| By bridging two frequently overlooked subjects in Civil War historiography, medicine and the conflict in the West, this work provides a novel and important perspective on the war in the Trans-Mississippi by examining the Confederate surgeons of Arkansas, their place within the army, their treatment of the wounded, their microbial foes, and their efforts to combat these enemies, particularly after the loss of the Mississippi River. Rebel surgeons in Arkansas faced extreme hardships in their attempts to care for the sick and wounded, even more so than their counterparts east of the Mississippi River due to the isolation of the westernmost part of the Confederacy. Despite the formidable obstacles, the vast majority of these doctors remained committed to the health and safety of their men. These physicians served in small tent hospitals and filthy camps, on the gruesome battlefield, and on the sides of dusty roads. They worked all night in field hospitals performing operations by moonlight in order to save the lives of their soldiers. They spent weeks at battlefields after the final shot had been fired, searching for casualties and treating the injured often without regard to their own safety or sustenance. They labored over hospital beds, committing themselves to providing care and comfort to the sick and wounded. Southern physicians and their staffs sought to diagnose and treat diseases, heal wounds, and provide comfort to the fighting men who were becoming increasingly fatigued mentally, physically, and emotionally as the conflict continued. Though they diligently strove to maintain a healthy corps, a lack of knowledge, experience, personnel, and supplies hindered their efforts and ultimately limited their overall effectiveness. |
