Combat casualty care in the American Revolution: Perils of a fragmented medical command structure

ABSTRACT: In 1775, American medicine faced its first and arguably greatest test: building a military medical system while actively fighting a superior enemy. In the wake of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Continental Congress hastily passed a perfunctory resolution creating the Continental Army Medical Department. Leaders of this fledgling department struggled to manage bitterly divided and inexperienced teams, critical supply shortages, and overwhelming patient numbers. With varying degrees of success, they worked to overcome these daunting challenges to care for America's army. This article explores leadership lessons from America's inaugural military medical system, offering actionable insights for modern surgical leaders striving to restore and sustain military medical readiness today.