Civil War Medical Care and Surgery Presentation
On July 18th, the Medical History Interest Group, sponsored as part of the Ruth and John Moskop Lecture Series and the Laupus Library History Collections, hosted Civil War Medical Care and Surgery presented by Marty Thompson.
Federal soldier “Major Thompson” explains the medicines and instruments of his time.
Marty, a Johnston County native and Pitt County resident since 1994, has been a lifelong student of history, especially the Civil War. He has identified 30 Confederate ancestors, including three great-great-grandfathers in the 5th NC State Troops—two wounded at Cedar Creek, one captured at Point Lookout—and another who died of disease in the 40th NC Troops at Fort Fisher.
He formerly ran Shiloh Farm of Pitt County, a living history site centered on an 1827 plantation home he restored, complete with reconstructed outbuildings. A biomedical engineering professional, Marty’s interest in his ancestors’ injuries led him to study 19th-century medicine. Since 2021, he has portrayed a Regimental Surgeon with Civil War reenactment groups, presenting authentic medical displays across eastern NC.
He has lectured widely and built an extensive collection of Civil War-era medical tools. Marty is a member of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and the Society of Civil War Surgeons, and he serves on the board of the Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum.
Major Thompson shows the audience the damage a Minié ball can do.
The event offered attendees a rare, immersive glimpse into the realities of Civil War battlefield medicine. Participants were invited to examine authentic 19th-century medical tools and battlefield equipment up close. Marty, with assistance from his nurse assistant and wife Leslie, discussed artillery used in the major battles during the Civil War and the damage they caused, resulting in a trip to the battlefield hospital tents. Marty discussed the state of the hospital tents and the experiences of surgery without the anesthesia we know today. The presentation concluded with Marty demonstrating an in-depth amputation of a soldier’s right hand, and a removal of a bullet from his left leg.
Marty captivated the audience with a dynamic mix of storytelling, historical interpretation, and surgical demonstration, and his hands-on approach to medical education offered an exciting experience for medical students, history enthusiasts, and community members.
We were also fortunate to have the Country Doctor Museum present with complementary artifacts from the 19th century, including a prosthetic arm and an amputation kit. Thank you to director Annie Anderson, site manager Katelyn Rollins, and intern Ben Lee for further enhancing the guests’ experience. Visit the Country Doctor Museum to see more of their rare artifacts!
Thank you to everyone who attended. The Ruth and John Moskop Lecture Series promotes public engagement with the history of medicine, ethics, and care through dynamic programming supported by Laupus Library’s History Collections. Please be on the lookout for more of our Medical History Interest Group Lectures this fall.