From the Eleanor S. Brockenbrogh Library, Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond,
VA. Description of Clopton Hospital, n.d., not signed, but apparently in Mrs.
Judge Clopton’s hand. No addressee, but probably to Wm. A. Carrington,
Inspector of hospitals.
The hospital now called “Clopton Hospital” was one
of the two houses opened on 28 May 1862 by Capt. Israel Warner and 290 men
placed in it who were brought from Ashland – On 31 May by order of Genl
Winder they were all with the exception of twelve removed to the St. Charles
Hospital. On the night of the 31st the wounded were brought in; at
that time there were two houses one between 3rd + 4th and
one [between] 4th + 5th both on Franklin street; the two
houses continued under the joint care of some twelve or fifteen ladies, until it
was thought advisable to separate the care of the two houses them; when Mrs.
Joseph L. Jackson assumed the management of the one between 4th + 5th,
and Mrs. Clopton between 3rd & 4th. At the time the
houses were opened, Capt. Warner provided the Hospital very plentifully for the
large number then present with Sugar, Coffee, Salt, rice, flour, Bacon &
dried fruit – also with thirty dollars ($30) for the purchase of fresh meat,
milk, vegetables &c for the large number then present these provisions were
used at both houses for ten days – after that, Cap. W. sent three days rations
at a time for some two or three time, after that he was absent from Richmond,
and we were without rations of any kind for eighteen days (18); - we were also
without rations of coffee, sugar, and molasses several times, when we drew other
rations; - Our steward Mr. Brock upon enquiry found we were privileged to make
ten days requisition for rations, since when (sometime in July) we have drawn
them regularly through but not being advised as to our right to commute -
the Steward failed to have it entered when any of the rations were not sent, and
untilsince the 20th of Aug we have never received
any commutation for the 18 days rations & for the other articles not sent on
the regular requisition. We have received forty dollars ($40) through Mrs. Maury
from ladies in Fredericksburg, ten dollars ($10) from J. D. Delton, ten ($10)
from Mrs. L. L. Pulliam, five from a lady from Baltimore Alabama, five
($5) from a Baltimore lady, one dollar ($1) from Mrs. Joshua Fry. – We were
not aware until 1 Aug. that the officers who were patients were to be charged
for board, since then we have charged them one dollar per diem; we have also
sold the rations of Bacon candles & flour that have been left and this has
enable us to purchase the Milk Eggs &c repair locks, white wash & pay
the deficiency in hires of nurses, in one instance the difference between $18-50
and $45 per month for two months. I refer to the remark of Dr. C. report of the
position of the Hospital: it is in a thickly settled and most pleasant part of
the city and no doubt may be a source of annoyance to some, but he has made a
mistake with regard to the supplies from this neighborhood, with one or two
exceptions and those only on the first week of the wounded being brought in, we
have derived no assistance what ever; our delicacies having been sent from more
distant neighborhoods, and from the country; and they ceased early in July. Our
thanks are principally due for ex___ to the ladies of Buckingham through Mrs.
Col. Fuqua and to the Young Mens Christian Association. – One box of
vegetables from the Ladies of Greensville Aid Soc. But in consequence of its
detention on the road nothing arrived safe but the butter – within the past
two weeks we have received some vegetables & four bottles of wine from the
No. C. Depot also one or two shirts & drawers for some destitute N. C.
soldiers & until some time in Aug. we had no clerk but myself and the many
duties devolving on me enabled me only to keep a nine(?) day book – this will
account for the want of various books of entry &c also it was expected only
to be a temporary effort & from time to time that [if] the necessity for
Hospitals lessened the Hospital it would be broken up, & I have a
memo of our outlogs(?), tolerably perfect, and will take pleasure in submitting
it to your inspection but as it was only kept for my own satisfaction is ___
really rough but we have the satisfaction to know that we have no debts and that
our patients have had all the comforts that could be procured have been
needed, and that the failures we have made have been in consequence of our
ignorance of how to proceed, as we have never had an experienced person in the
house & no one to call on us to point out our duties and our anxiety was more
for the welfare of our patients than to show a good record – also that Dr. H.
A. Tatum was in commission (scrawled above this word, “contract”) from 1st
June & Dr. R. M. Paterson Aug.
