Andersonville Surgeon Archive

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/15/2021

A very rare group of four war-date copy letters from the personal papers of Confederate Surgeon Isaiah H. White who was the medical inspector of military prisons in Georgia (including Andersonville). Written for and sent to Medical Director Stout at Columbus, Ga., these documents outline White's authority to act as the medical director of their department, reading, in part: "…[Camp Lawton, Ga., Oct. 31, 64]…your communication…requesting a copy of my orders…is at hand…please find copies of all orders & instructions under which I have been acting. Gen'l. Winder, being in command of all military prisons in Georgia and Alabama…require[d] a Med. Officer…of the prison hospitals…I was assigned…[to] Camp Sumter [Andersonville] and as such I have acted…in the capacity of Med. Director. Surgeon Stevenson was assigned in charge of the post at Andersonville under [the] authority…from [the] Surg. General's office…his instructions…[are] to forward communications to [the] Surg. Gen'l…his was a separate and independent command reporting directly to [the] Secretary of War and… his chief Surgeon [is]…permitted to report directly to the Surgeon General…". Accompanying this letter are three copy letters chronicling White's medical assignments from January to October 1864 reading, in part: "…[Special Orders No. 17, Richmond, [Va.], Jan. 21, 1864]…Surgeon I.H. White is relieved from his present duty and will report to [the] officer in command [of] Camp Sumter, Georgia for assignment…[Surgeon General's Office, Richmond, Va., Aug. 8, 1864]…you are instructed to make to the Surgeon General a monthly return of…sick and wounded-of deaths etc and will make requisitions for medical supplies [including Andersonville] upon the Med. Purveyor…[General Orders 81, Camp Sumter, Andersonville, Geo., Oct. 4, 1864]…Surgeon I.H. White is hereby assigned to duty…at Camp Lawton, Burke Co., Geo…by order of Brig. Gen. Jn. H. Winder…". Apparently, Stout thought White was overstepping bounds and required proof of White's authority. As a result we have a well-documented look at the Confederate medical officers assigned to Andersonville Prison during 1864. Overall, very good to near fine.

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