{"product_id":"original-u-s-indian-wars-battle-of-bear-paw-medal-of-honor-recipient-7th-cavalry-surgeon-henry-remsen-tilton-s-doeskin-surgical-medical-tool-roll-with-75-retained-tools-including-bonesaw-and-trepanation-reamer","title":"Original U.S. Indian Wars Battle of Bear Paw Medal of Honor Recipient 7th Cavalry Surgeon Henry Remsen Tilton’s Doeskin Surgical Medical Tool Roll with 75 Retained Tools Including Bonesaw and Trepanation Reamer","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items. One-of-a-Kind Set. This is a truly phenomenal group, likely the most extensive surgical tool set we have had the pleasure of offering. This extensive doeskin-lined surgical tool roll was used by Surgeon Henry Remsen Tilton during his time with the Army Medical Department and while he’d served with the 7th Cavalry Regiment during the Nez Perce war. For his actions during the Battle of Bear Paw, Tilton was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFearlessly risked his life and displayed great gallantry in rescuing and protecting the wounded men.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHenry Remsen Tilton was born in Barnegat Township, New Jersey, on February 1, 1836. He graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1859 and, at the start of the American Civil War, enlisted in the United States Army in Jersey City as an assistant surgeon on August 26, 1861. Serving as a first lieutenant and surgeon in various federal hospitals throughout the war, he was brevetted a captain and major for \"faithful and meritorious service\" on March 13, 1865. After the war, Tilton became a Companion of the District of Columbia Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTilton remained with the Army Medical Department after the war and was post surgeon at Fort Lyon in the Colorado Territory from 1866 to 1870. While at Fort Lyon in May 1868, Tilton treated Kit Carson who had fallen ill while travelling to Washington, DC. He saw his first action that same year participating in skirmishes with the Cheyenne on September 8 and again on October 7, 1868. Tilton later accompanied Colonel David S. Stanley in his expedition of the Yellowstone River in the Montana Territory in 1873. He was subsequently stationed at various frontier posts in the North Plains and, \u003cstrong\u003ein 1876, attained the rank of major-surgeon\u003c\/strong\u003e. Tilton served under General Nelson A. Miles at Wolf Mountain, the last major battle of the Great Sioux War of 1876-77, the following year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin a few short months, Tilton was once again under Miles command when the Nez Perce War began that summer. Assigned to the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, he later wrote an account of the campaign entitled \"After the Nez Perce\" published in Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun. On September 30, 1877, he won distinction at the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain against Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce by exposing himself to heavy fire to rescue and protect many wounded men on the battlefield. His actions would not be recognized by the War Department until almost twenty years later when he received the Medal of Honor on March 22, 1895. He spent the rest of his career with the medical department as deputy surgeon general. Tilton retired from active service as a lieutenant colonel on February 2, 1900, and made a full colonel upon being placed on the retirement list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis outstanding medical surgical tool roll is inscribed on the doeskin:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eH.R. Tilton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSurgeon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S. Army\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMed. Dept.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTilton served with the rank of Surgeon from 1865 until 1876, when he was promoted to Major Surgeon. He remained with the Army Medical Department until being assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1876. Because of this, we are confident that this doeskin surgical tool roll was first used by Tilton between 1865 and 1876, and was certainly used by him during the Nez Perce war, as he did not become a Major Surgeon until the year before this action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surgical tool roll contains a plethora of original period tools, however very many of these tools are from the post-Nez Perce period, as chromed tools were not common until 1877. There are also 17 tools that were not in the roll but came with the set and would have belonged to Tilton. These 17 include the bonesaw, Trepanation Reamer, a tourniquet, and a few others. Likely 75% of the tools date to the 1880s-1890s, with the rest being 1870s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, some of the tools are maker-marked, including some marked\u003cstrong\u003e SHARP \u0026amp; SMITH\u003c\/strong\u003e, which only began producing tools like these in the 1880s, and \u003cstrong\u003eTRUAX \u0026amp; CO\u003c\/strong\u003e, who also made tools in the 1880s. There are others marked to W.F. Ford Caswell Hazard Co., which denotes the 1880s and early 1890s. As Surgeons would go through many tools and need replacements, we are confident that this is Tilton’s original Indian Wars roll with a mix of period and later-replaced tools.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the best tools in this set is the Trepanation Reamer, which is not maker-marked but is brass with outstanding retained bluing on the reamer itself. The bonesaw is marked \u003cstrong\u003eCASWELL HAZARD \u0026amp; CO. \/ W.F. FORD. N.Y\u003c\/strong\u003e. which dates it to the late 1880s. 12+ other tools appear marked to this maker. Most of the loops for the securing of the tools are retained but some are heavily crazed\/dry-rotted. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are roughly 75 tools total, with several tools appearing to be partial or missing integral pieces. They are all of the period, with the majority being 1880s \u0026amp; 1890s era. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot only is the original doeskin roll intact without any serious tearing, but the original leather straps are retained, as well as the separate leather strap set that would secure the roll closed when it is rolled up. The leather is still rather pliable, but will be very weak due to its age. The leather to the back of the roll is still heavily disintegrating due to the age and weakness. This set will display best unrolled with all the tools visible. When unrolled, it measures roughly 18 x 32” not including the doeskin flaps on each side. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an unparalleled set that we will likely never top! An outstanding surgical tool roll identified to a Medal of Honor recipient, ready to become the centerpiece of your collection!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44050194759749,"sku":"ONAC25203","price":3995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC25203MAIN.jpg?v=1764191243","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-indian-wars-battle-of-bear-paw-medal-of-honor-recipient-7th-cavalry-surgeon-henry-remsen-tilton-s-doeskin-surgical-medical-tool-roll-with-75-retained-tools-including-bonesaw-and-trepanation-reamer","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}