Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1090

1020 Maryland against Washington, and in the battles at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Waynesboro. In the latter affair he was captured, but was immediately paroled for fifteen days and then released. He then rejoined the Second corps, under General Gordon, and served as medical director until Appomattox. His activity and genius were manifested in various ways for the betterment of the service during the course of the war. As early as the time of the battle of Winchester, May, 1862, he released eight Federal surgeons on the simple pledge that they would use their influence to secure the release of Confederate surgeons, and, a few weeks later, all the medical officers held as prisoners, North and South, were released. As late as February, 1865, he released the medical director of Sheridan's army, and, in consideration of his action, he was himself released by Sheridan immediately after the disaster at Waynesboro. He was the first to organize reserve corps hospitals, and about the same time perfected the ambulance corps, which rendered efficient service. In the reports of his generals commanding, his zeal and ability are frequently commended. At the close of the war Dr. McGuire made his home at Richmond, having been appointed to the chair of surgery in the medical college of Virginia. This professorship he resigned in 1878, but, in 1880, accepted the emeritus professorship of surgery, which he still holds. His practice became extensive and he was honored with official positions in many professional organizations, State and National. In 1877 the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the university of North Carolina and, in the following year, the honor was repeated by Jefferson medical college of Philadelphia. In 1883 he established St. Luke's home for the sick at Richmond, which has since continued under his management with great success.

Lieutenant John P. McGuire, of Richmond, a well-known educator, was born in Essex county, Va., in 1836. He resided in that county until he had reached the age of fourteen years, and then accompanied his parents to Fairfax county, Va., where his father, Rev. John P. McGuire, a prominent minister and teacher, took charge of the Episcopal high school of Virginia. He studied for two years at the university of Virginia, and, returning in 1856, assisted his father in the work of the school until the outbreak of the war. After Virginia had united with the Confederacy, he was appointed to a position in the war department at Richmond, which he filled with ability during a period of two and a half years, at the same time being enrolled among the volunteer local troops for the defense of the city. In the spring or summer of 1864 he entered the navy with the commission of first lieutenant and instructor, and was assigned to the schoolship Patrick Henry, under command of Capt. W. H. Parker. In this capacity he served until the evacuation of Richmond. Then, with the officers and crew of the Patrick Henry, and the C. S. midshipmen, armed as infantry, he acted as special guard of the treasure of the government, variously estimated between three and five hundred thousand dollars in specie. This money, several times threatened with capture and plunder, was safely conveyed from Richmond to Washington, Ga., and thence back to Abbeville, S. C. because of certain movements of the enemy. At Abbeville, President Davis