Camp Letterman

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Camp Letterman was a Union Army field hospital established near the Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania during the American Civil War. It was built in 1863 to provide medical care for the wounded soldiers of both the Union and Confederate armies after the Battle of Gettysburg in July of that year.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought between the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, was a significant turning point in the Civil War. The intense three-day battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, with over 14,000 Union and 6,800 Confederate soldiers wounded.

Due to the overwhelming number of wounded soldiers and the inadequate facilities in Gettysburg, Union military leaders decided to establish a dedicated hospital. Camp Letterman was constructed on the George Wolf farm, east of Gettysburg, near the York Pike. It served as a general hospital, providing medical treatment and care for the injured soldiers.

The hospital was named after Dr. Jonathan Letterman, who is considered the father of modern battlefield medicine. He revolutionized medical care during the Civil War by implementing a system of triage and organizing medical resources to provide efficient treatment to the wounded soldiers.

Camp Letterman played a crucial role in the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, providing medical aid to thousands of wounded soldiers. Its establishment marked a significant advancement in battlefield medicine and the care of injured soldiers during the Civil War.