National Museum of Health and Medicine
Otis Historical Archives

(1 Cubic Foot, 2 Boxes)

Dates Represented in the Collection: 1861-1864

Bulk Dates: 1863-1864

Prepared by: Christopher Abraham

R.M.S Jackson Biography: The information contained herein is taken from National Archives documents, some of which are copied and housed with the collection.

Robert Montgomery Smith Jackson of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, received his doctorate in medicine from the Jefferson Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1838. After his graduation, he was appointed Pennsylvania’s Assistant Geologist and served in that capacity for five years. It was during this period in his career that Jackson married Mary Herron of Fayette County, Pennsylvania on October 12, 1843. Following the completion of a geological survey, Jackson began the practice of medicine in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, where he remained for the next ten years before moving to Allegheny Mountain. With a charter from the Pennsylvania Legislature, Jackson there created a sanitarium named the, “Alleghany Mountain Health Institute” where he practiced medicine until the start of the Civil War.

Upon the outbreak of the war, the Governor of Pennsylvania granted Jackson a commission as a surgeon assigned to the 3rd Pennsylvania Infantry. He served with the 3rd from April 20 to July 30, 1861. In August of 1861, Jackson was examined by the Pennsylvania Medical Board and granted a new commission as a surgeon with the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers. He served as their surgeon from September 9, 1861 until April 1, 1863. On February 19, 1863, Jackson was appointed as a surgeon of the United States Volunteers and, though he resigned his commission with the 11th in March, it appears that he remained with them until April 1, 1863. On April 2, he reported to the Surgeon General for duty and on April 11 of that year, he was ordered to report to Major General Burnside for duty in Cincinnati, Ohio. From May 31, 1863 through July 1863, Jackson was reported as being on duty as the Medical Director of the 23rd Army Corps in Lexington, Kentucky. He served in the same position in Knoxville, Tennessee beginning in August 1863 while also serving as the Medical Director of East Tennessee (a position he earned in January, 1864) and as the Acting Medical Inspector for the Department of the Ohio (a position earned on February 1, 1864.) In June of 1864, Jackson was transferred to the Department of the Cumberland and placed in charge of Hospital Number Three on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee.

R.M.S. Jackson did not survive the war. He died of pneumonia on January 18, 1865 in Hospital Number Three on Lookout Mountain. He was survived by his daughter Jennie, who was born on October 12, 1850. As is recorded in Jackson’s pension file, John Gemmill was appointed Jennie’s guardian as Jennie’s mother died on February 8, 1862.

Scope and Content: This collection contains the incoming correspondence of R.M.S. Jackson during his career as a U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War. The vast majority of the correspondence spans from early 1863 until the end of 1864. Correspondence from this period documents Jackson’s work as a surgeon with the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, as a surgeon with the United States Volunteers, as the Medical Director of the 23rd Army Corps, as the Acting Medical Inspector for the Department of the Ohio, and as the surgeon in charge of Hospital Number Three at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.

Different types of correspondence in the collection include military letters (the bulk of which are from other medical officers), personal letters, orders, telegraphic dispatches, personal reports, and other official military communications. Also included are hospital reports, requisitions, rosters of medical officers, photographic prints, a record of Jackson’s military service that may be in his own hand, a handwritten (auto?)biography of Major General Hartsuff, and one of Jackson’s pay receipts. There are also letters in this collection that are addressed to individuals other than R.M.S. Jackson.

This collection covers many subjects. The personal reports and rosters of medical officers are of great historical interest as they record how many medical officers were assigned to particular units. They also provide the officers’ names and ranks. Hospital records and reports offer a look into the daily business of Civil War hospitals and illustrate the sicknesses and wounds endured by soldiers of the period. One report in particular on malarial diseases, authored by Jackson while he was in Annapolis, Maryland with the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, is reproduced in full in Part Three, Volume One, Page 141 of, The Medical And Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. On a more general level, evidence of the hardships of war is poignantly illustrated in a letter from a civilian who was upset at the loss of his home and in a letter from a U.S. army surgeon upset with the conditions that wounded soldiers are forced to endure.

Series Descriptions:
NARA Photocopies – Though not a part of this collection, copes of Jackson’s service record and medical education autobiography obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration are included to provide a personal history and indicate in what capacities Jackson was serving when individual instances of correspondence in the collection were written.

Photographs – This series consists of five photographs. Three illustrate army officers and it is presumed that Jackson is depicted in them. One photograph depicts Hospital Number Three on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee. Photograph number four is missing.

Artifacts – The sole artifact in this collection is a document folder bearing Jackson’s name, title, and the label, “Med Dir. E. Tenn. - Reports at Hospit. U.S. Army- Lookout Mt. Tenn.”

Hospital Records- General Hospital, Lexington, KY – This series spans from June until August of 1863. It contains morning and weekly reports from the General Hospital at Lexington, Kentucky. Each report details the total number of sick and wounded, their location, the number of those admitted to the hospital, returned to duty, furloughed, discharged, deserted, deceased, the total number of beds in the hospital, and other statistics. This series retains an original order. Materials are organized first by month and then by date with the end of month appearing first.

Hospital Records- 1st and 4th Div., 23rd Army Corps – For the First Division, records date to the 4th, 11th,and 15th of July 1863. The sole record for the 4th Division dates to June 27, 1863. This series contains weekly report of sick and wounded soldiers. Each report is organized first by medical officer and then by his various commands. Vital statistics for each command include the number of soldiers in the hospital, the number of soldiers taken sick, the number of soldiers returned to duty, the number discharged, the number deceased, and the total strength of the command. This series retains an original order. Materials are organized by month and then placed in reverse numerical order.

Hospital Records- 48th Regt. Pennsylvania Vol. – This series contains weekly reports of sick and wounded from July 17 and July 30, 1863. Organized by company, they detail the number of soldiers in the hospital, in quarters, taken sick, returned to duty, discharged, and deceased. There are only two records in this series.

Hospital Records- 21st Regt. Massachusetts Vol. – This series contains weekly reports from June 6, 1863 and July 11, 1863 on morning report forms. It details the number of soldiers in the hospital, in quarters, taken sick, returned to duty, discharged, sent to a General Hospital, and deceased. There are only two records in this series.

Telegraphic Dispatches – The telegraphic dispatches in this series date to July and August of 1863. They pertain exclusively to military matters. Four of the eleven dispatches in the series are from Carr W. McMillian, a surgeon in the U.S. Army. Of particular interest in this series are dispatches from a surgeon requesting a new hospital tent as his is old and moldy, a request for an order to be sent to the Quartermaster commanding him to exchange old ambulances for new ones, and a request for information regarding a Confederate soldier who might be housed in an army hospital. This series retains an original order. Materials are organized by month and then placed in reverse numerical order.

Chronological Records – Miscellaneous – This series contains materials that span from 1861 to 1864. It is the largest series within the collection and contains a multitude of materials. All manners of correspondence are contained in this series, including letters both military and private, requisitions, telegraph messages, orders, personal reports, rosters of medical officers, hospital reports, medical supply invoices, and statements of hospital funds. Items of particular interest in this series include a 7/1/1863 return of 110 medical officers in the 23rd Army Corps which states their names, units, and ranks. Interesting personal correspondence includes a letter dated 1/25/1864 from George W. Fagan, stating that he wishes to be paid the value of his home as he is a “Union man” upset by the U.S. government’s hurried and uncompensated requisition of his home. Also of interest is a deliberately unsigned 7/28/1863 letter from a contract surgeon who left the army. He states he cannot return because he has not been paid and he cannot afford to feed his family. This series is arranged in chronological order.

Undated Materials – 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers – This series is comprised of materials created during Jackson’s time with the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers. It contains three official military envelopes bearing the name of the 11th Pennsylvania, and the title “Official Business.” It also contains a personal report, and two copies of a requisition. Of particular interest is a report on malarial diseases, authored by Jackson while he was in Annapolis, Maryland. It is reproduced in full in Part Three, Volume One, Page 141 of, The Medical And Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion.

Undated Materials – Miscellaneous – This series contains a multitude of undated materials inclusive of letters, envelopes, business cards, requisitions, and memoranda. Of particular interest in this series are what appears to be a personal memorandum detailing Jackson’s military service that references several other documents in the collection, a narrative of the military service of General Hartsuff, and a report (probably authored by R.M.S. Jackson) that describes the, “Spotted Disease.”

Processing Notes: The Jackson Collection came to the archives missing much of its original order. Instances of broken-up correspondence packets (for example, a packet might contain a cover letter, a roster, and a personal report) were restored by the collection’s processor whenever the original contents of packets were readily apparent and present.

Primarily, the collection is organized chronologically with undated materials filed at the end. There are, however, small groupings of records originally filed together that remain together regardless of their respective dates. These groupings include some hospital records and telegraphic dispatches. Researchers seeking a particular document are encouraged to look through all the series, by date where possible, to determine if a given document is a part of this collection. Oversized items in this collection are physically filed separate from those that fit in a standard document box.

Related Collections:
OHA 121 – Breneman Collection
OHA 304 – Simmons Collection
OHA 359 – Winston Papers

Inventory:
This inventory is copied from an archives record database. The format for each item-level description is as follows.

DATE
RECORD TYPE
SERIES
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT
KEYWORDS

SERIES 1: NARA PHOTOCOPIES
11/28/1890
Service Record
NARA Photocopies
Surgeon General's Office
Whitehill
A chronological history of R.M.S. Jackson's military service.
service, chronology, personal report

1/26/1863
Personal Report Medical Education Autobiography
NARA Photocopies
Surgeon General's Office Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
A narrative in Jackson's own hand detailing his educational history and his early military service experiences.
medical history, narrative, education, autobiography

SERIES 2: PHOTOGRAPHS
No Date
Photograph
Photographs
N/A
N/A
#1. Two Union officers standing behind a seated man. One of the men is presumably R.M.S. Jackson. officers, man, Union, R.M.S. Jackson

No Date
Photograph
Photographs
N/A
N/A
#2. A group photograph taken in Lexington, Kentucky, depicting sixteen Union officers. One of the men is presumably R.M.S. Jackson
Lexington, Kentucky, officers, R.M.S. Jackson

No Date
Photograph
Photographs
N/A
N/A
#3. A wide angle photograph of the hospital R.M.S. Jackson commanded at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.
hospital, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, R.M.S. Jackson

No Date
Photograph
Photographs
N/A
N/A
#4. [Photograph Missing]
Photograph Missing

No Date
Photograph
Photographs
N/A
N/A
#5. A depiction of three men seated on a rock outcropping. A printed caption reads, "Pt. Lookout, Tenn." A handwritten caption reads, "Front one is R.M.S. Jackson, MD."
Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, rock, R.M.S. Jackson

SERIES 3: ARTIFACTS
No Date
Document Folder
Artifacts
N/A
N/A
A bound folder sold in Knoxville, Tennessee, and bearing the printed label, "Ready Reference File." A handwritten notation reads, "R.M.S. Jackson Med. Dir. E. Tenn. Reports at Hospit. U.S. Army Lookout Mt. Tenn."
Lookout Mountain, hospital, folder

SERIES 4: HOSPITAL RECORDS – GENERAL HOSPITAL, LEXINGTON, KY
5/31/1863 Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

6/27/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

6/26/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

6/24/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

6/23/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

6/22/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

6/20/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/31/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/30/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/29/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/28/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/27/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/26/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/25/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/24/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/23/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/22/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/21/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/20/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of pa
tients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/19/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/18/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/17/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

7/16/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/11/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/10/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/09/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/08/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/07/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/06/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/05/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/04/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/03/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/02/1863 Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

8/01/1863
Hospital Morning Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A daily report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
morning report, patient, hospital

5/29/1863
Hospital Weekly Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Eversman, H.
A weekly report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
weekly report, patient, hospital

6/19/1863
Hospital Weekly Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Peter, Robert
A weekly report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
weekly report, patient, hospital

6/27/1863
Hospital Weekly Report
Hospital Records General Hospital, Lexington, KY
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Young, T.R.
A weekly report on vital hospital statistics regarding the admittance, care, and final disposition of patients.
weekly report, patient, hospital

SERIES 5: HOSPITAL RECORDS – 1ST & 4TH DIV., 23RD ARMY CORPS
6/27/1863
Weekly Report of Sick and Wounded
Hospital Records 1st & 4th Div., 23rd Army Corps
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
McMillin, Carr W.
[4th Division] McMillan forwards a weekly report of sick and wounded. It is organized by officer and command.
weekly report, patient, hospital, sick and wounded

7/04/1863
Weekly Report of Sick and Wounded
Hospital Records 1st & 4th Div., 23rd Army Corps
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
McMillin, Carr W.
[1st Division] McMillan forwards a weekly report of sick and wounded. It is organized by officer and command. A letter accompanies the report.
weekly report, patient, hospital, sick and wounded

7/11/1863
Weekly Report of Sick and Wounded
Hospital Records 1st & 4th Div., 23rd Army Corps
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
McMillin, Carr W.
[1st Division] McMillan forwards a weekly report of sick and wounded. It is organized by officer and command.
weekly report, patient, hospital, sick and wounded

7/15/1863
Weekly Report of Sick and Wounded
Hospital Records 1st & 4th Div., 23rd Army Corps
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Philips, W.H.
[2nd Brigade, 1st Division] Philips forwards a weekly report of sick and wounded. It is organized by officer and command.
weekly report, patient, hospital, sick and wounded

SERIES 6: HOSPITAL RECORDS – 48TH REGT. PENNSYLVANIA VOL.
7/17/1863
Weekly Report of Sick and Wounded
Hospital Records 48th Regt. Pennsylvania Vol.
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Blackwood, William R. D.
This printed report organizes sick and wounded by their company and location.
report of sick and wounded, 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers

7/30/1863
Weekly Report of Sick and Wounded
Hospital Records 48th Regt. Pennsylvania Vol.
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Blackwood, William R. D.
This printed report organizes sick and wounded by their company and location.
report of sick and wounded, 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers

SERIES 7: 21ST REGT. MASSACHUSETTS VOL.
6/27/1863
Regimental Weekly Report
Hospital Records 21st Regt. Massachusetts Vol.
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Oliver, James
This report records the numbers of those in the hospital, those in quarters, those taken sick, those taken sick, and those who died.
morning report, 21st Massachusetts Volunteers",

7/11/1863
Regimental Weekly Report
Hospital Records 21st Regt. Massachusetts Vol.
Jackson, Robert Montgomery Smith
Oliver, James
This report records the numbers of those in the hospital, those in quarters, those taken sick, those taken sick, and those who died.
morning report, 21st Massachusetts Volunteers"

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