were established at the divisional and corps levels.  They were all connected by an efficient ambulance corps.

--Old Secesh