From the Eleanor S. Brockenbrough 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. Jackson 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 until since 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.

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