Robert Crooke Wood

Robert Crooke Wood, M.D. was an American Brevet Brigadier General, military physician and neurologist who was the Assistant Surgeon General throughout the American Civil War as well as serving in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican–American War. He was also the father of John Taylor Wood who would go on to serve in the Confederate States Navy as a captain. Early years Robert was born on September 23, 1799, as the son of John Wood and Rebecca Wickham Wood. His childhood consisted of attending private schools and learning from private tutors. After taking an interest in medicine, Wood went to South Carolina to begin a study under Dr. Waring and afterwards, went to attend the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and earned the rank of M.D. after his graduation in the Class of 1821. He then moved to Utica, New York to practice medicine there until May 28, 1825, where he joined the United States Army as an assistant surgeon and was then stationed at the Detroit Barracks but was then transferred to Fort Snelling until May 1833 with the 1st Infantry Regiment. Around this time, he got married with Ann Mackall Taylor in 1829 who was the eldest daughter of Zachary Taylor. They proceeded to have one child there on August 13, 1830: John Taylor Wood. Military career Wood then participated at the Black Hawk War and was an active combatant at the Battle of Bad Axe which marked the end of the war. He was then transferred to Fort Crawford and was promoted to Major and Surgeon on July 4, 1836. He was then transferred to Florida due to the outbreak of the Second Seminole War at Fort Brooks but managed to participate at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee and would continue skirmishing with the Seminole natives until May 1839 when a truce was signed. When the truce was broken, Wood was transferred to Buffalo Barracks and served with the 5th Infantry Regiment until August 1845 as Wood was sent near the border with Mexico. Wood arrived at Corpus Christi, Texas in October and after spending the winter there, he was sent to a camp that overlooked Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Wood then participated at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.