International 3j^xhibition of 1876.
_ -o-
OF THE
Medical Departineiit, United States Army.
No. 4.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE
Models of Hospital Steam-Vessels
Exhibited in Room No. 2.
-T. J. WOODWARD,
Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A., IN HHAUGE OF THE BEPRESENTATION OF THE MEDICAL DEPAIITMENT, U. S. A.
f^hiladelphia, 1876.
OIBSDX imiiTHKHS, PbintkiW. Waehiiigtnn, D\ C.
Jnthknational Exhibition op 1876.
OF
Medical Depaituieiit, United States Army.
Desctiiption of the Models of Hospital Steam-Vessels.
These models are intended to illustrate the plans actually employed during the war of 1861-5 for adapting the ordinary steamboats of the interior rivers of the United States, and the merchant steam-vessels of the Atlantic coast, to the transportation of sick and wounded soldiers.
It was, of course, on the Mississippi river and its tributaries, in the rear of the great western armies, that the methods of fitting up river- boats were brought to the greatest perfection. The military operations . in the Mississippi valley, during the greater part of the war, were so related to these streams that they offered the most convenient and eco- nomical routes of transportation, and the numerous large river-steam - lioats, which in times of peace are occupied in transporting merchandise and pjissengers on these waters, required comparatively little alteration to convert them into commodious hospital-boats, well adapted to the transportation of the sick and wounded.
From the capacious dimensions of these boats, and their smooth motion through the waters of the broad streams on which they floated, his method of transportation undoubtedly secured greater comfort to the patients than was possible in the case of the railroads, or of coast- wise transportation. Indeed, on emergencies, as after battles, those lioats often sei-ved, without any special fitting up, to convey the wounded in comparative comfort to the base hospitals. But early in the war several of the most spacious and commodious of the Mississippi river passenger steamboats were specially devoted to the service of the sick
4
aiKl wounded, and were specially fitted up as hospital-hoatK. <n- indeed it, may Ix; naid as ,p,o<it,iu</ koxpiUih ; placed under the coniinand of a snrf,.-eon in charge, and making frequent trips between the army in the field and the base hospitals, most of which were accessible by the river or its branches. The model of the hospital steamboat T>. A. .January is intended to illustrate this class of vessels.
Model of the TT. S. Army Hospital ISteamhoat J). A . Jannar y.—Thia model was constructed under the immediate supervision of Assistant- Surgeon A. H. Holf, U. S. Army, who was for a long time surgeon in - charge. It is five feet long, being on the scale of one-fourth of an inch to the foot, and represents the whole vessel, with beds, &c., in position, all details being carefully worked out. The following statement with' regard to this vessel was furnished by Dr. Hofif :
" The hospital steamer, /). A . January, was built in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 185G. She was a side-wheel steamboat of 450 tons burthen, 23ij feet in length, 85 feet beam, and extreme width 65 feet. She had two high pressure engines, 22-inch cylinders, and seven feet stroke ; also a donkey-engine connecting with a steam-pump as a protection against fire.
" She was purchased by the Government in the spring of 18()2 : un- derwent some alterations, and made her first trip in April, 1862, arriving at Pittsburg Landing in the midst of the battle of Shiloh, loaded with a large supply of hospital stores for the purveyor at that point.
"In the fall of 1862 she was completely fitted up, as shown in the model, with all the requirements of a general hospital, with a cajDaeity of 400 beds. (See Flf/. 1.)
" The medical ofiicers consisted of one surgeon and three assistant- surgeons, with the necessary attendants, nurses, cooks, &c.
"The Commanding-General, by order, arranged the rimning of all hospital steamers so that they could not be interfered with hy the subordinate commanders, and once under way with then- load of sick and wounded wex'e not disturbed until their destination was reached. Our flag was considered a flag of truce, fully protected us, and gave us an opportunity of keeping the hospitals always in order. No persons were allowed passage on the steamers except those connected directly with the medical department of the army.
" To overcome the difficulty as to supplies, and the prompt payment of men employed on the boat, the ' surgeon-in-cliarge ' was made an ' act- ing assistant quartermaster ' and ' commissary of subsistence,' and this arrangement worked most satisfactorily, and enabled the boat to be always in readiness to leave at a moment's notice.
BOILER DECK.
MIDDLE. DECK.
CABIN FLOOR.
■UPPER DECK OR TEXAS.
1. ,,,. I. — Dkck 1'lans of the Hosi'Itai, Stkamdoat 1 ). A. J anuaky. Sculc, 54 feet to the incli.
Itoiler Deck — A, Koot of the st.iirs. I! I! H Space for wooil ami coal. C. Hoilers. D D, Stores. K, I'astry-room. K. Kilchen. G, Carpenter's shop. H. lilacksniilh shop I I, Engines. J, Doctor. K K, Wheels. M .M, Water-closets. N N, Deck. (J, Space (or beds. P P' P, Icc-waler stands.
Afiiitlle Deck— A A, Lower deck. H H P., Hatchways. C. Boilers. F I'". P.eds for patients ; stairs to lower deck near the letters. O G, Stairs to ii])pcr deck. H H, Water-closets. Ill I,lcc-water stands. J J, Nurses' quarters. L L, Stairs to lower deck.
C"(i/'/« A A. Lower deek. 15, Office ; main stairs by the letter. C C, Private rooms. K E, Texas
stairs. K V, Steamboat smoke-stacks. G G G G. Stoves I, Nurses' ilininK-room J, Kitchen. K K, l!ath-rooms, with hot and cohl water. L 1^, Steamboat wheels. M M. Waler clnsets. N, Private rcmni. ' >, Drug-store. P, Snr^ery. Linen-room. R, Looking-glass. S S S S, Ice-watcr stands. 'I'hc paral- lelograms indicate the position of the beds.
I'/ifirr Derk. or '/'rxas. — A A, Lower Deck. I! 1!. Koof. ('. C. Cabin roof above the skylights. 1) I), Smoke-stacks. E, Water-closet. V, Wash-room. G G, Wheels. II 11 II, Water-tanks. 1. Captain's room. J, Social hall. K, 'I'l-.s-as illniiig-rooni. 1, L Kooins fir Nieandmal ollicers. M, Private room.
6
6
"A large quantity of ice was carried in the hold of the vessel: this was taken advantage of by an arraugeiiient of pipes to convey 'ice water ' to the different parts of the hospital. A tank was placed on the upper deck forward, connected with the steam-pump, and kept con- stantly filled with water ; pipes from this ran down into the hold of the vessel to a coil embedded in the ice, whence the cold water made its way through pipes to the several parts of the boat where it was re- quii-ed. This worked admirably, giving all hands plenty of ice u-ater^ and with great economy in the use of the ice.
A fan ran through the whole length of the main ward, Avorked by the machinery below; it made aboiit ninety revolutions a minute, and as the transom-windows opened just above it at the sides, it created a pleasant current of air, and had besides another effect that was not taken in consideration at the time the fan was ordered, viz., that it di-ove out all flies and mosquitos. The fan is seen in the model, but the water-pipes could not be shown."
Assistant-Surgeon A. H. Hoff, U. S. Army, then surgeon U. S. volun- teers, was assigned to the command of this boat by order of Major- General Halleck, April 6, 18G2, and continued to render efficient service as the surgeon-in-charge until February, 18G4, when he was succeeded by Surgeon Lewis C. Kice, U. S. volunteers, who continued in charge until the boat made her last trip and was turned over to the quarter- master at St. Louis, Missouri, September 25, 18G5.
During this period the boat made numerous trips from the rear of the western armies to St. Louis, Cincinnati, IMound City, Keokuk, and otliei*points. Moreover, during the months of March, April, May, and June, 1863, she lay near Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, and served as a floating hospital for the armies under General Grant. Altogether 23,738 patients were carried by her, of whom 530 died en route, as is shown by the following list of trips :
List of Trips of the Hospital Steamer D. A. January.
|
Placi! and Date of Emuarkation. |
Place and Date of Landing. |
Number carried. |
5 >> 0 n ■a -E ._ u '7 -( |
|
|
Pittsliiirn l.aiuliiig, Tuiin |
1862. .April n... April 18 .. May 2 ... May I..... 1 |
JcflV-rsoii Barracks, Mo |
1862. April 14.. April 23.. May (1.... May 14... |
43' 284 j- 284 |
|
1299 |
7
Placi; and Uatic of Emuakkation.
1862.
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn June g
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn June 19.
Paducah, Ky..
' Helena, Ark. ..
i
Paducah, Ky ..
I
Paducah, Ky. . Helena, Ark ... Paducah, Ky..
I
< Helena, Ark ... ; Helena, Ark ...
Columbus, Ky.
Columbus, Ky.
Columbus, Ky ,
Columbus, Ky., ' Columbus, Ky.
Helena, Ark ...
, Arkansas Post, Ark.
Served as receiving hospital at Milliken's Bend, La , during the months of.
-Milliken's Bend, La..
Vicksburg, Miss
Vicksburg, Miss
Vicksburg, Mi.ss
Vicksburg, Miss
New Orleans, La
Memphis, Tenn..., Nashville, Tenn,
July 6 ...
July 17... July 25.., Aug. 4 ... Aug. 20... Aug. 23... Sept. 29. Oct. 7 ... Oct. 12.., Oct. 21.., Oct. 30.., Nov. 18. Nov. 28. Dec. 9 ..,
i863. Jan. 14..
March...
April
May
June
Aug. II.. Aug. 27.. Sept. 5.. Sept. 15.. Sept. 29. Oct. 28..
Nov. 23.
1 )ec. y....
Place and Date of Landing.
Brought forward..
Jefferson Barracks, Mo...
■ Paducah, Ky
Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Keokuk, Iowa
SKvansville, Ind Louisville, Ky
Jefferson Barracks, Mo... Jefferson Barracks, Mo...
St. Louis. Mo
Mound City, III
Mound City, 111
St. Louis, Mo
Stmr. T. L. McGill, Colum- bus, Ky. St. Louis, Mo
Mound City, III
Keokuk, Iowa ,
St. Louis, Mo
Jefferson Barracks, Mo. St. Louis, Mo
r
(s
Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, Mo ...
Transferred to other hospi- \ \ tal steamers, etc I
St. Louis, Mo
Memphis, Tenn
Memphis, Tenn
Memphis, Tenn
Memphis, Tenn
Cairo, 111
rCairo, 111
(.St. Louis, Mn
Kvansville, Ind
Total
|
loO^. June 12... |
375 |
|
June 20... |
|
|
June 22... |
■ 459 |
|
June 23... |
|
|
July 7 July 8 |
1 -87 |
|
July 21... |
317 |
|
July 27... |
298 |
|
Aug, 6.... |
144 |
|
Aug. 23... |
160 |
|
Aug. 23... |
30 |
|
Oct. 3 |
386 |
|
Oct. 10,.. |
273 |
|
Oct. 15... |
372 |
|
Oct. 23... |
88 |
|
Nov. 4 ... |
378 |
|
Nov. 21... |
410 |
|
Nov. 30... |
435 |
|
Dec. 16... |
440 |
1863.
Jan. 18.. Jan. 28..
Aug. 18... Aug. 31... Sept, 8.... Sept. 18...
Oct. 7
Nov. 2.... Nov. 25... N0V.27, 28 Dec. 12...
St
3 «
1299
432
1 174
1460 736
"95
387 377 244
78 100
345 344
13401
8
I'LACIi ANIJ IlATU Ol' KmbAKKATION.
. 1 1864.
U Kcb. n
New Albany, I ml
Louisville, Ky
Louisville, Ky !Mar. 18,19
Louisville, Ky
New Albany, Ind |- j April 7...
JeffersonviUc, Intl J
Vicksburg, Miss j April 27
Memphis, Tcnn } May 1....
Cairo, 111 I May
Mound City, 111
Mound City, 111
Nashville, Tenn
Mound City, 111
Louisville, Ky
Evansville, Ind
Memphis, Tenn
Memphis, Tenn
Helena, Ark
Helena, Ark
Memphis, Tenn
Pl,ACE AND DatI! Ol- LaNUING.
Brought forward
Jefferson Barracks, Mo
Madison, Ind
Madison, Iitd.
May 3.... May 14 .. May 22.. Jinic 10... June 21.. June 22.. Aug. JO.. Aug. 22 .. Sept. 2...
Memphis, Tenn
Cairo, 111
Louisville, Ky
New Albany, Ind
Jefferson Barracks, Mo..
New Albany. Ind
Jefferson Barracks, Mo..
Evansville, Ind
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.. Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Jefferson Barracks, Mo., Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Sept. ig-.l)
yjeff<
Sept. 20..
Duvall's Bluff.Ark j Oct. 12...
Mouth of the White river. Ark ' Nov. 3 ...
Mouth of the White river. Ark [ Nov. 10..
Nashville, Tenn , Nov. 25..
Nashville, Tenn
Louisville'CKy
Jcffersouville, Ind..
:}
Louisville, Ky
JeffersonviUc, Ind..
Jefferson Barracks, Mo..
Dec. I.. Dec. 19...
Dec, 26..
1865. Jan. 5....
Louisville, Ky
JeffersonviUc, Ind
Eastport, Miss "| iji'"- ■'7,^"
' U Ket). 4..
Waterloo. Ala j I-
1 3401 March 19 463
1864. Feb. 15..
5 t
- r: 55U
( Mound City, 111
i Jefferson Barracks Mo
Cairo, 111
Mound City, 111
Evansville, Ind
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Covington, Ky
Cincinnati, Ohio •
Camp Dennison, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio "j
Covington, Ky }
Cairo, 111., (for transfer to St. Louis.)
Evansville, Ind
|
April 8... |
382 |
|
May 1 , 2. |
1 |
|
May 3.... May 8.... |
1 ■ 398 |
|
May 17... |
289 |
|
May 26... |
239 |
|
Jime 12... |
120 |
|
June 22 ... |
) y 498 |
|
Aug. 16... |
345 |
|
Aug. 27... |
309 |
|
Sept. 9... |
332 |
|
Sept. 24... |
229 |
|
Oct. 19, 20 |
|
|
Oct. 22... |
1 407 |
|
Nov. 6.... |
127 |
|
Nov. 14.. |
48 |
|
Nov. 29.. |
36. |
|
Dec. 5... |
416 |
Mound City, III
Memphis, Tenn
■Jotal
Dec. 21.
Dec. 27..
1865. Jan. 8
J^"- 9
Feb. S.- Feb. 8....
545
496
426
373
20301
9
Place anu Dati! oi' Kmiiakkation.
i E.istport, Miss
Watc'.loo, Ala
Johnsor.ville, Tcim.
Nashville, Tenn
Chickasaw, Ala
New Orleans, La —
New Orleans, La..
I Selma,Ala
j Mobile, Ala
I Fort Gaines, Ala..
! New Orleans, La.,
r
I New Orleans, La.,
[ Vicksburg, Miss...
' New Orleans, La.. Baton Rouge, La..
Vicksburg, Miss.... New Orleans, La., Baton Rouge, La.,
Cairo, 111
New Orleans, La.. Baton Rouge, La-, Vicksburg, Miss.., New Orleans, La.. Baton Rouge, La- Vicksburg, Miss...
1865. Feb. 12..
Feb 14..
Feb. 14...
Feb. 16...
Mar. i2-ig
April 13.
Apr. 17,18
May 6.... May 8.... May 9.... May iS..
May 31,
June 2. June 5....
June 20... June 21.. June 23.. July 17... July 18... July 24... Aug. 3, 9 Aug. 10. Aug. 12.. Aug. 26.., Aug. 27 . Aug. 28...
Place anu Date or Landing.
New Albany. Ind... JeffersoMvillc, Ind.,
JelTersonville, Ind.. Baton Rouge, La...
Stmr. Eleanor Carroll at
New Orleans, La. Vicksburg, Miss
New Orleans, La.. Mound City, III...
Vicksburg, Miss
Memphis, Tenn
Stmr. IV. Butler at Cairo. I II., (for transfer to Nahsville
Cairo, III
Jefferson Barracks, Mo..
Cairo, 111
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Cairo, III
Jefferson Barracks, Mo..
Cairo, III
Jefferson Barracks, Mo..
Total
1865. Feb. 19..
March 23 April 14.. April 24. April 25.
May 15... May 25...
June 5.... June 8.... June 10...
June 28... June 29..
July 24... July 26...
Aug. 16... Aug. 18...
Sept. 3... Sept. 4...
|
Number t Carried. |
Died on the way. |
|
1 20301 |
483 |
|
5 |
|
|
554 |
8 |
|
192 |
|
|
1 169 |
|
|
1 j- 389 |
12 |
|
■ 560 |
|
|
1 229 |
7 |
|
\ 328 i |
3 |
|
1 439 |
1 1 |
|
j- 259 |
I |
|
23-738 |
530 |
10
Model of the U. S. Arm;/ Ilotipiud Slcanishi.p J. K. BarneH. On
tlit3 Atlantic coast a certain number of river steamboats were employed in the transportation of the sick and wounded, especially from the Army of the Potomac to Alexandria, Washington, D. C, and Baltimore. But it was also necessary to employ ocean transportation on a very consid- erable scale, and both in the conveyance of patients from the Army of the Potomac and from the various coast expeditions, the merchaflt steamships ordinarily used in the coastwise trade served for this pur- pose. Here, too, in times of emergency, the vessels chartered by the quartermaster's department for the transjjortation of stores often sen'^ed to transport the sick and wounded, but a number of vessels were also devoted exclusively to this service and were fitted up as hospital steam- ships. The model of the U. S. Army hospital steamship J. K. Barnes is intended to illustrate the mode of fitting up vessels of this class which was found most convenient.
This model was constructed by Mr. Charles Hemje, of New York, imder the sui^ervision of Assistant-Surgeon A. H. Hoif, U. S. Ai'my, who also directed the original fitting up of the vessel. The model is seven feet long, being on a scale of three-eighths of an mch to the foot, and represents one lateral half of the vessel, the section being made longi- tudinally through the median line, thus permitting the display of the interior arrangement of bunks, &c.
The U. S. Army hospital steamship J. K. Barnes was fitted up in New York city during the latter part of 1864, and on her completion Assistant-Surgeon Thomas McMillin, U. S. A., was assigned as sm-geon- in-cliarge, December 5, 1864. December 23d, the Barnes was ordered to report to the Medical Director of the Department of the South, at Hilton Head, S. C, where she took her first load of sick on board January 1, 1865.
The Barnes was 223 feet in length, beam 35 feet 2 inches, depth of hold 22 feet 9 inches. She was of 1,253 tons burthen. Diameter of cylinder 60 inches, stroke of piston 10 feet. In fitting her up, an orlop deck was introduced, and a mess-room was built on the forward deck, in fi-ont of the galley. The arrangement of bunks, &c., is shown in Figure 2.
Assistant-Surgeon Thomas McMillin, U. S. A., continued to act as surgeon-in-charge of this vessel until November, 1865. During this time 3,655 patients were carried, of whom 29 died en route. The fol- lowing is a list of the trips :
9
(■J
s
o ~r-r
hD
TTT
u
Fig. 2.— Di'.CK-PtANoi'THH U. S. Ahmy Hosi'iTAi. Stkamshii' J. K. Hahnus. Sc:ilo, feet to llic inch.
Spar Deck. — «, Forecastle. <5, Table, c c. Hatches, </ r/, Mess-lables and mess-room, t', Pantries. |r, Omcers' mess. A, Galley. /.Icehouse. A- ^• Xr, Quarters of medical olTicers. Linen-room, in.
Saloon, nn. Wine-room and office o, Table, y 17, Heaters. /•, Halli-room and water-closet, .r j, Water- closets. / /, (Juard room. Ward A, 1,2, 3 72 bunks.
CfUn /AtX-.— <i, Commissary store-room. /', Knjjine. t r, Hatches. Ventilators. <■<.', Wash-
tables, yy. Water-closets, i'-i'. Closets. ////// /r, Steam heaters. Ward I!, (f"r\vard,) i , 2, i, .), 5, 6, 7, I jS bunks. Ward C, (midships,) i, 2, 3, 4, 4a bunks. Ward IJ, (afl,) 1. z, 3, 63 biuiks.
Orlop Peck.— a, (Quarters for nurses, b. Knapsack-room, c, liayyage-room. d. Ventilator. Ward K, 1 , 2, 3, .(8 bunks. '
1
12
lAst of Trips of the Hospital Htammr J. K. Barnes.
Place and Date of Kmbakkation.
Hilton Head and Beaufort, S. C.
New Orleans, La
Savannah, Ga
Beaufort, S. C
Beaufort, S. C
' ' i^lmx^.Spaiilding & Atlantic.)
Wilmington and Morehead City, N. C.
Beaufort, Newberne, and More- head City, N. C.
Hilton Head and Beaufort, S C.
Savannah, Ga., Hilton Head, S.C.
New Orleans, La
New Orleans, La
Key West, Fla
Barrancas and Fort Pickens, Fla..
Mobile, Ala
Beaufort, S. C
Hilton Head, S. C
Charleston, S. C
Morehead City and Ncwbern, N. C.
New Orleans, La
Savannah, Ga
Hilton Head, S. C
New Orleans, La
Pcnsacola, Fla
Key West, Fla
Savannah, Ga
Hilton Head, S. C
Morehead City, N. C
1865. Jan. I.
Jan. 31... Feb. 25...
" 26...
Mar. 14.
" >5. April 5...
Apr.24,25
May 7.... May 19 June 9 July 8.. Aug 5.
" 10.
" 12.
" 16.
" 17. " 19. " 21.
Sept. 19. " 26.
" 27- Oct. 23
" 25 " 27
" 30 " 31 Nov. 2
Place and Datk ov Landing.
David's Island, De Camp G.
H., N. Y. Willett's Point, Grant G. H ,
N. Y.
Beaufort, S. C
St'm'r Northern Light, Port Royal.
C Fort Schuyler, McDoiigall j G. H., N. Y.
David's Island, De Camp G. H., N. Y. David's Island, De Camp G. H., N. Y., Willett's Point, Grant G. H., N. Y.. Fort Sclniyler, Mc- Dougall G. H., N Y ... Washington, D. C
Ale.xandria, Va... Philadelphia, Pa., New York city
David's.Island, De Camp1 G. H., N. Y f
David'.s Island, 1 )e Camp) G. H., N. Y /
David's Island, De t.'ampi ■ G. H., N Y /
Total.
1865. Jan. 5, 6
Feb. 9
Feb. 26... " 27...
Mar. 19...
April II.,
April 28.,
May II... May 23... June 17.. July If...
Aug. 23..,
Oct. 1.
Nov. 4...
36B 119
9 68
320
439
449
385 375 217
25
345
338
198
3<i55