What you are describing is the French "triage" system, first used in the Napoleonic war of 1803 to 1815 and became widely adopted by many European armies, so I would surmise that any conscientious army surgeon of the civil war would read up, and familiarize themselves with battlefield medical techniques from abroad.
When you travel to the Chancellorsville battlefield, visit Slocum Drive. As you walk eastbound, note the trenches of the Federal infantry along the right of the drive. Also, note the depressions in the ground and ravines in the woods to the left of Slocum Drive. During the fighting, it was reported that wounded soldiers would be taken to these depressions and ravines to keep them safe from the heavy firing coming from the rebels, who were located to the south of the drive, across the fields.
You know..The American Civil War has been galvanized by so many things. Slavery, the battles ,the generals, the presidents..but I wonder if anyone ever gives much thought to how much of a huge impact that first-aid, hospitals, the care in general that was required after these battles? It itself was as monumental a task as any battle if not more.
Ironically Adams as a full surgeon was only there because he failed to receive his orders directing him to the 5th Corps field hospital. Normally an Assistant surgeon would be at an aid station
The field dressing station marker is on a rock directly across the street from the Irish Brigade monument just behind the monument with the soldier on top.
