Local Reenactors Dissect Civil War Medicine and ‘Mercy Street’

Civil War reenactors go to great lengths to ensure reproductions of weapons and clothing are historically accurate. Tony Horwitz wrote in Confederates in the Attic that it’s not uncommon for reenactors to soak uniform buttons in jars of urine to oxidize the brass.

Mason Lumpkins portrays Civil War surgeon Dr. Benjamin Thayer as part of a local living history group, the Western Bluecoats Field Hospital, which is dedicated to demonstrating the procedures and practices of a Civil War field hospital.

Lumpkins is always on the hunt for antique medical instruments actually used during the period.

“This is an original knife,” he said, brandishing a long, skinny knife used for amputations.

As part of KCPT’s special sneak peek of the PBS drama “Mercy Street,” Lumpkins and his fellow reenactors demonstrated a flap amputation for an equally eager and concerned audience at The Wornall House last week.

The audience and reenactors watched clips from the first several episodes, and Lumpkins was especially struck by how the series included so many details about medical advancements of the time.

“For as primitive as some practices appear to our modern eyes our forbearers laid the groundwork for the advancements we enjoy today,” Lumpkins said. “I think ‘Mercy Street’ is going to be an excellent opportunity to open the doors of this chapter in our American history.”

“Mercy Street” airs at 9pm on Sundays on KCPT.