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Louisville Ky June 29,1864
His Excellency Richd Yates Govr Illinois
My dear Sir
Enclosed, please find a Statement of Services of Surgeon G G. Shumard now Medical Director of this District, and one of the best medical officers I know.
Genl Burbridge, Judge Ballard, and many other distinguished gentlemen here and in Ohio and Indiana, are very solicitous that he be appointed Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, and have written to Pres. Lincoln urging his appointment.
My long connection with Sanitary Com and immediate connection with Hospitals sick and wounded soldiers, have given me the opportunity, to form a correct estimate of the qualifications, necessary to fill that important office. I hope my
dear friend, that you will carefully examine the enclosed statement of Dr. Shumard, which I requested him to furnish me; and you may rely that the statements are true.
I know the great interest you take in behalf of our sick and wounded soldiers, and I hope you will write as strong a recommendation to the Pres. for the appointment of Dr Shumard, as you can consistently make and forward to me without delay, as I wish to forward to Mr Lincoln Genl Burbridges letter, with many others.
I have already written the Pres. myself on the subject, which was taken in person to him by one of the best Union men living.
I hope you will not think me too presumptuous in this request. My apology is the deep interest I feel for my brave suffering Countrymen, and the desire to see an unconditional, true Union man with both head and heart placed in this important situation.
God bless you
Your obd frd D.P. Henderson
Col Loomis
Prepare strong letter & enclose to Rev D H H
Statement of duties performed by Surg. Geo. G. Shumard.
My official connection with the U.S. Army dates long anterior to the commencement of the present rebellion.
In the year 1850. A Military expedition under Capts R.B. Marcy and Geo B. McClellan U.S.A. was organized by order of the War Department to explore the sources of the Red River of Louisiana. The following year a similar expedition under Capt R.B. Marcy was organized for the exploration of the sources of the Brazos and Big Witchita Rivers of Texas. Both of these expeditions I accompanied in the double capacity of Surgeon and Naturalist.
In the year 1855, I was appointed Surgeon and Geologist to the Military expedition under Capt. John Pope Corps Topographical Engineers U.S.A. who was directed to explore a large portion of the arid plains of Texas and New Mexico, with the view of testing the practicability of obtaining water in those distant regions by means of Artesian Wells. I was engaged in this duty nearly two years and a half.
The first notes of this war found me engaged in the state Geological Survey of Texas. Being satisfied with the Government of my forefathers, and not relishing the idea of an Alligator Confederacy I immediately left Texas and repaired to my home in Arkansas, where I devoted my energies to the cause of the Union, and as a matter of course soon became an object of intense hatred on the part of the advocates of secession, who, to use their own language, "had me spotted". When it became apparent that no effort on the part of the friends of the Union, could save this state from the crime of secession, I abandoned all my property and at the risk of my life, started with my family for the north, with the intention of offering my services to my country. I arrived in Cincinnati on the fifth of April 1861, and on the 8th day of this same month, was honored by the Governor, with the appointment of Surgeon General of Ohio, which Office I continued to hold during the period of the enlistment of the three months volunteer troops.
While serving in this capacity I organized and had complete control of the Medical Department of all the volunteer troops of Ohio, Western Virginia and Kentucky; and performed all the duties of Surgeon General, Medical Director and Medical Purveyor.
for an army larger than that of the United States previous to the war. I also accompanied Maj. Genl: McClellan as a member of his Staff during his campaign in Western Virginia, and was present at the Battle of Rich Mountain.
Shortly after the expiration of the term of service of the three months volunteers (Aug 5th 1861), I was honored with the appointment of Brigade Surgeon U.S. Volunteers and shortly afterwards received orders to report to Brig. Genl; Rosecrans commanding the Army in Western Virginia, by whom I was assigned to duty on the Staff of Brig. Genl: Benham, and afterwards participated in all the movements of the Brigade under the command of that Officer, including the advance upon Genl Lee's Army at Sewell Mountain, the pursuit of Genl Floyd's Army. and a series of skirmishes which it would be tedious to mention
After remaining on duty in western Virginia nearly four months, I was ordered to report to Brig. General Buell, and was by him assigned to duty as Medical Director of the 3" Division Army of the Ohio, under command of Brig Gen; O.M. Mitchell. I accompanied that Officer in all his movements in Tennessee and Northern Alabama, and besides my duties as Medical director of his Division, had at one time, charge of a very large portion of the sick and wounded of the other Divisions of General Buell's Army.
White at Louisville Ky. on its way to meet Braggs army of the Ohio was divided into three Corps, and I was appointed Medical Director of one of them under command of Maj. Genl: Crittenden. I was present at the Battle of Perryville.
On the 16" of October, I was relieved from duty with Genl Crittenden, and appointed Medical Director of the Danville District, which contained 8000 sick and wounded that had been left there by the Army, and who where totally destitute of supplies. I was assigned to this difficult position with remarks of the most complimentary character as to my fitness for this duty, and that they could leave me there with perfect confidence that everything that could be would be done for the relief of our suffering soldiers.
On the 26th" of January 1863. I was appointed Medical Director of the
District of Central Ky. This District comprised the largest portion of the state, and included within the limits the District of Danville, and several large hospital depots. Most of the troops in the state (9" & 23" Army Corps). were also stationed within the limits of this District.
On the seventh of July following, I was appointed Medical director of the state (Kentucky), and have remained on that duty ever since.
During this past year I have had costant charge of from three to seven thousand sick and wounded soldiers; the number now under my charge is ten thousand, with bear two hundred Medical Officers.
From the commencement of the war until the present time, I have held continuously positions of great responsibility, and thus far all my acts have been warmly approved by my Superior Officers, and I have not met with a single censure or word of disapproval from any of the Commanding Officers under whom I have served.
Believing it to be now and always, the duty of all true patriots, to oppose divisions of every description that would in the slightest degree tend to weaken the Government I have warmly supported the Administration in all its measures from the commencement of the war until the present time, and will in the future.
Geo G. Shumard
Henderson D P Rev
Louisville Ky
June 27th 1864
Encloses a statement of the valuable services of Surgeon G.G, Shumard - now Medical Director Dist of Kentucky -
Prominent men in Ohio & Indiana desire that he be appointed Surgeon General U.S.A. and have written President Lincoln urging his appointment. Knows the statement of Dr S to be true and wishes Gov to send him strong letter of recommendation for appointment -
Strong letter to President July 9' 64 recommending Dr. Shumard Surgeon Genl. U.S.A. Gave the letter to Rev D P, Henderson Loomis A.D.C.
State of Illinois Executive Department. Springfield July 1st 1864