Dr. Daniel Garrison Brinton papers, 1863-1899

Location

Chester County Historical Society (West Chester, Pa.)

Background

Dr. Daniel Garrison Brinton (May 13, 1837-July 31, 1899) was born in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pa., on "Homestead Farm" to Lewis and Ann (Garrison) Brinton. Brinton entered the army as a surgeon and served as Medical Director of the II Army Corps, holding the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. After the war, Brinton became well known for his work in ethnology, anthropology, and linguistics of North and South America.

Contents

Chiefly letters from Brinton to his parents during the Civil War years of 1863 and 1864. Brinton's letters give the reader descriptions about troop movements before, during, and after the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Although Brinton is said to have served with the troops at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge, the letters in the collection stop in Sept. 1863 and begin again in Aug. 1864 when Brinton writes to his family from the U.S. General Hospital in Quincy, Ill., where he was superintendent for the remainder of the war. In a letter to his mother on July 8, 1863, about the Battle of Gettysburg, Brinton wrote:

"The wounded came in so rapidly that by the next day we had over a thousand to attend to. Many of them were hurt in the most shocking manner by shells. My experience at Chancellorsville was nothing compared to this & I never wish to see such another sight. To add to the scene a heavy rain came up on the fourth & many of the wounded were drenched to the skin & lay writhing with pain in the mud and barn yard water. The surgeons worked night & day but were insufficient in numbers to accomplish everything. For myself I think I never was more exhausted."

[Read Dr. Daniel Garrison Brinton's letter to his mother] (PDF, 4 p., 3.78 MB)

 

(See the NUCMC catalog record)

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