A clearer version of Richmond’s Civil War Hospitals map shown above can be seen at the link detailing where many of the hospitals were and which buildings are still standing today. The below are buildings still standing in Richmond.

During the Civil War the Confederate Government established 28 General Hospitals in Richmond, which could hold a few hundred patients each. Because of the patient volume these were often set up in large brick tobacco factories or warehouses. Generally, these hospitals only took care of patients from a single state, which sent money and supplies to maintain them. In addition, early in the war some hospitals were operated by individuals in private homes such as the Robertson Hospital run by Sally M. Thompkins.

As the war went on five very large military hospitals were constructed consisting of a large complex of multiple small buildings in barracks-styled wards. In these facilities individual states often had their own wards. These were self-contained facilities that focused on cleanliness, an open-air environment, nutritious foods, and laundry facilities. Chimborazo (the subject of a future post) was located on a hill east of town and was a former military camp. It had a capacity of 5,000 patients in 150 buildings and tents. Over 75,000 patients passed through its doors. Today the National Park Service operates the Chimborazo Medical Museum on part of the site. Winder Hospital opened in 1862 with a capacity of 6,000 patients in the western part of the city near the reservoir. Jackson Hospital which opened in 1863 was near Hollywood Cemetery and could hold up to 2,500 patients. Howard’s Grove was located in a former picnic area along the Mechanicsville Turnpike. It was designed to treat up to 1800 smallpox patients in 62 buildings. Finally, Stuart Hospital opened at the camp site of the City Guard in what is now Monroe Park in 1864. It could house 500 patients in 16 buildings. 

Once these large military hospitals were established many of the numbered General Hospitals were closed. General Hospital #9, which was closest to the railroad station, became a central-receiving hospital that then subsequently transferred patients to the large military hospitals. Some of the other General Hospitals were used for the care of Union prisoners.

Former Civil War hospital buildings that are still standing or are memorialized by markers today in Richmond are discussed below. Many of these are within walking distance of each other with the exception of General Hospital #1 and the Louisiana Hospital.

General Hospital #1- located at 210 Hospital Street. From 1861-1864 the Richmond Almshouse served as Richmond General Hospital #1 under the direction of Dr. Charles Gibson, a Professor at the Richmond Medical College. It was initially used to house sick and wounded Union prisoners after the Battle of First Bull Run since it was surrounded by a high brick wall. It had a special ward for smallpox victims because it had many individual rooms. Eight Sisters of Charity worked here as nurses.

General Hospital #11- located at 12 North 19th Street. Known as the Globe or Florida Hospital. Capacity 150, run by Dr. George Peachy, open December 1861 to December 1863. It was located in the tobacco factory of James Grant. Most soldiers cared for here were from Florida but there were a large number also from Alabama. 

General Hospital #12- located at 1900 East Franklin Street. It was also known as the Banner Hospital, Grant Hospital, or the Wayside Hospital. Operating with a capacity of 180, it was open from January 1862- September 1863, and the Surgeon-in-Charge was William Alexander Thom. The building was owned by William Grant and rented for $300/month by the Confederate government. The hospital was a “wayside hospital” since it was used by sick and disabled soldiers with no place else to stay.

General Hospital #14- located at 200 North 20th Street. The Second Georgia Hospital was operated by Dr. C. O’Keefe. The building belonged to Pleasants & Frazier and was leased to the government for $150/month. Capacity was 150 from October 1861- March 1863. It was the second of four hospitals for Georgia soldiers. By all accounts it was very well run.

General Hospital #19- located at 2401 East Franklin Street. The 3rd Georgia Hospital had a capacity of 200 and was operated by Dr. James Mercer from October 1861 to July 1863. The building was rented for $125/month from the A.W. Taylor company. Dr. Mercer did not employ guards. Anyone who violated hospital rules was placed in the deadhouse with the recently deceased and when released they were subsequently generally on their best behavior. 

General Hospital #25- located at 2823 East Main Street. It was a Texas Hospital, with a capacity of 140 from March 1862- July 1863, and was run by Dr. Edward G. Higgenbotham. Food was donated to this Hospital by the local YMCA.

General Hospital #26- located at 700 North 26th Street. It was also known as Springfield Hall or Temperance Hall, with a capacity of 80, open from July 1861-July 1864. John Knox was the Surgeon-in-Charge. The Ladies of the Soldier’s Aid Society with the Leigh Street Baptist Church and the Trinity Baptist Church provided support.

2nd Alabama Hospital- located at 2407 East Franklin Street. With a capacity of 170 patients the facility was open from December 1861 to September 1863 and overseen by Dr. Paul D.S. Baker. It was rented for $250/month from the Hopkins family. Mrs. Juliet Hopkins was instrumental in finding accommodations for the sick and wounded from Alabama. She recruited and trained nurses, solicited supplies, and operated the warehouse. The hospital closed in September 1863 and became part of General Hospital #21 for the care of Federal prisoners. It is now occupied by the Pohlig Brothers Paper Box company.

3rd Alabama Hospital- located at 2026 East Franklin Street. With a capacity of 170 operated from April 1862 to December 1863 under Dr. C.J. Clark. This tobacco factory was rented for $200 a month. In May 1864 the hospital became part of General Hospital #21, for Federal prisoners.

Crenshaw Hospital- located in a private home at 2619 East Broad Street. General Joseph Johnston was cared for here after his wound at Seven Pines.

Masons’ Hall- located at 1807 East Franklin Street. Established in June 1861 with a capacity of 40 primarily for soldiers from Arkansas under the supervision of Dr. George W. Briggs.

Robertson Hospital- was located at the corner of 3rd and Main Street. With a capacity of 40 this hospital operated throughout the war. After the first Battle of Bull Run wounded began to pour into the city of Richmond. Judge Robertson turned his three-story wood framed house over to Sally Tompkins to convert into a hospital. He charged no rent and left all the furniture. Miss Tompkins recruited several of her friends at the St. James Episcopal Church to work there with her and operated the hospital at her own expense. The Surgeon-in-Charge, Dr. Alexander Garnett, who ran General Hospital #3 visited daily. Soldiers from all states were cared for. Cleanliness was a major point of emphasis and the mortality rate here was very low compared to other hospitals in the city, 5.5%. Miss Tompkins obtained a Captain’s commission in the Confederate cavalry on September 9, 1861, six weeks after the hospital opened. She may have been given the commission so that she could draw supplies from the CSA Quartermaster’s Office. She accepted the appointment but refused the pay. It is possible that she used that rank to keep her hospital open during the reorganization of Richmond hospitals during October of 1862. She is the only woman to hold a commission in the Confederate military. The building was torn down in 1875 and new buildings erected on the site. On the side of the brick wall on 3rd Street is the plaque shown below.

Louisiana Hospital- located at 1142 West Grace Street. It operated with a capacity of 210-300 from September 1861 to March 1865 under the direction of Felix Formento. The hospital was located in several buildings of the Richmond College, now the University of Richmond, and is currently home to the American Historical Foundation. It was rented by the Louisiana Hospital Association for $100 per month. Eight Sisters of Charity nuns worked here. They were likely responsible for the high praise the facility received from the Inspector of Hospitals.

Centenary United Methodist Church- located at 411 East Grace Street. The ladies of the church operated a hospital here and in two additional locations at the corner of 4th and Cary and on Henry between Clay and Leigh.

Hunter Holmes McGuire was the personal physician of Stonewall Jackson and President of the American Medical Association after the war. The statue below is located on the grounds of the Virginia state capital. It is one of only two statues that I am aware of that depict physicians that were involved in the Civil War. 

The other is of Dr. Mary Walker, the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. The picture of the statue below comes from the town of Oswego, NY website where the statue is located.

Sources:

Richmond’s Civil War Hospitals by Rebecca Barbour Calcutt

Confederate Military Hospitals in Richmond by Robert Waitt Jr online from Virginia Commonwealth University

The Civil War Richmond Website has an extensive section on Richmond Civil War Hospitals.