Charles Henry Alden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Henry Alden
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | April 28, 1836 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | June 7, 1906 (aged 70) Pasadena, California |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Medical Corps |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Spouse(s) | Katherine Russell Lincoln |
| Children | 2 |
Brigadier General Charles Henry Alden (April 28, 1836 – June 7, 1906) was an important doctor in the United States Medical Corps. He was the very first president of the Army Medical School.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Henry Alden was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 28, 1836. His father, Charles H. Alden, was a chaplain (a religious leader) in the navy.
Charles went to Brown University and earned a Master's degree in 1856. He then studied medicine at Pennsylvania Medical College, graduating in 1858. In April 1859, Alden passed the tests to join the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a surgeon. He was soon sent to Fort Defiance, Arizona, where he helped in a military campaign against the Navajo people.
On October 22, 1864, Alden married Katherine Russell Lincoln. They had two children together.
Army Service During the Civil War
On June 23, 1860, Alden became an assistant army doctor. Over the next year, he worked in five different places in New Mexico.
When the American Civil War began, he was captured on July 27, 1861. This happened at San Augustine Springs, along with many soldiers from the 7th Infantry. He was later released under a promise not to fight (this is called being "paroled"). For about a year, he worked at camps for prisoners of war. These camps were at Fort Leavenworth, Jefferson Barracks, and Rouse's Point.
In July 1862, Alden went to Washington. There, he helped set up the Georgetown College Hospital. In October, after his release agreement ended, he worked for the chief doctor of the Army of the Potomac. During this time, he led the effort to move wounded soldiers after the Battle of Fredericksburg.
In spring 1863, he moved to Philadelphia. He was put in charge of Turner's Lane General Hospital. He also became the secretary for the Army Medical Examining Board.
Post-Civil War Army Career
On March 13, 1865, Alden received honorary ranks of major and lieutenant colonel. This was for his "faithful and meritorious service." On June 23, 1865, he was promoted to captain in the regular army, and later to major.
In May 1867, he joined the 30th Infantry. This group was protecting workers building the Transcontinental Railroad in Wyoming. He spent three years there, including time at Fort D. A. Russell.
Later, he served at other forts:
- Fort Gratiot, Michigan (1870-1872)
- Fort Porter
- Fort Walla Walla (1873-1876)
- Fort Townsend
In 1873, Alden took a four-month trip to Europe. In 1875, he was involved in fighting in Wallowa Valley, Oregon. In 1877, he helped in a military campaign against the Nez Perce people in Idaho.
In November 1877, he moved to New York City. For five years, he worked as the secretary for the Army Medical Examining Board. After that, he was transferred to Fort Yates, North Dakota. Two years later, he was sent to Fort Snelling. There, he served as the main doctor for the Department of Dakota headquarters.
Alden also wrote several reports about medical cases and climates at different forts. He was an early supporter of antiseptic surgery, which uses special methods to prevent infections during operations.
Later Career and Legacy
After three years at Fort Snelling, Alden was transferred to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1887. He worked there and also served as president of the Army Medical Examining Board. In 1888, thanks to his idea, the board started examining groups of candidates at once. This was more efficient than examining them one by one.
In 1891, Alden was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, to become the chief medical officer for the Department of Dakota. That same year, he helped create the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. This group was for military doctors.
In August 1892, Alden began working in the office of The Surgeon General. He was in charge of the Hospital Corps and managed medical supplies. He continued these duties during the Spanish–American War. He was also the chief assistant to George Miller Sternberg, who was the Surgeon General. Alden often ran the office when Sternberg was away.
Alden was a strong supporter of creating an Army Medical School. When the Army Medical School was founded in 1893, he became its first president and also taught there. He is known for suggesting a new rule in 1895. This rule meant that soldiers with a hernia (a medical condition) would have surgery instead of being discharged from the army.
In 1896, he was a delegate to the Pan-American Medical Congress in Mexico City. The next year, he attended the Association of Military Surgeons meeting and was elected its president. By 1897, he was an Assistant Surgeon General.
Retirement and Death
Charles Henry Alden retired on April 28, 1900. He then moved to Newtonville, Massachusetts. In 1901, the University of Pennsylvania gave him an honorary Doctor of Medicine degree. On April 23, 1904, he became a brigadier general on the retired list.
As his health declined, he moved to Pasadena, California. He passed away on June 7, 1906, due to a lung illness. He and his wife, Katherine, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
