'New' ambulance in Madrid

MADRID – Fort Tribute recently acquired a newly built reproduction Rucker Ambulance, constructed by Hansen Wheel and Wagon, Letcher, SD, a premier carriage and wagon manufacturer, which restores and builds wagons and stagecoaches for museums, film and TV productions and collectors.  

The "Rucker" ambulance, named for Major General Rucker, was a four-wheeled design wagon and was a common sight on the battlefield. Union military physicians Joseph Barnes and Jonathan Letterman designed a pre-hospital care system for wounded soldiers, which used new techniques and methods of transport. More advances in medical care for the military was made during the Civil War and therefore it became necessary to move wounded from the battlefield to a field hospital. 

This is an excellent addition to our growing list of the Fort rolling stock, including a traveling forge, supply wagon, cannon and limbers,” stated Scott Wilson, Fort Tribute Volunteer Coordinator. “This is a hands-on reproduction ambulance wagon and will be a visual reminder that the Civil War gave birth to the modern ambulance system.” 

This addition was made possible through the generosity of Fort donors.

Fort Tribute is a Civil-War era historical interpretive center located on the grounds of the St. Lawrence Power & Equipment Museum in Madrid. It also has the only single Civil War monument to recognize the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from St. Lawrence County that fought in the War 1861-1865. 

For more information about the Fort visit Facebook forttribute or its website www.forttribute.org.