Hunter Holmes McGuire (October 11, 1835 – September 19, 1900) was a
soldier
A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer.
Etymology
The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...
,
physician,
teacher, and
orator. McGuire was a surgeon in the
Confederate Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
attached to
Stonewall Jackson's command, and he continued serving with the
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most o ...
after Jackson's death. He started several schools and hospitals which later became part of
Virginia Commonwealth University in
Richmond, Virginia. McGuire was later president of the
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016.
The AMA's st ...
. His statue sits prominently on the grounds of the
Virginia State Capitol. Nearby, the
McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center is named in his honor.
Biography
Youth and education
Hunter Holmes McGuire was both born and died in the family house at Braddock and Amherst Streets in
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...
, built by his grandfather. He was born on October 11, 1835.
His father, Dr.
Hugh Holmes McGuire
Hugh may refer to:
*Hugh (given name)
Noblemen and clergy French
* Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks
* Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II
* Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...
, was a prominent surgeon, and a pioneer in eye surgery. Hunter was one of 7 children. He often accompanied his father, and studied medicine at the
Winchester Medical College founded and run by his father, from which he graduated in 1855. His continuing medical education in
Philadelphia at
Jefferson Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in its earliest form in 1824, the university officially combined with Philadelphia University in 2017. To signify its heritage, the un ...
was interrupted by the onset of the hostilities which led to the
American Civil War. He taught briefly at
Tulane University in
New Orleans before joining the
Confederate Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
in 1861.
Civil War
Dr. McGuire joined "The Winchester Rifles," Company F of the
2nd Virginia Infantry
The 2nd Virginia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in today's western Virginia and what became West Virginia during the American Civil War for service in the Confederate States Army. It would combine with the 4th, 5th, 27th, and ...
as a private in the
Confederate Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
. However, his services were much more valuable as a doctor rather than a front line soldier.
McGuire was made a brigade surgeon and was ordered to report to General
Thomas J. Jackson
Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, considered one of the best-known Confederate commanders, after Robert E. Lee. He played a prominent role in nearl ...
at
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It is located in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The population was 285 at the 2020 census. Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where the U.S. stat ...
. Jackson initially scoffed at McGuire's youth, but the two became very close as the war progressed. Dr. McGuire treated General Jackson after the
First Battle of Manassas
The First Battle of Bull Run (the name used by Union forces), also known as the Battle of First Manassas , where the General picked up the nickname "Stonewall Jackson" following an exclamation by General
Barnard E. Bee Jr. (who himself was killed during the battle).
In 1862, McGuire was promoted to the chief surgeon of Jackson's Corps, serving in the
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most o ...
under its Medical Director, Dr.
Lafayette Guild
LaFayette Guild (November 25, 1825 – July 4, 1870) was a surgeon in the antebellum United States Army, a noted pioneer in the study of yellow fever, and then a leading medical administrator in the Confederate States Army during the American Civi ...
. While attached to Jackson's
corps during the
Second Bull Run Campaign, McGuire
amputated
Amputation is the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on indiv ...
Jackson's subordinate
Richard Ewell
Richard Stoddert Ewell (February 8, 1817 – January 25, 1872) was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Le ...
's leg after Ewell was wounded at the
Battle of Groveton
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederat ...
.
In May 1863, Jackson was gravely wounded by
friendly fire while performing a
reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmishers ...
during the
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville, April 30 – May 6, 1863, was a major battle of the American Civil War (1861–1865), and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville campaign.
Chancellorsville is known as Lee's "perfect battle" because ...
. The severity of the wounds required Dr. McGuire to amputate Jackson's left arm.
Jackson died of
pneumonia a few days later. His last words were recorded by Dr. McGuire as: "Let us cross over the river and rest beneath the shade of the trees".
The death of Jackson affected McGuire greatly. He would always remember Jackson with the deepest reverence and served as a pallbearer in Stonewall's funeral.
During the
Second Battle of Winchester
The Second Battle of Winchester was fought between June 13 and June 15, 1863 in Frederick County and Winchester, Virginia as part of the Gettysburg Campaign during the American Civil War. As Confederate Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell mov ...
, which was part of
Robert E. Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, McGuire served under Richard Ewell (who by this time had returned to field command).
At the
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union Army, Union and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In t ...
, Dr. McGuire amputated the leg of General
Isaac R. Trimble after
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge (July 3, 1863), also known as the Pickett–Pettigrew–Trimble Charge, was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate General Robert E. Lee against Major General George G. Meade's Union positions on the last day of the ...
. He later served under General
Jubal Early
Jubal Anderson Early (November 3, 1816 – March 2, 1894) was a Virginia lawyer and politician who became a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Trained at the United States Military Academy, Early resigned his U.S. Army commiss ...
.
McGuire was captured at the
Battle of Waynesboro in March 1865, but was released and rejoined the Army of Northern Virginia. He was present at the
surrender at Appomattox Court House.
In May 1862, Jackson's army captured Winchester, Virginia. Among their captured prisoners were seven U.S. army physicians (then called "surgeons"). McGuire wished to see medical personnel treated as non-combatants, so he convinced Jackson to set a precedent by releasing the captured surgeons. With Jackson’s approval, Dr. McGuire drafted an agreement (known afterwards as the "Winchester Accord," which the Federal surgeons signed, saying: “We surgeons and assistant surgeons, United States Army, now prisoners of war, do give our parole of honor on being unconditionally released to report in person, singly or collectively to the Secretary of War in Washington City as such and that we will use our best efforts that the same number of medical officers of the Confederate States Army now prisoners or may hereafter be taken be released on the same terms. And furthermore we will on our honor use our best efforts to have this principle established – the unconditional release of all medical officers taken prisoners of war hereafter.” The released surgeons honored their agreement to take the message to Washington and almost immediately it had the desired effect. On June 6, 1862, the United States immediately and unconditionally released all Confederate surgeons being held as prisoners of war. Thereafter, for the remainder of the war, all captured medical personnel were immediately released so as not to impede their live-saving work, saving an untold number of lives. As the National Museum of Civil War Medicine puts it on its website: “Thanks to Dr. Hunter McGuire’s idea…the safety of medical personnel drastically improved. With the safety and quick release of doctors, assistants, and nurses ensured, care of the wounded progressed. It could be argued (that) Dr. McGuire revolutionized American battlefield medicine by humanizing the battlefield and giving injured men a better chance to receive the care they needed to survive.”
After the War, McGuire contributed to the original (first) of the
Geneva Conventions, which is why the ''
Boston Medical Journal'' said in his obituary that he had "humanized war."
Post-Civil War
McGuire married Mary Stuart of
Staunton. Her father,
Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart
Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart (April 2, 1807 – February 13, 1891) was a prominent Virginia lawyer and American political figure associated with several political parties. Stuart served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly (1836-1 ...
, was a U.S. Congressman and Secretary of the Interior before the Civil War. Mary was a cousin of General Jeb Stuart. She and Hunter had nine children.
McGuire wrote the introduction of the 1901 book ''The Old Plantation: How We Lived in Great House and Cabin before the War'', written by
James Battle Avirett.
He remained a pro-slavery advocate his entire life. In the introduction cited above he lamented the freeing and enfranchisement of former slaves, and lauded the supremacy of the Caucasian race.
His name has been consequently slated for removal from the medical school he founded.
He lived at 5th and Grace St. in downtown Richmond, had a summer residence in
Bon Air, Virginia
Bon Air is a census-designated place (CDP) in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. The population was 16,366 at the 2010 census. The community is considered a suburb of the independent city of Richmond in the Richmond-Petersburg reg ...
, and a house in
Henrico County
Henrico County , officially the County of Henrico, is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 334,389 making it the fifth-most populous county in Virginia. Henrico County is inc ...
.
After the war, McGuire served as president of the
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016.
The AMA's st ...
.
A statue of McGuire sits behind the
Virginia State Capitol.
Writings
*
*
References
Further reading (most recent first)
*
*
*
External links
Handley Regional Library, Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, Hunter Holmes McGuire Collection*
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuire, Hunter
1835 births
1900 deaths
Deaths from pneumonia in the United States
Confederate States Army surgeons
People from Winchester, Virginia
People of Virginia in the American Civil War
Virginia Commonwealth University people
Physicians from Virginia
Tulane University faculty
People from Bon Air, Virginia
Winchester Medical College
Witnesses to John Brown's execution
Presidents of the American Medical Association