Information about General Hospital #13 in Richmond, VA during
the Civil War.
Also called: Castle Thunder Hospital, Prison Hospital, Lunatic Hospital.
Formerly tobacco factory of Christian and Lea company. Four-storied,
flat-roofed, brick building. Opened before June 1862. Hospital for prisoners at
Castle Thunder and mental cases. At first mental patients were kept at Castle
Thunder in quarters with 50 capacity. Then moved to this building with other
prison patients. Capacity over 150, employees over 30. Dr. W. W. Coggin,
surgeon-in-charge. Used for a short time by Federal occupation forces. Location:
eastside of 20th Street, between Main and Franklin Streets. Present
site 21-3 North 20th Street. (from Confederate Military
Hospitals in Richmond by Robert W. Waitt, Jr., Official Publication #22
Richmond Civil War Centennial committee, Richmond, Virginia 1964.)
6/28/1862;
Enormous list of wounded by hospital: Central Depot; Third Georgia; Royster;
First Alabama; St. Charles; Keen, Baldwin & Williams; Kent; Christian &
Lea’s; Ligon; Globe; Third Alabama; Institute; Fourth Georgia
6/30/1862;
Another huge hospital list: Seabrook’s; Banner; Christian & Lea’s; Globe;
Moore; Howard; Royster; Central Depot; First Alabama; Third Alabama; First
Georgia; Second Georgia; Third Georgia
1/8/1863; Carrington writes on the baking of
bread in Richmond hospitals, urges the construction of ovens. Gives great
details on the Chimborazo Bakery. Notes that GH1, GH4, Winder, Chimborazo
and the South Carolina hospital all have their own ovens. GH9 and GH13
mentioned.
10/28/1863; a Confederate deserter tries to
escape from General Hospital #13 by means of climbing down a bed sheet rope
out the window - falls and receives a concussion, and returned to
confinement
11/9/1863; letter from the acting surgeon in charge of GH#13
suggesting means of alleviating the crowded conditions. Recommends those
wishing to take the oath of allegiance be released and that those who are
disabled be sent away. Also notes that too many patients are compelled to
sleep on the floor
11/29/1863; letter from surgeon at GH#13 giving the details
on the prisoners that I. Carrington asked about. Those who are well are
shipped to Salisbury
1/28/1865; list of hospitals in Richmond and
to which hospitals soldiers from the various states are sent
G. B. Paulson CSR, M331
various dates; food purchasing at
GH#13 (also filed as Poulson)
In the National Archives:
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vols. 230, 257). 2 in.
Registers of Patients, General Hospital No. 13. 1862-65. 2 vol.Show
patient's number; date of admittance; name, rank, and organization;
disposition of case; and remarks. Entries in volume 230 are arranged
alphabetically by initial letter of patient's name; those in volume 257 are
arranged numerically and are partially duplicated by those in volume 230.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 249). 1/2 in.
Register of Patients (Union and Negro), General Hospital No. 13. 1863-65. 1
vol.For Union patients the register shows date of admittance, name,
status ("Yankee Soldier," "Yankee Deserter," or "Yankee Citizen"), State,
bed number, disposition of case, and disease. For Negroes it shows date of
admittance, name, status or residence, disposition of case, and disease.
Entries are arranged according to "Union" or "Negro" and thereunder by date
of admittance.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 467). 1 in.
Accounts and Register of Surgical Cases, General Hospital No. 13. 1862-64. 1
vol.This volume contains accounts current, showing receipts and
expenditures; and a register of surgical cases, showing patient's name,
rank, organization, age, civilian occupation, date and nature of wound,
treatment or operation performed, previous state of health, and remarks.
Arranged by type of material. The names in the register are duplicated by
those in volume 257 (described two entries above).
Record Group 109,
(ch. IX, vol. 231). 1 in.
Provision Account, General Hospital No. 13. 1863-64. 1 vol.This
volume contains statistical reports of rations and hospital stores issued,
of provisions drawn from the commissary in Richmond, and accounts current
relating to the purchase of provisions and other supplies. The reports and
accounts are arranged chronologically.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 455 1/2). 1 in.
Record Book, General Hospital No. 13. 1862-65. 1 vol.Contains
accounts of hospital supplies, statistical reports of attendants, reports on
the vaccination of patients, and a register of effects of deceased soldiers.
The contents of the volume are arranged by type of material.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 256). 1 in.
Record Book, General Hospital No. 13. 1862-65. 1 vol.Contains
statistical reports concerning patients and attendants, lists of employees,
a record of clothing issued, reports of sick and wounded, and reports of
deaths. The reports and lists are arranged in part chronologically and in
part by type of material.
Record Group 109, (ch. VI, vol. 711). 2 in.
Morning Reports of Patients and Attendants,
General Hospitals No. 1-4, 7-8, 12-20, 22-23, and 25-27. 1862-65. 1 vol.
Daily reports showing the number of patients in hospital, in private
quarters, received, returned to duty, transferred, furloughed, deserted,
discharged, died, and remaining; the number of medical officers, stewards,
nurses, cooks, and laundresses present for duty; and remarks. Arranged by
hospital number, thereunder chronologically, and thereunder by State of
patient's organization. The dates given are inclusive; not all hospitals
have reports for all dates.
