The headquarters of the Army of the Potomac sent out the regulations for the organization of a Ambulance Corps, on August 2, 1862.
There had been little planning on how to move the wounded at the start of the war in 1861, but by the end of December of 1862, every State Union State was calling for some kind of ambulance service and even the Southern States were working on a Ambulance Corps of some kind. In the wars before the civil war the wounded would be carried off the battle field by any means possible, it could have been a two wheel cart or a flat wagon a stretcher and even by hand. There were those who would try to find better ways to carry the wounded off the battle field. There was one a Dr. Israel Moses, who in 1858, had made a new improved ambulance and was trying to get the army to take its adoption.
I can tell you this was a dangers duty, ambulance drivers would be shot off their sets, Cannon balls would pass through the ambulance and the stretcher carriers would be shot while crossing the battle fields. These men had no defense as they were not given guns they were there for humanitarian reasons and not to fight. However those who had they own personal side arms or rifles were allowed to carry them for their defense.
By reading the following reports you will learn many interesting thing about the Ambulance Corps, what some of their duties were and how they lived on the march and how some bravely died. For those of you who may be interested in how this corps was put together and its organization will find this information following the reports
