Description of the models of hospital steam-vessels, exhibited in room no. 2

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