Civil War Union Army Medical Officer. Born in Troy, New York, he attended High School Academy and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and recieved an M. D. from the Castleton Medical College, Vermont in 1847. He is especially noted for his pioneering efforts to photograph and catalog the wounds of Soldiers in the Civil War and document the use of reconstructive surgery efforts. Dr. Bontecou was commissioned as Surgeon of the 2nd New York Volunteer Infantry (also called "the First Troy Regiment") in April 1861. In September 1861 he was promoted to brigade surgeon, and was present at the first major land battle of the Civil War, Big Bethel, Virginia. He was a witness to the battle between the Monitor (the Iron plating for which was manufactured in his hometown of Troy) and the Merrimac at Hampton Roads, Virginia (the first battle of ironclad war ships), and was also present at the capture of Yorktown, Virginia. He was placed in charge of the Hygeia Army Hospital at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. Later, her served as chief medical officer of all hospitals at Beaufort, South Carolina as well as the hospital steamer "Cosmopolitan" lying off Charleston during the siege of that city. From October 1863 to May 1866 he served as Chief Surgeon in charge of Harewood U. S. Military Hospital in Washington, D.C. After the war he returned to Troy, New York and continued his medical practice.
Civil War Union Army Medical Officer. Born in Troy, New York, he attended High School Academy and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy and recieved an M. D. from the Castleton Medical College, Vermont in 1847. He is especially noted for his pioneering efforts to photograph and catalog the wounds of Soldiers in the Civil War and document the use of reconstructive surgery efforts. Dr. Bontecou was commissioned as Surgeon of the 2nd New York Volunteer Infantry (also called "the First Troy Regiment") in April 1861. In September 1861 he was promoted to brigade surgeon, and was present at the first major land battle of the Civil War, Big Bethel, Virginia. He was a witness to the battle between the Monitor (the Iron plating for which was manufactured in his hometown of Troy) and the Merrimac at Hampton Roads, Virginia (the first battle of ironclad war ships), and was also present at the capture of Yorktown, Virginia. He was placed in charge of the Hygeia Army Hospital at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. Later, her served as chief medical officer of all hospitals at Beaufort, South Carolina as well as the hospital steamer "Cosmopolitan" lying off Charleston during the siege of that city. From October 1863 to May 1866 he served as Chief Surgeon in charge of Harewood U. S. Military Hospital in Washington, D.C. After the war he returned to Troy, New York and continued his medical practice.
Bio by: Todd T. Hoffay
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