Civil War surgery: Gettysburg, summer of 1863.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.

Gettysburg was the site of a bloody three-day battle starting July 1, 1863. Field hospitals became busy during the battle and were established in churches, schoolhouses, barns and private homes. The Union field hospitals treated 20,500 wounded Union and Confederate soldiers. Civil War surgeons had little equipment and knowledge, but we can appreciate their contributions to surgery and service to country.

PMID: 1774462 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]