Brown General Hospital
Encyclopedia
Brown General Hospital was a military medical facility erected by the Union Army
in Louisville, Kentucky
, during the American Civil War
. It was the largest of six general military hospitals scattered throughout the city. Army surgeon
s administered the hospital, aided by civilian agencies such as the United States Sanitary Commission
and the U.S. Christian Commission.
The sprawling hospital was located near the Belknap campus of the University of Louisville
, not far away from Fort McPherson. At times, especially in late 1864 through the end of the war, it housed more than a thousand patients. Conditions were often crowded, with insufficient medical staff (particularly surgeons and nurses) to fully treat the sick and wounded.
A large number of ill soldiers from the Atlanta Campaign
and other operations in the South
were transported to Brown General Hospital for treatment; several died and were buried in a small cemetery adjoining the medical complex. Others were interred in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Brown became known as a leading regional center for the treatment of opthalmolic
disorders, with Dr. Charles Porter Hart as chief eye surgeon.
English-born Major
Blencowe E. Fryer was in charge of the facility from June 1863 until June 1865. Brown remained operational for more than a year after the war, when the army finally closed it and transferred the last remaining patients to other sites.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was the largest of six general military hospitals scattered throughout the city. Army surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
s administered the hospital, aided by civilian agencies such as the United States Sanitary Commission
United States Sanitary Commission
The United States Sanitary Commission was a private relief agency created by federal legislation on June 18, 1861, to support sick and wounded soldiers of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. It operated across the North, raised its own funds, and enlisted thousands of volunteers...
and the U.S. Christian Commission.
The sprawling hospital was located near the Belknap campus of the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, not far away from Fort McPherson. At times, especially in late 1864 through the end of the war, it housed more than a thousand patients. Conditions were often crowded, with insufficient medical staff (particularly surgeons and nurses) to fully treat the sick and wounded.
A large number of ill soldiers from the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
and other operations in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
were transported to Brown General Hospital for treatment; several died and were buried in a small cemetery adjoining the medical complex. Others were interred in Cave Hill Cemetery.
Brown became known as a leading regional center for the treatment of opthalmolic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
disorders, with Dr. Charles Porter Hart as chief eye surgeon.
English-born Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
Blencowe E. Fryer was in charge of the facility from June 1863 until June 1865. Brown remained operational for more than a year after the war, when the army finally closed it and transferred the last remaining patients to other sites.