General Hospital #20
Information about General Hospital #20 in Richmond, VA during the Civil War.

General Hospital #20 was also called Royster’s Hospital and First Alabama Hospital. It was formerly the tobacco factory of J. B. and A. L. Royster for Royster Brothers and Company.

The First Alabama Hospital was first located in Manchester, Virginia. After 1862 it was at 25th and Franklin Streets in Richmond and became General Hospital #20. It opened before June 1862. A report of June 4, 1862 lists 44 patients but the building had a very large capacity.

General Hospital #20 was located just south of Franklin Street on the east side of 25th Street.
From Confederate Military Hospitals in Richmond by Robert W. Wait, Jr., Official Publication #22 Richmond Civil War Centennial committee, Richmond, Virginia 1964.)

Written Accounts

1862-10-06, Library of Congress; reports on the capacities of Richmond Hospitals and empty beds
1862-10-07, Richmond Dispatch; death notice, R. N. Holstead, ex-Parker’s Battery, died 10/5, typhoid, age 22 yrs, 1 month, 2 days. Druggist at Royster Hospital at the time of his death. Funeral at Union Station Methodist Church
1862-10-16, Library of Congress; reports on the capacities of Richmond Hospitals, empty beds, and Patients in them
1862-11-01, Library of Congress; reports on the capacities of Richmond Hospitals, empty beds, and Patients in them
1862-12-13, Richmond Dispatch; very long list of Castle Thunder accessions, giving name, unit, offense. Includes man sent from GH#20 for bad conduct. 3 females there sent North yesterday
1862, Report of Hospital Committee; Congressional report describing the Richmond hospital system. Notes that State hospitals are superior to the Government ones. Describes the "Bird's Island Hospital" as "obnoxious,"
1863-02-13, Richmond Dispatch; C. C. Davis, GH#20, adv for substitute
1863-02-28, National Archives, V. W. Harrison CSR, M331; list of surgeons at GH#20
1863-05-08, Richmond Dispatch; ten negro nurses are needed at General Hospital #20
1863-05-08, Richmond Dispatch; V. M. Harrison, Surgeon in Charge, GH#20, 25th St betw. Main & Franklin, adv for 10 negro male nurses

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