that settled Wautauga, fought and won the battle of King's Mountain, and founded Nashville. They are unpretentious, self-reliant, conscientious, have the courage of their convictions, and were "beholden to nobody."

Another instance of an attempt to usurp authority over the medical department, will now be recited, as an object lesson for officers of all departments of an army, warning them to keep within the sphere of their own duties.

A most gallant gentleman who finally lost his life on the battlefield fighting for Southern constitutional rights, came to Chattanooga (his rank was that of Brigadier-General)—with a lieutenant and a squad of soldiers hunting for missing men of his brigade. He did not report his presence there to the then commander of the post, but at once invaded the hospitals with his escort, without notifying the chief surgeon at the post. The Newsom Hospital, which was on the main thoroughfare of the town, was invaded. The surgeon in charge of it, was then not in the building. The general finding three soldiers of his command lying on their bunks, too sick to travel, in the opinion of the medical officers of the hospital, ordered, without consultation with a medical officer, that his squad call and take them to Knoxville on the next going passenger train. Upon the return of the surgeon, after being informed of the order of the general, he placed guards at the doors of the hospital instructing them to resist, if need be by force of arms, the entrance of the general's squad without his (the surgeon's) order. The general learning this immediately went to Col. McKinstry, then commanding the post, to see that his, the general's order, be obeyed, claiming that he outranked every one at the post. "No," said the colonel. "Touching the control of the sick and wounded here, I think Dr. Stout outranks us both. Go and see him."

Accordingly the general came to my headquarters on Gilmer street. Upon his entrance I could see he was very angry. After enquiring whether I was Dr. Stout, and introducing himself, he began by saying: "There is one d-d surgeon here in town, who because of an official spat we once had, is corruptly detaining some of my men in hospital contrary to my orders. He is a d-d rascal." I said to him, in a firm but kindly way, "General, that is a serious charge. Here are pen, ink and

paper, please put your charges in writing." "D-d if I do,', said he. "Then," said I, "you may sit there for twenty-four hours orally denouncing the doctor, but your words will be unheeded by me. In justice to the doctor, and according to the rules of the army, I cannot take notice of your charges. He is a commissioned officer of the provisional army of the Confederate States, and heretofore, since he was commissioned, has been in good standing as a man and above reproach as an officer. You are a lawyer, and you know I am right." Having somewhat cooled down, smiling, he said, "Well, you must have studied law." "Yes," said I, "I studied it many years ago to checkmate just such lawyers as you are." We both laughed heartily. On assuring him that his men should be sent to Knoxville as soon as they could safely travel, we both, laugh. ing, cordially shook hands at parting.

About a month afterwards, I met him in Knoxville, at the room of our mutual friend, Gen. John C. Brown. When Brown was in the act of introducing us, he said, "No, I know Dr. Stout well, he is the first doctor I ever saw who understands law. He and I had a little official business with each other in Chattanooga, and he turned me down gently when I was angry. I shall always respect him." We then told Brown all about it, and we laughed heartily over it.

I would not have related my interview with that general but for this consideration, to show that the best of men sometimes get wrongheaded; and to impress the truth of the assertion of the divinely inspired writer that "a soft answer torneth away wrath." The general was a generous, chivalrous, and gallant servant of his country in two wars. He lost his life in battle. The memory of his nobleness of soul is enshrined in my heart, and I am proud of the fact that he was my fellow countryman.

In all my official experience, my temper got the advantage of my judgment only twice, the recollection of which humiliates me to this day.

In the next number of this serial "narrative," I will relate my first official intercourse with Gen. Bragg and his Medical Director, Surgeon A. J. Foard.

REMINISCENCES OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY-FIELD AND HOSPITAL SERVICE ARMY OF

NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

By E. D. NEWTON, A.M., M.D., of Milledgeville, Ga.

The history of "The Southern Confederacy" is incomplete without a sketch of the surgeons and "The Surgery" of its Army and Navy. A comprehensive view of the same however was presented by Dr. Samuel Preston Moore, Surgeon General C. S. A., at a meeting of "The Association of Medical Officers of the Confederate Army and Navy," at Richmond, Virginia, 1875. The story of the lives and services of the Confederate Surgeons, for many reasons, is imperfect, we can only "gather up the fragments" of the same. The Medical Department of "the Army of the Confederate States" was formulated at Mont. gomery, Alabama, immediately after the organization of the Confederate Government, and Dr. D. C. DoLeon, a member of one of the most distinguished families of Mobile, Alabama, and a surgeon-resigned from the U. S. Army, was appointed Surgeon General. Upon the removal of the capital of the Confederacy to Richmond, Va.. Dr. DeLeon was succeeded by Dr. S. P. Moore, who was his superior in rank in the Medical Corp, U. S. A.. From that time till the end of the war Dr. Moore retained his position as Surgeon General. His administration was a marked success, though the difficulties and environments were of the most perplexing character. We refer to his postbellum address, above mentioned to verify my "encomium." A recent letter from Dr. Francis Sorrel (of Savannah, Ga., originally), who was an old U. S. surgeon, and a member of the immediate staff of Surgeon-General Moore, kindly gives us some light upon the events of the Medical Department, years 1861-5. I present the letter, as I know that it will be received with peculiar interest by his surviving" comrades," his brother surgeons of the C. S. A.

(Copy)

"THE BARRENS,"

NEAR ROANOKE, VA., March 28, 1902.

Dr. E. D. Newton, Milledgeville, Ga.:

MY DEAL DOCTOR-I am just in receipt of yours of 22nd inst., and without delay sond you a meagre statement of the facts within my knowledge. At the eutbreak of the late civil war I was a member of the California Legislature, in which State I was then residing. On its adjournment late in June, 1861, I made my way to Richmond, Va., where I reported, offering my services in the Medical Staff of the Army. Having served seven years in tho U. S. Army, I was immediately appointed a surgeon in the regular army, and ordered to report to Surgeon-General, S. P. Moore, which I did on the 15th of August. Everything connected with the army was in a state of chaotic confusion; sick and wounded from the recent battle at Manassas arriving in large numbers, while new troops were pouring in from the South, developing of course the usual zymotic and camp diseases. I was put to work at once to assist in the organization of the corps, and subsequently was given direct charge of the system of General Hespitals. With Dr. Moore were Drs. Smith, Willlams and Brewer, of the old U. S.

Army. All of the "Pavilion Hospitals "-" Chimborazo,'

"Camp Winder," "Howard's Grove," and various tobacco factories, were organized under my care and superintendence. The following spring I was sent to General Albert Sidney Johnson's headquarters, along the line from Chattanooga to Corinth, in order to organize hospstals in the rear of the army, extending to and including nearly every town and city south and towards the Gulf; so that when the battle of Shiloh came our Department was prepared for the heavy calls made upon it. Returning to Richmond I was given a corps of disabled soldiers as clerks, and put in charge of all of the general hospitals east of the Mississippi. In my office, on Bank street, were prepared my volumes of classified and tabulated gunshot wounds and injuries, which unfortunately were destroyed by fire at the final evacuation. These Records, if preserved, would have proved a noble testimony to the high professional skill and success of the surgeons.

I am almost the only survivor of my day and generation.

Hailing only from California, on entering the Confederate States, my position has been somewhat prejudiced in the Association of Veteraus by my name not appearing on the list of any of the Southern States. In the volume "Virginia," of the Confederate Military History, published at Atlanta, you will find a sketch of my life. To it I refer you. *

* * * * *

Now, my dear Doctor, little used to writing, and suffering from a gouty wrist and hand, it is really a punishment for me to. do so. I hope, however, you will find some compensation in what I have written. Should you ever pass this way, stop and see me. Meanwhile, believe me,

(Signed)

Faithfully yours,

FRANCIS SORREL.

P. S.- My Assistant in preparing "Records," Dr. Herman Baer, Charleston, S. C., died a few months ago. Dr. J. R. Reed, a noble gentleman and skillful surgeon, resides at present in Florida."

During the battles around Richmond, there were cared for in the hospitals in that city, with its population of only 40,000, 20,000 sick and wounded. Napoleon in his campaign of 1814 thought the resources of his capital city of Paris were overtaxed when the numbers of his sick and wounded reached ten per cent. of its population.

Dr. Williams (of U. S. Army, resigned) was Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston. When General R. E. Lee was appointed to the command of the Army of Northern Virginia, (General Joseph E. Johnston wounded in battle of Seven Pines), Dr. LaFayette Guild (an old army surgeon) was appointed Medical Director of the same, and retained his position from that time till the final surrender at Appomattox Court House. His "occupation gone"" as a military surgeon, he entered hospital service at Mobile, Alabama, and afterwards in Oakland, California, where he died. His remains, however, now rest in his beloved native State, and at his old home, at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Just before the Gettysburg campaign, General Lee reorganized his army by adding the Third Army corps, under General A. P. Hill. Dr. J. W. Powell, of Columbia, S. C., was selected as the Medical Director of this corps. The writer of these lines, in recalling his