Id’d Small Confederate Surgeon’s Kit – Dr. Edward C. Gee – Richmond Wartime Hospital Surgeon and Nurse – This is a finely constructed, pre-war, surgeon’s small medical kit; the brass escutcheon on the top of the figured mahogany case has the name “E.C. Gee” engraved on it. Dr. Gee, born in Lunenburg County, Virginia in 1837, initially attended the College of  William and Mary, later enrolling and graduating from Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. The school was located on S. 10^th St., just across the street from Louis V. Helmold’s medical instrument supplier’s business which was located at 45 S. 10^th Street. Gee received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical School in 1859 and then returned to Lunenburg Co., marry and begin a local medical practice. When the war broke out in 1861, Dr. Gee was conscripted into the Confederate army, serving initially as a nurse, first appearing on the army rolls in Petersburg, in 1863; by early 1865, Gee was serving at “Monroe” (Moore’s) Hospital, in Richmond – he would remain there until the end of the war. This kit, manufactured by Helmhold, was likely a kit used by Gee when he was a student, although he would certainly have taken it with him into his service in the Confederate army. The kit still retains L. Helmhold’s paper label, inside the case; also contained in the kit are multiple surgical instruments to include three, ivory handled, small tissue scalpels – all three have the Helmhold name stamped just below the entry of the blade staffs into the handles. There are several irrigation tubes, a tenaculum, two probes and a chain linked surgical device; a hemostat or tissue scissors is missing. The kit and contents remain in excellent condition.

Measurements: L – 7”; W – 3”; H – 1.5”

 Jefferson Medical School

Jefferson Medical College (now Sidney Kimmel Medical College) played a significant role in the Civil War, both in terms of its students and faculty and in the development of battlefield medicine. Many students and faculty members served in both the Union and Confederate armies. One notable alumnus, Jonathan Letterman, is considered the “father of battlefield medicine” for his organizational efforts in the Union Army.

In late 1859, the college was the most well-attended medical school globally, with a large number of students from Southern states. Approximately 200 Southern students, led by Hunter H. McGuire, left in protest in December 1859, with many enrolling at the Medical College of Virginia. McGuire later became a surgeon for Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.

12/21/1859

Southern medical students at the University of Pennsylvania and the Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia voted to quit their studies en masse and return to the South in protest at Northern anti-slavery support.  They were encouraged in this by Governor Wise of Virginia who promised them places in Virginia schools and by the head of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway who offered them free passage.  That night 160 students left for Richmond.

Edward Crymes Gee

1837–1893

Birth 15 APR 1837 • Lunenburg County, Virginia, USA

Death 1 OCT 1893 • Lochleven, Virginia

Timeline

• 1837Age 0(AGE)

Birth

15 Apr 1837 • Lunenburg County, Virginia, USA

• 1839Age2

Birth of brother Josephus William Gee (1839–1922)

1839 • Virginia, United States

• 1840Age3

Death of brother Thomas W Gee (1832–1840)

17 Apr 1840 • West Virginia, United States

• 1843Age6

Death of mother Rebecca Crymes Gee (1811–1843)

3 Nov 1843 • St Johns Church, Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

• 1845Age8

Birth of half-sister Rebecca Caroline Gee (1845–1920)

20 Oct 1845 • Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

• 1847Age10

Birth of half-brother Charles Wilson Gee (1847–1919)

6 Jul 1847 • Virginia, United States

• 1850Age13

Death of brother James H Gee (1830–1850)

7 Jun 1850 • Williamsburg, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States

• 1850Age13

Residence

1850 • Lunenburg, Virginia, USA

• 1851Age14

Birth of half-sister Sallie Gee (1851–1922)

1851 • Virginia, United States

• 1855Age18

Graduation

1855 • Williamsburg, Virginia

College of William and Mary, 1854-1855 session.

• 1859Age21

Death of father Everard Wilson Gee (1798–1859)

31 Jan 1859 • Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States

• 1859Age21

Degree

31 Mar 1859 • Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

M.D., Jefferson Medical College

• 1859Age22

Marriage

9 Nov 1859 • Liberty Hall Farm, Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

Mary Frances Webb

1837–1915

• 1860Age23

Residence

1860 • Lunenburg County, VA

Occupation: MD

• 1861Age23

Birth of daughter Nannie Elizabeth Gee (1861–1928)

23 Feb 1861 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1861Age24

Military

1861 • Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, USA

Conscripted into Confederate Army

• 1863Age26

Birth of daughter Hattie E Gee (1863–1865)

25 Apr 1863 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1863Age26

Military

1863 • Petersburg, Virginia, USA

Served as a Nurse in the Confederate Army.

• 1865Age27

Military

14 Jan 1865 • Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, USA

Surgeon, Confederate Army, Monroe Hospital, Richmond.

• 1865Age27

Military

24 Jan 1865 • Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, USA

Surgeon, CSA, Jackson Hospital.

• 1865Age27

Death of daughter Hattie E Gee (1863–1865)

14 Feb 1865 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1865Age28

Birth of son Everett Webb Gee (1865–1918)

20 Jun 1865 • Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

• 1867Age30

Birth of daughter Mary Etta Gee (1867–1916)

2 May 1867 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1869Age31

Birth of daughter Josie Eugenia Gee (1869–1929)

15 Mar 1869 • Lunenburg, Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

• 1870Age33

Birth of son Robert Edward Gee (1870–1936)

08 May 1870 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1870Age33

Residence

1870 • Browns Store, Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

• 1872Age35

Birth of daughter Carrie Gertrude Gee (1872–1933)

26 Sep 1872 • Virginia

• 1875Age37

Birth of son John William Gee (1875–1959)

3 Mar 1875 • Lunenburg County, Virginia, USA

• 1876Age39

Marriage

1876

Mary Frances Webb

1837–1915

• 1877Age39

Birth of son Thomas Garner Gee (1877–1967)

16 Jan 1877 • Lunenburg County, Virginia, USA

• 1877Age39

Death of son James J Gee (1877–1877)

6 Mar 1877 • Lunenburg County , Virginia, United States of Amercia

• 1877Age40

Birth of son James J Gee (1877–1877)

16 Jun 1877 • Liberty Hall Farm, Lunenburg Co., Va

• 1879Age42

Birth of daughter Susan Gee (1879–1898)

abt 1879 • Virginia

• 1880Age43

Residence

1880 • Browns Store, Lunenburg, Virginia, United States

• 1881Age43

Birth of son Charles B Gee (1881–1882)

22 March 1881 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1882Age44

Death of son Charles B Gee (1881–1882)

12 January 1882 • Lunenburg County , Virginia

• 1884Age47

Birth of son Francis Asbury Gee (1884–1948)

24 Jun 1884 • Virginia, United States

• 1893Age56

Death

1 Oct 1893 • Lochleven, Virginia

List of Surgeons stationed in Richmond, VA at various times during the Civil War.

List of surgeons from M331, National Archives, who spent time working in Richmond. This list represents only those surgeons whose Compiled Service Records in the National Archives indicate service in Richmond. More names will be added as new information comes to light.

Key: S: Surgeon; AS: Assistant Surgeon; AAS: Acting Assistant Surgeon; Con. Surg.: Contract Surgeon

Gee, E. C.

S

 

General Hospital #24 in Richmond, VA during the Civil War.

Also called: Moore’s Hospital, Harwood’s Hospital, North Carolina hospital. Formerly tobacco factory of George D. Harwood. Three-storied, flat-roofed, brick building. Opened summer-1861. First used for Union prisoners. Capacity over 120., employees 30. Taken over by North Carolina 29 July 1864. Rosa Lee Sanxay, matron. Dr. Otis Frederick Manson, surgeon-in-charge. Location: southwest corner of 26^th and Main Streets. (from Confederate Military Hospitals in Richmond by Robert W. Waitt, Jr., Official Publication #22 Richmond Civil War Centennial

Louis V. Helmold  (elder brother of Otto V. Helmold, Pittsburgh) was located in Philadelphia, Penn. from 1851 to 1897.  – 1855-57: 45 S. 10^th

Helmold: Pennsylvania, 1851-1897

Helmond was a minor supplier of instruments during the Civil War

Louis V. Helmold. 1851-1897 [Figures 218-220]

Louis V. Helmold cutler

1851: 7 Assembly Bldg.

1852: 10th and Walnut

1853-54: 49 S. 10th surgical instrument maker

1855-57: 45 S. 10th

1858-70: 135 S. 10th

1871-1897: 127 S. 10th