College of the Surgeon

The College of the Surgeon was an interesting event. Preparation, for me, began just after my return from "The Battle of Charleston". I began rereading "The Training Manual for the Hospital Steward......and ....Ward Masters".

I worked on my mulage techniques for burns and impailments. Started to redesign the small intestine impression.

At the spring Muster I practiced the new mulage techniques.

During the week before the encampment at Mine Creek, I journeyed to St. Joe and then to Maryville to secured the tents and uniforms for Nick and Terry. Loading of the truck began on Monday and completed on Tuesday evening after returning from Maryville.

On Thursday morning at 1:00 a.m. Margaret received and emergency phone call from her sister informing her that her mother had been admitted to St. Joseph Hospital with a perforated bowl. At 11:35 Thursday night Betty Jo passed into the Kingdom of Heaven.

The rain had began in earnest Thursday night and into Friday. Received calls from the organizers, the event goes on rain or shine.. . . I was ready to cancel but Margaret insisted that I attend. At 7:00 p.m. I called Major Patty to inquire as to the condition of the camp. He stated it was wet but one tent had been placed. A quick check of the radar indicated a massive heavy rain shield approaching Pleasanton Ks. I decided to go in the morning and leave KC at 6:00 a.m. I called Terry and he agreed.

At 4:45 a.m. Saturday the rain was leaving the Pleasanton, Ks area as I left KC the a dense fog warning was in place. Dense fog accompanied me to Mine Creek. Upon arrival, a van was mired in the mud. The assembled reeenactors finally extracted it from the mud. It was the van of the Sanitary Commission reenactors.

It was to wet to set-up. The conference began at 8:30 a.m. The morning sessions centered on the diseases, cures, statistics and medicines of the Civil War. The afternoon sessions dealt with the surgical side of the Medical impressions.

Between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Terry, Nick and I had dinner, set-up the camp and fly, I mulaged the boys, were photographed by the newspapers of the area and had various discussions without he other reenactors.

I couldn't stay the night, I felt my place was with Margaret. I returned to KC about 10:15 and prepared for my presentation that began at 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

Sunday mornings drive was beautiful. The presentation went well. The next presentation was from a local historian concerning the battle, and the hospitals located in Mound City, Ft Scott Leavenworth and Kansas City.

The next presentation was most interesting. It centered on the role of women and the grieving process... .
The final presentation was from the Sanitary Commission representatives.. I believe these representatives will be in attendance this weekend at The Shoal Creek Encampment in Liberty, Missouri. After lunch the camp was struck.

Thoughts: Medical reenactors should study the manuals of the times, for authenticity of uniforms and issued equipment. Fire arms were not issued to the Hospital Stewards!!! Kepi's were not issued to the Hospital Stewards in gthe eastern theater nor to the Stewards in the TransMississippian Theater. Stewards had a ceremonial sword for parades only.

We wore a non dress uniform and a relaxed uniform while in hospital. We were expected to be neat and clean, using todays terms. The only times we should have on bloody aprons or shirts would have been at the forward aide stations on the battlefield, but not on the medical wards.

I have never seen so many wall tents, there were wall tents everywhere.