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"Yankee Bullets, Southern Blood:
The Remarkable Journal Of
Dr. Henry M. Dye,
Confederate Surgeon"
by
Dr. Bill Gurley, Jr
Many of you may remember that Dr. Bill J. Gurley spoke to us in
2002, on his first book "I Acted from Principle:" William
Marcellus McPheeters, M.D., Confederate Surgeon in the
Trans-Mississippi Theatre.
Or perhaps you heard him speak at the SCV ceremony in Helena on the
reburial of the Fagan Six earlier this year. If you have heard him
before then you remember that he is a dynamic and passionate speaker on
things to do with the Civil War. If you have not hear him before then
you are in for a real treat.
This year Bill will preview his new book "Yankee Bullets, Southern
Blood.” It is a transcription and annotation of the medical casebook of
Dr. Henry M. Dye. Dr. Dye was a surgeon from Plano, Texas that served
in Arkansas from 1862 until the war's end. His descriptions of medical
facilities in Little Rock and other parts of Arkansas are one of the
few that exist.
The majority of the original journal is comprised of detailed
descriptions of patients that Dye treated while serving in various
hospitals throughout the state. The most remarkable are those from the
hospital at Princeton, AR following the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry.
Not only does Dye identify each patient as to name, rank, and unit
affiliation, but also he provides detailed anatomical descriptions of
the wounds and how they were.He also draws pictures of
each case. Many of the pictures are quite detailed, and the originals
were even in color.
Some of the methods Dye used were well ahead of their time. The journal
sheds new light on the practice of medicine in the Confederate
Trans-Mississippi Department and dispels the idea that all Civil War
surgeons were merely glorified butchers.
Dye practiced state-of-the-art medicine and approached his profession
from a perspective as physician/scientist; something the typical Civil
War scholar wouldn't expect from surgeons serving in the backwaters of
the Trans-Mississippi Dept.
Bill is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, with the College of
Pharmacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in
Little Rock.
 This year he received the UAMS Department of
Pharmaceutical Sciences Most Outstanding Faculty Award. A 1989 graduate
of the University of Tennessee, Memphis, with a Doctorate in
Pharmaceutics; he has numerous publications related to his field of
study.
He lives in Little Rock with his wife and two children (Patrick and
Rachel).
We Who Study
Must
Also Strive To Save!
FORT MACON RAMPARTS
A publication of the Friends of Fort Macon
Volume XI Issue 1 Spring 2004
OUTSIDE THE WALLS
by Paul Branch, Ranger/Historian
Of all the buildings and structures which once comprised the Fort Macon
military' reservation, the only ones still standing today are the fort
itself and a brick water cistern outside its walls. Yet while it was in
use during the 19th century, the Post of Fort Macon was a small
military city that, in addition to the fort itself, was comprised of
many other supporting structures which are no longer standing today.
What were
these structures? Where were they located and what did they look like?
This article is part of a series that will examine the various
components of the Post of Fort Macon.
The Post Hospital
Prior to the War Between the States, Fort Macon's hospital was located
in one of the fort casemates. Requests for a separate hospital building
outside the fort finally resulted in permission being granted by the
Quartermaster Department in August, 1843, for the fort commander,
Captain William Wall, to construct a one-story building with two
20-foot by 24-foot wards separated by a hall eight to ten feet wide.
The allowance of $1000 to build the structure proved insufficient and
construction was postponed. By the outbreak of the War Between the
States, the hospital still had not been built. Confederate soldiers
established a post hospital after seizing the fort in April, 1861. It
probably was in one of the old buildings outside the fort which were
formerly used
as officers quarters. Later a separate hospital building seems to have
been built since an inspection report in July, 1861, noted .
'Hospital
going up now'. The following year it became necessary to reestablish
the hospital in the safety of one of the fort casemates on March
24, 1862, after Union forces besieged the fort. The new hospital
building was apparently one of the outbuildings burned by the garrison
at the beginning of the siege to clear the field of fire.
Later in the war after the fort's capture, Union soldiers established
their own post hospital about 250 yards southwest of the fort on a sand
dune. It was a flimsy wooden Tshaped building that had been floated
over from Morehead City in sections. The front of the building was 52
feet long by fourteen feet wide, with a six-foot wide porch and
veranda. The body of the 'T' was fifty feet long by 22 feet wide,
containing a 12-bed ward. During its nearly ten years of use, the
building was never substantial and soon had its foundations settling in
the loose sand. In 1870, Assistant Surgeon Elliott Coues (famous 19th
century ornithologist and naturalist), who was the post medical officer
described the building:
"The hospital is a disgrace to the service. . . the foundations have
given away in all directions, and the building has settled unevenly in
the sand; the flooring presents a rolling surface, gaping here and
there, the walls bulge outward and roof sags inward; none of the doors
or windows can be closed tightly, the former have broken locks and
hinges, or none at all; many of the window lights are unglazed; the
wind and rain are freely admitted through openings in the roof and
walls . . .The door leading to the porch has been nailed up, as the
latter has gone to pieces . . . the veranda in front will shortly
follow."
One fort commander. Captain G. M. Brayton, reported that "unless a man
is very sick it is better to keep him in the quarters, poor, confined
and uncomfortable as they are, than to send him to such a place."
Another, Major Joseph Stewart, felt the hospital to be "such a building
as no humane man would wish to use for his horses."
At last, in 1871 the Quartermaster Department ordered a new hospital to
be built according to a standard plan adopted in 1867 by the Surgeon
General's Office. The building was begun in September, 1871, but due to
various changes and delays was not completed until August, 1872. Even
then, a dispute took place between the Army and the contractors over
changes made from the original specifications that delayed the formal
acceptance of the building for months. It was finally accepted by the
Army in 1873. The new hospital was a fine facility located about 125
yards southwest from the southwest angle of the fort. It had a
two-story administration building 33 feet long by 34 feet wide,
containing rooms for storage, offices, dispensary, kitchen and dining
area, dead room, and so forth. Attached on its west side was a wing 44
feet long by 24 feet wide containing a 12- bed ward and wash rooms. A
12-foot wide porch and veranda extended around the entire structure.
According to one inspection report, the building cost $10,000. The new
hospital was used only a few years. In 1877, the fort garrison was
withdrawn at the end of Reconstruction and only an ordnance sergeant
acting as a caretaker remained at the post until 1898. During this
time, the hospital mostly sat vacant. As such it began to decay
rapidly. The building and its foundations were further damaged in the
hurricane of August 18, 1879. In 1890, the ordnance sergeant reported
all the post building in a very bad condition.
"The piazzas . . . around the Hospital are so much decayed as to make
it dangerous to walk on them." Presumably, the hospital was used again
during the Spanish- American War occupation of the fort. In 1903,
however, an inspector reported that the hospital and most of the other
buildings outside the fort "are badly decayed and are gradually falling
to pieces, and are probably not worthy of repairs." In December, 1903,
the Army withdrew the ordnance sergeant at Fort Macon and formally
abandoned it. On March 9, 1904, the Engineer Department auctioned off
most of the old buildings. The post hospital brought a total of $210 at
the auction. The building was either removed from the reservation or
dismantled for its materials.
TO JOIN
FRIENDS OF FORT MACON
Post Office Box 651
Beaufort, NC 28516-0651
Email: friends@clis.com
Visit us at: http://www.clis.com/friends
With the completion of the Fort restoration, our long term goal is the
development of a Coastal Education and Visitor Center for Fort Macon
State Park. The design of the Visitor Center has already been approved.
However, until the present N.C. state financial difficulties are
resolved, the project will be on hold. In the meantime we have embarked
on raising funds to build an authentic 19th century officer.s house on
the site of the original dwelling. We invite you to support this most
worthwile activity by joining the Friends of Fort Macon.
PROGRAMS FOR 2004
July 27, 2004 --
Gaylord Northrop, Sherwood,
”Command & Control in Confederate Arkansas“
August 24, 2004 --
Supt. Ralph Jones, Fort Gibson, Okla.,
”The Battle of Honey Springs“
September 28, 2004 --
Don Montgomery, Historical Interpreter, Prairie Grove Battlefield. The
Biennial Reenactment
October 26, 2004 --
Our Annual joint meeting with the North Pulaski Roundtable to hear Mark
L. Cantrell, historian, of El Reno, OK
November 23, 2004 --
Drew Hodges, speaking on “A. P. Hill”
Election of Officers
December, 2004 –
No meeting Scheduled in December
January 25, 2005 –
TBA
February 22,
2005 - TBA
March 22, 2005 -
TBA
April 26, 2004 –
Tom Ezell, Jenkin's Ferry
May 24, 2004 -
TBA
[LITTLE
ROCK] ARKANSAS DAILY TRUE DEMOCRAT, March 12, 1861,
We copy from the South Western Democrat resolutions passed by the
general council of the Choctaw Nation. We are glad to see our
neighbors taking such a bold and manly position, and think that some of
our own people might learn a lesson from them. The message of
James Hudson, the principal chief, is an able paper, and we regret that
we have not space to republish it. It takes the position boldly
and unequivocally that in the event of a dissolution of the Union the
Choctaw Nation will go with the southern States.
— Read the resolutions below. From the South Western Democrat.
Resolutions.
Expressing the feelings and sentiments of the General Council of the
Choctaw Nation, in reference to the political disagreement existing
between the northern and southern States of the American Union.
Resolved by the General Council of the Choctaw Nation, assembled, That
we view with deep regret and great solicitude, the present unhappy
political disagreement between the northern and southern States of the
American Union, tending to a permanent dissolution of the government,
and the disturbance of the various important relations existing with
that government, by treaty, stipulations and international laws,
protending [portending?] much injury to the Choctaw government and
people.
Resolved, further, that we express the earnest desire and ready hope
entertained by the entire Choctaw people, that any and all political
disturbances agitating and dividing the people of the various States
may be honorably and speedily adjusted; and the example and the
blessing, and fostering care of the general government, and the many
and friendly social ties existing with their people, continue for the
enlightenment in moral and good government; and prosperity in the
material concerns of life, to our whole population.
Resolved, further, That in the event of a permanent dissolution of the
American Union takes place, our many relations with the general
government must cease, and we shall be left to follow the natural
affections, education, institutions, and interest of our people, which
indissolubly (sic) bind us in every way to the destiny of our
neighbors, and
brethren of the southern states; upon whom we are confident we can rely
for the preservation of our rights, of liberty and property,
continuance of friendship, general counsel and fraternal support.
Resolved, further, That we desire to assure our immediate neighbors,
the people of Arkansas and Texas, of our determination to observe
amicable relations in every way so long existing between us, and the
firm reliance we have, that amid any disturbance with other States, the
rights and feelings so sacred to us will remain respected by them, and
be protected from the encroachment of others.
Resolved, further, That his excellency, the principal chief, be
requested to enclose, with an appropriate communication from himself, a
copy of these resolutions to the Governors of the southern States, with
the request that they be laid before the State convention of each
State, as many as have assembled at the date of their reception; and
that in such as have not, they be published in the newspapers of the
State.
Further enacted, That these resolutions take effect, and be in force
from and after their passage.
Approved Feb. 7th, 1861.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
FOUND
A hand written list of members has been uncovered. Below is the list of
Charter and first year members for the Civil War Roundtable of Arkansas.
For the year 1964-65:
Jerry Russell
Ken Watkins
J. F. Meehan
Cal Collier
W. M. Hackett
Louis Cohen
S. W. Van Zandt
Charlie Butler
Ben C. Isgrig, Jr.
Joseph C. Avery
Henry S. Avery
John H. Harp
Gene McCoy
William Brodnax
Ben L. Clark
E. H. Leaming
Ellis Doyle Herron
Greer Lile
James A. Pattillo
Bill Furguson
Ed Chesnutt
G. W. Blankenship
William L. Terry
Added to the list for the 1965-66 year were:
Ed Cordor
W. W. O’Donnell
Fredrick Hotye
Doyle Herron
John McGowern
New members for the 1966-67 Year were:
Bob Naylor
Morton Silfen
 From meeting in
someone’s home to the Fletcher Library, we continue to
grow.
The Gen. Robert C. Newton Camp, #197, Sons of Confederate Veterans join
the United Daughters of the Confederacy in the rededication of the
Capital Guard Memorial in Little Rock. The Newton Camp was a driving
force in the original construction of the monument in 1911 and
dedicated during the United Confederate Veterans Reunion in Little
Rock. (Pictured is l-r, Adjutant Mike Loum, Compatriot Tom Ezell, Susan
Railsback State President United Daughters of the Confederacy, and
Robert Giles 1ST Lt. Commander.)
THE CAPITAL GUARD
Dedicated in 1911 during the United Confederate Veterans Reunion, the
Capital Guard memorial honors the local militia unit which participated
in the seizure of the Arsenal in February 1861 and later fought as
Company A of the 6TH Arkansas Infantry during the Civil War.
For over ninety years, the Capital Guard has stood watch over MacArthur
Park. The memorial is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and recently underwent significant conservation to repair
decades of deterioration. It was rededicated on Saturday, May 15, as
the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History celebrates the
historic return of the Capital Guard memorial to Little Rock.
Visit
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We Who Study Must Also Strive To Save!
SEE
YOU TUESDAY NIGHT
for Bill Gurley and
the Journal of Henry M. Dye
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Copyright ©1997 Civil War Round Table of Arkansas
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