Where Mercy Dwelt

The Old Clopton Hospital on Franklin Street
and the War-Time Angel Who Directed It
Recalled in Newly Found Letters
from Grateful Confederate Families

By Charlotte Clopton de Vany

During the bloody summer of 1862 the Clopton Hospital near the northwest corner of Fourth and Franklin Streets was opened on May 28 as an emergency unit by Captain Isaul Warner. Two hundred and eighty men were brought from Ashland on May 31 by order of General Winder, according to old records now in possession of the Clopton Descendants. All were retained with the exception of 12.

This hospital was opened exclusively for wounded officers of the Confederate Army and was established by the patriotic philanthropy of the widow of Judge John Bacon Clopton, who was Maria Gatesgill Foster of England. It was located between Third and Fourth Streets in Mrs. Clopton's home in the center then of the most fashionable neighborhood. The beauties and belles of the Confederate capital, many of them refugees from Maryland, flocked to it and tenderly administered to the suffering and wounded.

Among the volunteers was the brilliant Constance Cary who later was won by President Davis' private secretary. In a magazine article she alluded to her experiences and told how when the wounded were taken to the receiving hospital downtown the soldiers would beg to be taken to the Clopton Hospital, for the fame of the practice of the surgeon in charge, Dr. Henry Augustus Tatum of Richmond, Va., was widespread. His assistant was young Dr. Patterson. The reputation he gained was that he saved the limbs which others would have amputated as a quicker method of healing. This reputation he gained the previous year in his practice at the Warm Springs Hospital.

The officers were as soon as practicable, transferred to the roomy cool and clean old house and carefully restored to health. Among those was a young officer, the nephew of Dr. Tatum whose right arm was shattered between the shoulder and elbow; it had gone forth that it must come off. He implored to be taken to his uncle's hospital to be treated. This was done and the piece of shattered bone were reunited as in nature and healed beautifully and in good time the gallant youth was on his horse, a volunteer on Stuart's staff. This indomitable spirit was Charles Augustus Boyd, son of James Magruder Boyd, of the well known firm of Boyd, Edmonds and Davenport.

Mother Writes Gratitude for Son's Care

The distinguished woman superintendent defatigable in zeal and patience and had with her many other women associates who acquired skill and tact in dressing wounds and in hospital management. Their presence alone was able to produce order, courtesy and discipline and to do away with sentinels and the necessity for rules and regulations. These facts are gleaned from a letter dated October 6, 1862, to the medical director, E. S. Gillard, and was signed, "your obedient servant, W. M. Carrington, surgeon and inspector of hospitals."

A letter also to Mrs. Clopton from Elizabeth Randle of Mt. Lebanon, dated September 26, 1862, thanked her for her tender treatment to a stranger and said it fell gratefully on a mother's heart as it did on the services of the poor, sick soldier who was Walter Randle. She also stated she wished to send a barrel of sugar but "the Yankees watch the Mississippi River so closely it would be a very uncertain venture. My husband Captain Randle, is over on the river with a company of Partisan Rangers guarding the country from the Yankee raids which have been numerous and destructive since the fleet came down." There are many other letters expressing gratitude for the care and treatment rendered by the hospital.

On the register there are the names of the patients with the diagnosis and treatment. For instance there are listed: "W. H. Claudice, Ward I -- Blister over chest 8X8 -- stay on six hours and count beat -- quick -- continue treatment; J. L. Murdock, Rheumatism -- Croton Oil Liniment oz. IV; J. B. McClelland, Company H 7th, N. C., admitted August 25, 1862, -- Remit. Fever; John H. Robertson, St. Paul's Batallion, Co. C -- wounded through the ankle by a minnie ball; and William H. Beverly, 33 N. C. Reg. Co. B -- Debility."

Congress Complimented Record of Hospital

During this period there was a communication from Mrs. Jeff Davis to Mrs. Clopton, the latter having called and finding Mrs. Davis out, received a letter from her regretting she did not see her. In this letter Mrs. Davis speaks of Lytleton who was at that time serving as butler for Mrs. Davis but who belonged to Mrs. Clopton. After the war he, Lytleton Davis, went to Washington and was in the Government service.

The Clopton Hospital was publicly complimented by Congress for having the smallest percentage of deaths in comparison with all the others. In the fall of that year the surgeon in charge, being overworked, was stricken while on duty at his post and in 10 days his useful career had ended and not many days after his death the doors of the hospital were closed.