JSG Blair. Dr Hunter Holmes Mcguire, Chief
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J R Army Med Corps 2003; 149: 335-336 J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-149-04-21 on 1 December 2003. Downloaded from FAMOUS FIGURES Dr Hunter Holmes McGuire, Chief Medical Officer to General Stonewall Jackson Dr Hunter Holmes Mcguire General Stonewall Jackson The American Civil War was, after the War of war or recognise the legitimacy of the Independence, probably the most significant Confederate Government. The agreement event in the early development of the United collapsed. Medical Officers were treated States. Its ferocity, and its high casualty and like combatants, imprisoned, and prevented death rates from disease, have all been from carrying out their medical work. written about in the home country, but When working, they treated only their own http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ remain largely unknown here in Britain. side and not those in the other army. In In the Civil War, or the ‘War of the Europe, captured military surgeons had Rebellion’ as it was known at the time, the been allowed to return to their own armies Northern States formed the Union Army of from as long before as the 16th century. the Potomac and the Southern States, the Something had to be done. The credit for rebels, formed the Army of the Confederacy. bringing to the US war scene full agreement The first major battle was at Bull Run in that medical officers were non-combatant Manassa in July 1861. The North expected belongs to Hunter Holmes McGuire, the the battle to be ‘a glorious victory’ which CMO to Confederate General Stonewall would decide the war. Spectators had even Jackson. Hunter McGuire was born in the travelled from Washington south for 27 town of Winchester, thirty miles from on September 30, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. miles for a day out to watch the battle. The Harper’s Ferry, on 11th October 1835. He union Army lost heavily. Six hundred and graduated from the College there in 1855. eighty one men were killed, 1011 wounded His father was said to be ‘the era’s most and 1460 were reported missing. There prominent physician and surgeon west of the were no medical services available and no Blue Mountains’. Hunter soon showed he system of casualty evacuation. Wounded lay was not only able but smart. He moved to Dr JSG Blair OBE KStJ for days with no relief. Those who could Philadelphia and along with Francis TD TAVRD BA ChM made their own way back to the capital Lucket, who also later became a Southern DLitt (honoris causa; St looking for treatment and shelter. The Activist, set up a tutorial service for medical Andrews) FRCS FRCP public were outraged. students, conducting tutorials and holding DRCOG FRHistS FSA It quickly became clear that Prisoners of quizzes – a true novelty at that time. On the (Scot) War were being treated badly. Of 214,000 outbreak of war, he hurried from New Confederate prisoners held by the Union Orleans where he was working to volunteer World Vice President, side, 26,000 (about 12%) died in captivity. for the South, first as a combatant soldier International Society for As the numbers increased, a system of but then as a commissioned medical officer. the History of Medicine exchange of prisoners was begun. In the His ability soon brought him to the fore, The Brae, 143 Glasgow summer of 1862 an agreement was reached, and in May 1861, Surgeon General Moore Road, although discussions were hampered by ordered McGuire to report to Stonewall Perth, PH2 0LX Lincoln’s refusal to acknowledge a state of Jackson with the recommendation for 336 Famous Figures J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-149-04-21 on 1 December 2003. Downloaded from promotion to Medical Director of the Army such a basic principle had to be put into of the Shenandoah. place, but the fact that it was not standard At their first meeting, it was said that practice was indeed so. Apart from a short Jackson was unimpressed by the 26 years old, suspension following the refusal of the South pale, six foot four young man. But the two to release one officer who had stolen a horse soon became friends because of McGuire’s and was suspected of murder – and rightly so intense loyalty, skill as a medical officer and – the practice was maintained. And two administrative ability. McGuire was his years later, in 1864, the first Geneva medical commander when General Jackson Convention was signed. was struck down by his own men at Following the War, McGuire was elected Chancellorsville, amputated his wounded Professor of surgery in the Medical College arm, and was with him as he died. Later, of Virginia in 1865, but like most others in McGuire was Chief Surgeon to both the defeated South, poverty dominated his Generals Richard Ewell and Jubal Early. life; he is said to have had no salary from his While Hunter Holmes McGuire is College during the twelve years he worked remembered as Stonewall Jackson’s PMO for it, and his private fees were small. Yet he and personal doctor, his earlier attempts to reached high office in several medical lessen the current harsh policy towards organisations, including the American colleagues are less well recorded. In 1862, Surgical Association in 1887 and the after he discovered eight ‘enemy’ medical American Medical Association in 1893. He officers held prisoner, he asked his General died following a stroke in 1900. A statue was for permission to repatriate them. He had erected in his memory in Capitol Square them freed unconditionally, and with a near the statue of his much respected pledge. ‘We,surgeons and assistant surgeons, US commander, General Stonewall Jackson. Army, now prisoners of war in this place, do give Part of the caption reads: our parole of honour, on being unconditionally released, to report in person, singly or collectively, ‘An eminent civilian and military surgeon to the Secretary of War in Washington City, that And beloved physician we will use our best efforts that the same number An able teacher and vigorous writer; of medical officers of the Confederate States A useful citizen and broad Army, now prisoners, or that may hereafter be Humanitarian; taken, to be released on the same terms..’ the Gifted in mind and generous in heart’. agreement that MOs be treated differently from combatants soon led to the concept Reference that military doctors would treat enemy with The Winchester Accord; James Otis Breeden, the same care as their own side. It seems Military Medicine, 158, November 1993, pp 689- almost incomprehensible to us today that 692. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ on September 30, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright..