Assassination Trivia

[Steve Whitlock]

(01-19-2021 07:17 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(01-18-2021 02:02 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  We discussed this previously in the Genetic Lincoln thread of the Symposium. I still think the "Navy Surgeon" was Army surgeon C. D. Gatch, who was in attendance with his brother at the play. Several sources name C. D. Gatch as being one of the doctors, and he was included in a painting with others in attendance when Lincoln died. The brothers also claimed that C. D. Gatch climbed up into Lincoln's box.

Unfortunately, my notes for the Gatch brothers may be lost, along with all my research, when my computer bit the dust, and nothing was backed up.

I did a thorough search and, contrary to what Oliver Gatch said in his interviews in 1907 and 1909 (and what's on C. D. Gatch's FindAGrave page), no Dr. Charles Davenport Gatch served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces during the Civil War. As far as I can tell from draft registration, petitions, directories, and other documents of the like, C. D. Gatch remained in Ohio during the war. He did, however, work as a civilian contract surgeon at the hospital in nearby Camp Dennison some time during the war in addition to his private practice.

C.D. Gatch is listed as one of the physicians attending to President Lincoln at Peterson House in contemporary newspapers, including the Washington Evening Star on pg. 2 of its April 15, 1865 issue. So it appears true that C.D. accompanied Oliver to D.C. from Ohio and then treated the President at Peterson House; but Oliver's accounts of the assassination come off as "sketchy" when compared to Dr. Leale and Col. Rathbone's contemporary accounts. And why did Oliver claim that his brother had been an Army surgeon who served under Gen. Rosecrans?

According to Oliver Gatch's later newspaper accounts the brothers were seated in the dress circle not far from the President's box. That and C. D. Gatch not wearing a uniform rules him out as one of the individuals described in Clara's affidavit.

Steve Williams,

I didn't find Charles Davenport Gatch (C.C. Gatch) in the military records at ancestry.com; but his brother, Oliver Cross Gatch was shown. However, a photo seems to show C. D. Gatch in some sort of uniform, as was his brother. Does anyone know whether the uniform C. D. Gatch has on indicates medical service, and what rank?

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(01-19-2021 09:01 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(01-19-2021 07:17 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(01-18-2021 02:02 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  We discussed this previously in the Genetic Lincoln thread of the Symposium. I still think the "Navy Surgeon" was Army surgeon C. D. Gatch, who was in attendance with his brother at the play. Several sources name C. D. Gatch as being one of the doctors, and he was included in a painting with others in attendance when Lincoln died. The brothers also claimed that C. D. Gatch climbed up into Lincoln's box.

Unfortunately, my notes for the Gatch brothers may be lost, along with all my research, when my computer bit the dust, and nothing was backed up.

I did a thorough search and, contrary to what Oliver Gatch said in his interviews in 1907 and 1909 (and what's on C. D. Gatch's FindAGrave page), no Dr. Charles Davenport Gatch served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces during the Civil War. As far as I can tell from draft registration, petitions, directories, and other documents of the like, C. D. Gatch remained in Ohio during the war. He did, however, work as a civilian contract surgeon at the hospital in nearby Camp Dennison some time during the war in addition to his private practice.

C.D. Gatch is listed as one of the physicians attending to President Lincoln at Peterson House in contemporary newspapers, including the Washington Evening Star on pg. 2 of its April 15, 1865 issue. So it appears true that C.D. accompanied Oliver to D.C. from Ohio and then treated the President at Peterson House; but Oliver's accounts of the assassination come off as "sketchy" when compared to Dr. Leale and Col. Rathbone's contemporary accounts. And why did Oliver claim that his brother had been an Army surgeon who served under Gen. Rosecrans?

According to Oliver Gatch's later newspaper accounts the brothers were seated in the dress circle not far from the President's box. That and C. D. Gatch not wearing a uniform rules him out as one of the individuals described in Clara's affidavit.

Steve Williams,

I didn't find Charles Davenport Gatch (C.C. Gatch) in the military records at ancestry.com; but his brother, Oliver Cross Gatch was shown. However, a photo seems to show C. D. Gatch in some sort of uniform, as was his brother. Does anyone know whether the uniform C. D. Gatch has on indicates medical service, and what rank?

Steve Williams,

There may be another possibility, but he was an Army surgeon, named in a Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal.

A Comprehensive Account of President Lincoln's Doctors' Beginning from the Assassin's Gunshot on April 14, 1865 through Abe's Death on April 15th.

..........

The Doctors' Present at Lincoln's Side
PHYSICIANS PRESENT IN THE STATE BOX AT FORD’S THEATRE

"Charles Augustus Leale (Mar 26, 1842 – June 13, 1932); M.D., Bellevue Hospital Medical College, 1865; appointed Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Volunteers, April 8, 1865. The first physician to reach Lincoln and in charge until the arrival of Lincoln's family physician Dr. Stone. Dr. Leale remained with Lincoln until the president’s death. Restored Abraham Lincoln’s airway, breathing, and circulation, to improve Abraham Lincoln’s life chance and assisted in carrying Abraham Lincoln across the street to the Petersen House (held Lincoln’s head).

Charles Sabin Taft (Aug 1835 – Dec 18, 1900); M.D., a surgeon in charge at the Signal Corps Camp of Instruction at Red Hill, Georgetown; Acting Assistant Surgeon, United States Army. The second physician to reach Lincoln (is often placed third because his personal account intimates so). He climbed on the stage and was assisted by members of the audience up to the box, which he entered by climbing over the rail. Taft was active in the artificial respiration measures of Abraham Lincoln. Assisted carrying Abraham Lincoln across the street to the Petersen House (held Lincoln’s right shoulder).

Albert Freeman Africanus King (Jan 18, 1841- Dec 13, 1914); M.D., Columbia Medical College, 1861; University of Pennsylvania, 1865; Acting Assistant Surgeon, United States Army. The third physician to reach Lincoln (is often placed second); was active in the artificial respiration measures of Abraham Lincoln. Observations of the pulse and respiration were noted down by Dr. King at Abraham Lincoln’s bedside. Assisted carrying Abraham Lincoln across the street to the Petersen House (held Lincoln’s left shoulder).

PHYSICIANS PRESENT AT FORD’S THEATRE
(it's doubtful they were in the State Box)

Charles Davenport Gatch (1841- Oct 27, 1870); M.D., served through the war with the armies of General Rosecrans. The fourth physician to reach Lincoln's box (following his own account the third). Was together with his brother Capt. Oliver Cross Gatch (in uniform) in the dress circle of Ford’s. According to Oliver’s own statements, they were asked to the State Box, where Charles came to the conclusion that Abraham Lincoln’s injury was fatal. According to Oliver he helped carry the president to the Petersen House, but this is doubtful because this is not mentioned in any other accounts. The brother's Gatch was almost certainly also not present in the state box since they are mentioned neither by Dr. Leale nor by Taft. Dr. Gatch certainly had no active role in treating president Lincoln. The Gatch brothers’ story (if true) ended when Lincoln was removed from Ford's Theatre."

I don't think either of us mentioned Albert Freeman Africanus King (Jan 18, 1841- Dec 13, 1914), shown above. Also, they aren't keen on C. D. Gatch either. But again, if it was Dr King, he was supposedly an Army surgeon, and I don't know whether he was in uniform.