Jonathan Letterman-- Part 1: The Father of Battlefield Medicine"

In the last post I mentioned that the topic of the presentation at the McHenry County (Illinois) Civil War Round Table on Tuesday, March 12, was going to be Jonathan Letterman who had a big impact on the battlefield medical practices during the war.  I've never heard of the man.  So some preliminary research is in order.

Never before in American history was the medical profession faced with the sheer numbers of casualties resulting from the Civil War's battlefields and camps.

And, of course, the first place to look is good ol' Wikipedia.  Always the first place to go when you're looking into something for the first time.

Major Jonathan Letterman  (December 11, 1824 - March 15, 1872)

American surgeon credited as being the originator of the modern methods for medical organization in armies or battlefield management in the United States.  Today he is often called "The Father of Battlefield Medicine."

His system of organization enabled thousands of wounded soldiers to be recovered  and treated during the war.

Right M.A.S.H..   --Old Secesh