Information about General Hospital #15 in Richmond, VA during
the Civil War.
Also called: Crew's Hospital, Crew and Pemberton Hospital. Formerly tobacco
factory of Crew and Pemberton, Four-storied, brick building. Destroyed in
evacuation fire. Opened about June 1862. Capacity over 200. Drs. H. C. Scott, G.
B. Moore, W. T. Bell, in charge. After 25 September 1862 converted to barracks
for convalescent or traveling solders. Location: northwest corner of 21st
and Cary Streets. (from Confederate Military Hospitals in Richmond
by Robert W. Waitt, Jr., Official Publication #22 Richmond Civil War Centennial
committee, Richmond, Virginia 1964.)
5/27/1862; Asst Surg George Ross in charge Crew Factory Hosp., corner 21 &
Cary, wants 30 male negro nurses, 15 laundresses, 10 cooks, and a steward,
wardmaster, & clerk
10/1/1862;
details on the Soldiers’ homes – the barrack next to the Central Depot is
“broken up” and the remaining soldiers’ homes (Conrad & Crew’s Factory &
“the Franklin street barrack”) are often strained to capacity.
6/9/1887; gives description of life on Belle
Isle in late 1863 and early 1864; includes account of the dog-slaying
incident; mentions that he was also in Pemberton Prison for a brief time
2/22/1891; part three of serialized
account of life in Libby. Notes on various ways prisoners attempted to
escape, the Confederate preachers who came there, the fact that prisoners
could see the men at Pemberton, but could not communicate with them, and
some of the chess matches that took place in prison.
4/5/1891; part nine of serialized
account of life in Libby. Describes the plan to break out of Libby upon the
success of Dahlgren's raid. Says that there were 1,200 prisoners in Libby at
the time. Also noted that 20,000 others in Richmond between Belle Isle and
Pemberton. Notes that prison authorities found out about the plot and
brought in extra guards and artillery across the street. Relates hearsay
evidence of Turner's statement that the prison was mined.
4/19/1891; part eleven of
serialized account of life in Libby. Recounts the author's near-exchange,
and subsequent return to Richmond, only to be put in General Hospital #10
1/7/1904; former prisoner at
Pemberton and Belle Isle says that Belle Isle was worse than Andersonville,
and that dead prisoners would be frozen stiff to the ground
5/19/1904; brief letter describing
imprisonment in Pemberton Prison and Belle Isle from late 1862 to early
1864. Mentions a one-eyed guard named Sgt. Marks who clubbed prisoners, and
Lieut. Bossieux being in charge of Belle Isle.
9/6/1906; a veteran of Richmond prisons asks questions about them.
Pemberton, the Belle Isle sutler, and the dog-slaying incident are
mentioned.
In the National Archives:
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.
