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

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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,