Jonathan Letterman-- Part 2: Based Work on Teachings of Dominique Jean Larrey

His father was a physician and fairly wealthy.  Letterman took a 3-day test to become a federal surgeon and was of a very few to pass it.  His first posting was at Fort Mead, by present-day Tampa where he became friends with Stonewall Jackson who left the service and went to teach at the Virginia Military Institute.

Letterman went on to serve in Minnesota, New Mexico and San Francisco.

Letterman was much influenced by the work of Baron Dominique Jean Larrey (1776-1842) who served with Napoleon in his Grande Armee as a surgeon and is regarded as the world's first modern military surgeon.   The Baron's four adages about hospital work:  1.  Time,  2)  Triage,  3)  Evacuation.  Speed was of the essence, the faster, the more chance of survival.  Triage meant you first work on those needing it the most.  And, get the wounded off the field and to a hospital.

On the battlefield, the main operation performed was amputation.

--Old Secesh