The Missouri Civil War Re-enactors
Association is comprised of historians who present all sides of the Civil
War at reenactments and living history events. The Missouri Brigade Medical
Service was one of the founding groups of members for the MCWRA.
At present they have approximately 50 members. About 20 of their
members come from more than 5 states other than Missouri and participate
with the Brigade at National events. They portray a typical medical
unit at Civil War events setting up field dressing stations or a field
hospital. Their post battle medical demonstrations draw large crowds
of all ages. Most events require that they cover both sides by dividing
their Unit to do both USA and CSA presentations. In January of each
year they meet to plan for their attendance in the upcoming year’s events,
placing between 10-12 on their schedule. Corporal John P. Byrne’s
funeral and burial is to be a major part of their 2005 scheduled activities.
For the past 6 months the Brigade members
have been studying the 102 pages of documents from the National Archives
of Corporal Byrne’s pension records. Through this they have gained
much insight as to his injuries that he sustained while on board the "Sir
William Wallace". The progressive reports show how he carried the
results of his injuries throughout his life. The Brigade member’s
vast knowledge of not only medical terms but the medical terms from that
time period allows them to interpret the records for us. They will
have their medical tent set up as a typical field hospital on the Court
House square. During the Friday, May 27, 2005 wake and vigil they
will be giving medical lectures on Corporal Byrne’s injuries and the method
of treatment that he would have received. A schedule of the time for this
and other activities will be published at a later date.
At the Brigade medical tent, there
will be National Archive Forms available for anyone who is wanting to apply
for their Veteran’s service or pension records.
For more information and updates
on the Funeral and Burial of Corp. John Peyton Byrne please check out the
web site http://www.duvcw.org
Return to:
http://www.duvcw.org/lastveteran