Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/26

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14

UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS.

Organization of the Medical Corps.

Correspondence with John B. Gordon, Commanding General, by Joseph

Jones, M. D , LL. D., Surgeon-General United

Confederate Veterans.

The following important correspondence explains itself:

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 6, 1893.

Hon. John B. Gordon, General Commanding

United Confederate Veterans :

GENERAL: At the time originally appointed for the meeting of the United Confederate Veterans, at Birmingham, Ala. (subsequently postponed), I had the misfortune to be prostrated by a serious and dangerous illness, confining me to my bed for six weeks. Up to the time of my illness I had engaged in an elaborate inspection of the individual camps of the United Confederate Veterans, and I de- livered a copy of the official consolidated reports of these inspec- tions to Adjutant- General Moorman for the use of the commanding General and of the United Confederate Veterans, at the time originally appointed for the meeting in Birmingham. The Times- Democrat, of New Orleans, kindly and generously published the largest portion of my report for the use of the United Confederate Veterans during their proposed meeting, a copy of which I herewith inclose to the commanding General. In accordance with the suggestion of this report I would respectfully request that the Surgeon- General be authorized to organize his department on a permanent basis by the appointment and commission by the commanding General of the following medical directors and inspectors, with the rank respectively of Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel and Brigadier- General:

1. Department of the Atlantic, including the States of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Medical Director, Hunter McGuire, M. D. , Richmond, Va., formerly surgeon of the Corps of Stonewall Jackson.

2. Department of the Gulf, including the States of Alabama,