Last updated: December 3, 2022
Place
Field Hospital - Tour Stop #16
NPS Photo/Mekow
Quick Facts
Location:
Shiloh National Military Park
Significance:
First field hospital on the front lines
Designation:
National Park, historic site
Amenities
1 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
Here a surgeon from Buell's army established one of the first tent hospitals of the Civil War. On the afternoon of April 7, Captain Bernard J. D. Irwin opened up a surgical station in a farmhouse on this site. By April 8, he had created a 300 bed surigical hospital complete with an operating room, dispensary, office, kitchen, and medical officers' dining room.
By concentrating medical services on the actual field of battle, rather than transport the wounded considerable distances offsite to general hospitals well beyond the contesting armies, patient care was greatly improved and the death rate was lowered.
By concentrating medical services on the actual field of battle, rather than transport the wounded considerable distances offsite to general hospitals well beyond the contesting armies, patient care was greatly improved and the death rate was lowered.