William H. Forwood

William Henry Forwood (September 7, 1838 – May 12, 1915) was a surgeon from Delaware who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and eventually as Surgeon General of the United States Army from June 8, 1902 until September 7, 1902.

Biography

Early life

William Henry Forwood was born in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware on September 7, 1838.

During the war

Forwood attended Crozier Academy in Chester, Pennsylvania, earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and was appointed as an Assistant Surgeon on August 5, 1861. He was assigned to Seminary Hospital in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., where he served initially as the hospital's executive officer, then as regimental surgeon of the 14th U.S. Infantry, and then acting medical director of the V Corps, General George Sykes' unit of the Army of the Potomac, during the Peninsula campaign. He took part in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Gaines Mill and Malvern Hill before he was reassigned to the office of the Medical Director, Washington, D.C., in October 1862.

In February 1863, Forwood was assigned to the 6th U.S. Cavalry as an assistant surgeon. On May 13, 1863, Forwood was accompanying acting regimental commander George Henry Cram and two enlisted orderlies from General John Buford's headquarters back to their camp when they were captured by a band of Mosby's guerrillas. The group's leader, Lieutenant Fairchild, after securing their horses and equipment, offered to release them if they would give their parole. Cram and the two soldiers did so and were released. Since medical officers on both sides had the right to be released without parole if captured, Forwood refused.