American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

(A Private Collection - Research and Identification Project)

Civil War Era Surgical Sets, Surgeon's Swords & Images

Civil War Surgeon Education & Civil War Medicine Text-books

Established 1995      .   .   .     Dr. Michael Echols

As seen in: Military Images Magazine, American's Civil War Magazine, Warman's Civil War Collectibles, Antique Week, Northeast Antiques, Civil War Army Swords, Civil War Times Illustrated, various TV programs, Antiques & Collecting publications

 

Feedback & Contact Dr. Echols  |  Evaluating Civil War surgical sets & instruments  |  Wanted to Buy List

Medical College Index - Lecture Cards  |  Medical Book Author-Title Index  |  Medical Collection Liquidation  

 

 

Civil War Surgeon's Sword of Dr. Edwin Bentley

 By Melinda K. Johnson and  Paul R. Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Contact for Dr. Paul Johnson regarding swords and images

Dr. Bentley was Brigade Surgeon and saw much action during the Peninsular Campaigns of 1862 and was captured with his patients.  Please see his CDV image with discussion and his presentation pistol.

 

M 1840 Medical Staff Sword inscribe to Dr. Edwin Bentley, Brigade Surgeon.  This Ames Surgeon's Sword is unusual in that it exhibits very simple scabbard furniture and fittings.  In fact, rather than the applied devices which hold the hanger-ringlets, they are simply and elegantly applied directly to the scabbard, and decorative engraving surrounds the scabbard in these areas.  Also, the drag is simply applied with similar engraving.

Dr. Bentley's sword with view of hilt and scabbard engraving at hanger-ringlets.  Notice also his presentation inscription.  Silver "M.S." in shield of the crossguard represents Medical Staff.

Dr. Bentley's sword by Ames Manufacturing Co., with beautiful caduceus etching.

 

Bentley's sword by Ames with "U. S. Medical Staff" and typical Ames sunray burst to the left and panolpy of arms to the right.

Dr. Bentley initially was Surgeon for the 1st Conn. Heavy Artillery Regiment.  He was commissioned Brigade Surgeon in early 1862, from whence this presentation sword was given to him. 

 As per discussion with his CDV image, Dr. Bentley served in this capacity, commanding 4 or more of the receiving Hospitals in Alexandria, Virginia.  Unfortunately, whilst there, he had to treat his wife's critical illness, to which she sadly succumbed.  Dr. Bentley was a career Army Surgeon, and is credited with delivering Douglas MacArthur at a Army post.  Dr. Bentley was one of the first physicians to record a successful blood transfusion and ligation of major arteries for hemorrhage during the Civil War.  He is buried under an impressive headstone at Arlington National Cemetery.

See Dr. Bentley's Presentation Sword and Pistol

And... an article about a transfusion by Dr. Bentley

 

  SEARCH this website  |  Feedback & Contact Dr. Echols |  Surgical Set Evaluations  |   Wanted to Buy List

 Main page  |  1800's & Civil War Surgery Set Displays  |  Article Indexes  |  What's New

Medical Faculty & Authors  |  Civil War Medical Books  |  Surgeon Images & Swords  |  Medicine Containers

Medical College Index - Lecture Cards  |  Civil War Medical Book Author-Title Index  |  Medical Collection Liquidations

 

Medical Collections          

Direct links to all medical & Civil War collections on this site

American Surgical Sets:        Pre-1861:  1 | 2    -    Civil War:  4 | 5 | 6 | 7     -    Post-1865:  3 

Medical Text-Books:

1 | 1a | 2 | 2a | 3 | 3a | 4 | 4a | 5 | 5a | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9a | 10 | 11 | 12

Medical Lecture Cards:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

Surgeon CDV Images:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Medical Staff Swords:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

Hosp Dept Bottles & Tins:

1 | 2 | 3 |

 

Currently Seeking to Purchase for this Collection

Partial or Incomplete surgical sets or instruments by:  Snowden, Tiemann, Gemrig, Kolbe', Hernstein

 Any medical instrument or book marked:   U.S.A. / Hosp. Dep't.  or  U.S.A. / Med. Department

Medical Antiques Wanted List                             Contact Dr. Michael Echols

American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

This site is an active on-going collection and research project.  Additions are actively being sought.  Information and evaluations on pre-1865 material are gladly provided to individuals, universities, authors, archivists, museums, libraries, auction houses, antique dealers, and researchers. 

Students and teachers are welcome to use the content on this educational site for projects without permission.  All others please request permission before publication.  Material produced by Dr. Echols is copyrighted and all rights are reserved.  Permission is gladly given, but please ask.

All content 'by Dr. Echols' and all original photography on this Web Site is copyrighted 1995 - 2010 and may not be used on any other web site or in print without the expressed e-mail permission from Dr. Echols:  Contact   All rights reserved.  Please note, information on this site may not be normally referenced as this is an active research project and content may not yet be properly cited for publication. 

("Braceface" is a term kids apply to other kids who wear braces.  Dr. Echols is a retired orthodontist)

 

Last update: Tuesday, March 16, 2010