Information about General Hospital #4 in Richmond, VA during
the Civil War.
Also called: Baptist Institute Hospital, Officers' Hospital, Institute
Hospital. Formerly the Richmond Female Institute, a Baptist school for girls.
Four-storied, turreted building. 1862. Opened in mid-1861, it was still in
operation in late-1864. Capacity over 300 patients. Dr. James P. Reed,
surgeon-in-charge. For use of officers only after 8 January 1863. Building stood
until the school was merged with University of Richmond [Baptist] in 1914.
Replaced by the Virginia Mechanics Institute building. Location: facing eastside
of 10th
Street, just north of Marshall. Used as an office building by Federal occupation
forces.
(from Confederate Military Hospitals in Richmond by Robert W. Waitt, Jr.,
Official Publication #22 Richmond Civil War Centennial committee, Richmond,
Virginia 1964.)
Charles H. Winston Papers -
President of the Richmond Female Institute (GH#4), describes the taking over of
the building for the hospital, and its use.
9/24/1861; notice for the Richmond
Female Institute (future GH#4) - says that it will go on as before, but
soldiers' daughters will be given free tuition
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
10/2/1862; catalog for the Richmond Female
Institute - will resume operations after "the temporary occupation of the
institute building by the Government"
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.
5/8/1864; note to GH#9 stating
that Howard's Grove Hospital has been opened - men from Alabama,
Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Arkansas will be sent there. Officer wards
are at Howard's Grove in addition to those at the Officers Hospital, to be
used at the discretion of the officer
5/13/1864; describes Richmond
during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff - notes on the admission procedures for
the wounded and gives numbers admitted; notes on the hospitals for various
states
11/25/1864; note to GH#9 that
General Hospital #4 has been discontinued by the Sec. of War. All arriving
officers will be sent to Stuart Hospital, and all Mississippians will be
sent to Howards Grove
6/6/1865; a new flagpole has been
erected at the Female Institute
James B. Read CSR, M331
various dates; Board of Survey for
GH#4
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.
Record Group 109,
(ch VI, vol. 180). 1 in.
Register of Patients, General Hospital No. 4. 1862. 1 vol.Shows
patient's name, age, rank, organization, civilian occupation, and
complaint; date of admittance; and sometimes disposition of case.
Entries are arranged roughly by date of admittance.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 248). 1 in.
Register of Patients in Institute Hospital.
1862-63. 1 vol.
Shows patient's name, rank, organization, and
complaint and remarks (usually disposition of case). Entries through 1862
are arranged by State to which the organization belonged and thereafter
alphabetically by initial letter of patient's name. The volume also contains
a list of deaths.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vols. 178, 240). 2 in.
Registers of Officers Treated, General Hospital No. 4. 1863-64. 2 vols.
Show officer's name, rank, and organization; date admitted; ward;
complaint; disposition of case; and remarks. Entries are arranged by
date of admittance. Volume 178 also contains some statistical reports
relating to patients, attendants, and diseases; volume 240 is incomplete
and is duplicated by volume 178.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 386). 1 in.
Morning Reports of Patients and Attendants, General Hospital No. 4. 1865. 1
vol. Daily reports showing the number of patients in hospital, in
private quarters, received, returned to duty, transferred, furloughed,
deserted, died, and remaining in hospital; the number of medical officers,
stewards, detailed and hired men, cooks, laundresses, matrons, wardmasters,
and guards present for duty; and remarks. Arranged chronologically and
thereunder by State.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 384). 1/2 in.
Record of Accounts with Officer Patients, General Hospital No. 4. 1864. 1
vol. Shows officer's name, a date, and a sum of money. Arranged by
ward and thereunder numerically. The names are those entered in register
volume 178 (described 2 entries above); the money indicated apparently
relates to board due or paid.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 385). 1 in.
Account Book, General Hospital No. 4. 1863-64. 1 vol.
The first half
of this volume contains accounts with officers for board, similar to entries
in volume 384 (preceding entry); and the second half contains weekly
accounts of provisions purchased by the hospital, showing the amount brought
forward, the articles purchased, and the quantity and cost. The weekly
accounts are arranged chronologically.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 119). 2 in.
Prescription Book, General Hospital No. 4. 1863. 1 vol.
Shows
patient's name, date, and medicine to be given. Usually only the surnames
are shown, and the volume is incomplete. Entries are arranged
chronologically.
Record Group 109,
(ch. VI, vol. 181). 2 in.
Record Book, General Hospital No. 4. 1863-64. 1 vol.Contains a
register of officer patients, arranged by State; a register of aides-de-camp
and battery commanders who were patients; a list of hospital attendants; a
monthly record of surgical cases; copies of a few letters received and sent;
reports of examining boards on attendants; statistical reports of sick and
wounded; and lists of deaths. The contents of the volume are arranged as
described.
