A Surgeon's Civil War

Archival Summary & Scope

In *A Surgeon's Civil War*, Daniel M. Holt, a 42-year-old country doctor, offers an intimate look into his service as assistant surgeon with the 121st New York Volunteer Army from August 1862 until his resignation in October 1864. Holt's extensive letters and reminiscences detail the challenges of battlefield medicine, camp life, and army politics experienced during major Eastern Theater campaigns, including Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, and Petersburg. Beyond surgical accounts, Holt provides valuable insights into Surgeon General Hammond's reforms, the impact of slavery, and broader national events, offering a unique perspective from an experienced medical professional on the realities of the Civil War.