Abraham Lincoln papers: Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916: William A. Hammond to Abraham Lincoln, Wednesday, July 16, 1862 (Catholic and Protestant nurses)

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

United States--Politics and government--1861-1865

Presidents--United States

Protestants

Manuscripts

Nuns as nurses

Hammond, William A. (William Alexander), 1828-1900

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Correspondence

Women--1860-1870

Sisters of Charity

United States--District of Columbia--Washington (D.C.)

Surgeons general (Military personnel)

Nursing--United States--History

1862 letter from U.S. Surgeon General William A. Hammond to Abraham Lincoln. Hammond informs the President that he will try to employ more Protestant nurses but believes they do not compare to the Catholic nurses. Calling them Sisters of Charity, Hammond praises the work of the Catholic nuns in the Civil War.

Hammond, William A. (William Alexander), 1828-1900

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

1862-07-16

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

The Library of Congress’s digital scans of the papers of Abraham Lincoln are in the public domain.

Is Part Of Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress: Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833 to 1916, Manuscript Division

Correspondence

3 pages

English

Text

https://www.loc.gov/item/mal1714000/

http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/ms000001.mss30189a.1714000

series: Series 1. General Correspondence. 1833-1916

1862

Washington (D.C.)

From William A. Hammond to Abraham Lincoln[1], July 16, 1862

[1] ID: William A. Hammond joined the army as an assistant surgeon in 1849 but resigned in 1860 to teach and pursue a private medical practice. At the outbreak of the Civil War Hammond was commissioned an assistant surgeon and in April 1862 he was appointed surgeon general with the rank of brigadier general. As surgeon general Hammond streamlined the administration of the Medical Department and organized an ambulance corps. Hammond and Secretary Stanton had a personality conflict which resulted in the court martial of Hammond. The surgeon general was found guilty of ungentlemanly conduct and dismissed from the service in August 1864. Hammond enjoyed a very successful medical career after his dismissal from the army.

Washington City, July 16th 1862.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th inst. relative to the proportion to be maintained between Catholic & Protestant nurses.[2]

[2] This letter has not been located.

I think it is a fact that the Catholic nurses predominate. This is because we found in the Sisters of Charity, a corps of faithful, devoted and trained nurses ready to administer to the sick & wounded No such organization exists among the Protestants of this country, and those whom we have employed cannot compare in efficiency and faithfulness with the Sisters of Charity. The latter are trained to obedience, are of irreprochable moral character and most valuable are their minstrations.

I am a Protestant myself and therefore cannot be accused of partiality.

I know, Sir, you would not have me discharge these faithful women to make way for others whose religious faith is different but whose qualities cannot be compared with those of the Sisters. For the future, however, I will endeavor to obtain Protestants; but it will be a difficult task, as they will not submit to the same discipline, nor undergo the same hardships. I have a large experience with both kinds and, therefore, speak what I know.

I am, Sir, with great respect

Your Excellency's Obdt Servt

William A Hammond

Surgeon General U. S. A.

Letter