Background
He was born on December 6, 1798 in Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York, United States, the son of Major William Satterlee, an officer of Connecticut troops in the Revolutionary army, and Hannah (Sherwood) Satterlee.
He was born on December 6, 1798 in Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York, United States, the son of Major William Satterlee, an officer of Connecticut troops in the Revolutionary army, and Hannah (Sherwood) Satterlee.
His native town was the seat of Fairfield Academy, with a medical college and faculty which in his day ranked with the best in the country. It is probable that he obtained his education here, though he did not obtain a medical degree.
He was licensed to practise in 1818 and moved to Seneca County, N. Y. , and shortly thereafter to Detroit, Mich. , where, on Feb. 25, 1822, he entered the United States army as an assistant surgeon. His early years in the army were spent in routine duty in frontier posts of the Middle West.
During the Seminole War in Florida he served with the brigade of Col. Zachary Taylor who gave him an official commendation for his care of the wounded at the battle of Okeechobee on Dec. 25, 1837.
During the Mexican War he landed with the army which took Vera Cruz after a siege, and in the advance to Mexico City he acted as senior surgeon of Worth's division of regulars. He directed the medical service of that division at the battles of Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec and, on July 5, 1847, forwarded to the war department a detailed report upon the health of the army.
After the occupation of Mexico City he was appointed medical director upon the staff of General Scott, and in that capacity was charged with the establishment of a general hospital to care for the bulk of the army casualties. He had been advanced to the grade of major in 1832, and in 1853 was appointed medical purveyor. In this capacity he served through the Civil War. So satisfactory was his service that he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel and brigadier-general. General Scott gave active support to his candidacy for surgeon-general when a change was made in 1862, but William Alexander Hammond was given the place.
He was in charge of the medical supply depot in New York City until his retirement from active service in 1869.
Satterlee was sent to serve in the Mexican-American War. Serving under Winfield Scott, Satterlee took part in the Battle of Molino del Rey and the Battle of Chapultepec. Besides, he served throughout the American Civil War, during which time he was brevetted a Brigadier General and was a candidate for the command of the Medical Corps, was appointed chief medical purveyor with the grade of lieutenant-colonel.
Quotes from others about the person
The accompanying citation commended him "for diligent care and attention in procuring proper army supplies as Medical Purveyor and for economy and fidelity in the disbursement of large sums of money" (Hamersly, post, p. 741).
In June 1827, he was married to Mary S. Hunt.
