Personal Medical Service Sword and

Colt Pistol of 10th Connecticut Volunteer Army Surgeon Charles R. Hart

 

 

Charles R. Hart was born in Hartford on July 22, 1837, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in 1859.  He entered the Army as Second Assistant Surgeon in December, 1861, and was promoted to First Assistant Surgeon on August 10, 1862, and to Surgeon
on November 18, 1864. He was mustered out on August 25, 1865.

The Tenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, carried on its rolls Archibald T. Douglass of New London as Surgeon and, as Assistant Surgeons, Charles R. Hart, Matthew T. Newton, Loren Pease and Henry A. Page.

Charles R. Hart, Surgeon, 10th Connecticut Infantry mustered into service as an Assistant Surgeon on 10 August 1862. He was promoted to Surgeon in November 1864 and mustered out in August 1865.

The 10th Connecticut saw action at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom, where Grant made a feint at Richmond in an attempt to draw Lee's troops out of Petersburg. It also saw action at Whitehall and Secessionville.

Dr. Charles R. Hart, was the son of Salmon N. Hart of Hartford.  He served as a surgeon in the 10th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, in the late war, and was honorably discharged September 2nd, 1865.  He was first an assistant surgeon and then promoted to full surgeon.

 

From the AMA Deceased Physicians database:

Name:  Charles R. Hart
Cause of death: heart disease
Death date: Aug 29, 1916
Place of death: Bethel, CT
Birth date: 1837
Type of practice: Allopath
Practice specialities:GS General Surgery
States and years of licenses:CT, 1893
Places and dates of practices:Bethel, CT, 1859
Medical school(s): Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, 1859, (G)
Journal of the American Medical Association Citation: 67:1316

   

Cased ambrotype of Surgeon Charles R. Hart, taken 1861

 

 

The Colt Model 1862 Police Revolver was made from 1861 through c. 1873. About 28,000 were produced but, because they shared serial numbering with the 1862 Pocket Navy, specimens will be found with serial numbers through about 47000.

 

This engraved Colt pistol was given to Surgeon Charles R. Hart by his father, Salmon N. Hart, and is so engraved on the handle.

  

 

 

http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/a-nation-asunder-1861-to-1865/case-16-union-pistols-and-revolvers/colt-model-1862-police-revolver.aspx

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Written regulations for the U. S. Army Medical Corps specified the requirement for Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons to obtain and wear dress swords.  See additional information on Civil War Medical Service swords.

This Medical Staff sword belonged to then Assistant Surgeon Charles R. Hart and is engraved:

 " C. R. Hart  / Asst. Surgeon  /  10 th Regt. C. V."

The U. S. Army M 1840 Medical Staff sword was fairly unique when compared to the sword patterns for both Staff and Field/Line officers and Non-Commissioned officers of the same time period.  These swords were elegant in design and completely ceremonial in purpose.  The sword is most likely European in origin,  maker name unknown, most likely imported for US sales.  Marked on the blade: "United States Medical Staff".

 

   

Etched on blade: "United States Medical Staff"

 

See: Horstmann Medical Service sword

 

See: Ames Medical Service sword

 

 

Indexes: General Medical Antiques  |  Civil War Surgical Antiques

 

Alphabetical Index for Civil War Surgical Antiques

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