Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 30.djvu/239

 n a IK! McGuire, at Winr/icster in 1862. 231

worth of medical and quartermaster's supplies captured, he found at Union (Hotel) Hospital seven Federal surgeons and assistant sur- geons and about three hundred sick and wounded, besides attend- ants, nurses and other inmates, all of whom became prisoners. The General directed through Acting Medical Director Harvey Black, that Brigade Surgeon Peale, U. S. A., continue in charge undis- turbed, and ordered all the sick and wounded Federal prisoners who should be brought in from the field to be placed in his care. Surgeon Peale was also permitted to have sixty-four attendants from the able prisoners necessary for carrying on the hospital; and to be furnished by the Commissary with provisions upon requisition.

Assistant Surgeon Philip Adolphus, U. S. A., was captured on the battle-field on the 25th and tak^n to Winchester, where he offered his services to Surgeon Peale, and became part of his corps at the hospital. In the narrative furnished to his superior officers he states: "The enemy generally permitted me to continue my vocation, and furnished me, at my request, at once with a guard to protect me, the property in my charge and my men." The status of affairs mentioned above continued till the retirement of General Jackson on the 3ist of May. On that day the Provost Marshal paroled all the men in the hospital. But the medical officers were liberated in a special and peculiar manner, which had beneficial results subse- quently. They executed the following very formal and important document:

"WINCHESTER, VA., May 31, 1862.

" We, Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons United States Army, now prisoners of war in this place, do give our parole of honor, on being unconditionally released, to report in person, singly or collectively, to the Secretary of War, in Washington city, and that we will use our best efforts that the same number of medical officers of the Con- federate States Army, now prisoners or that may hereafter be taken, be released on the same terms. And, furthermore, we will, on our honor, use our best efforts to have this principle established, viz: the unconditional release of all medical officers taken prisoners of war hereafter. ' '

(Signed) J. BURD PEALE, Brigade Surgeon, Blenker's Div.

J. J. JONSON, Surgeon 2jth Indiana Vols.

FRANCIS LELAND, Surgeon, Second Mass. Vols.

PHILIP ADOLPHUS, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A.

LINCOLN R. STONE, Ass't Surg., 2nd Mass. Vols.

JOSEPH F. DAY, JR., Ass't Surg., roth Me. Vols.