To care for both the sick and the wounded, regiments established hospitals (or combined with other regiments to form brigade or division hospitals). These hospitals were usually run by the regimental surgeon and his assistants. While campaigning, these hospitals were usually set up in any building available near the battlefields, usually farm houses or barns. If no buildings were available, open air tents would be used. While the surgeons and assistant surgeons were medical doctors, other hospital staff did not have any medical training. Nursing was in its infancy, relying on male nurses who had no medical experience. Other hospital staff such as ambulance drivers and cooks were regular soldiers assigned to hospital duty.

In the Civil War, two soldiers died of disease for every one killed in battle. Scurvy, dysentery, typhoid, diphtheria, and pneumonia were common. Farm boys, crowded together in camps with other men for the first time in their lives, were especially susceptible to every sort of ailment. There were epidemics of measles, mumps, and other childhood diseases. Hospitals were a dangerous place due to these diseases even for healthy men working there. A Union soldier said "If a fellow has to go to the hospital, you might as well say good-bye to him."

Amputation was the primary surgical method of the time. Eight out of ten amputees did not survive their operations. They usually died of shock or of infection. Chloroform or ether were used as anesthetics but there was no attempt at maintaining sterile conditions. Wounds routinely became infected. Surgeons would wipe their scalpels and saws off on their aprons between surgeries. Wiping down operating tables or using saw dust on the floors was an attempt to absorb blood to keep things from being slippery rather than an attempt at cleanliness. The idea of germs spreading in an un-sterile environment was unknown. Antibiotics to fight infection did not exist.

Civil War Field Hospital

Civil War Field Hospital

Medical knowledge at that time was only beginning to understand the role nutrition that plays in proper health care. The need for fresh vegetables to help prevent scurvy was known, but fresh food was rarely available. Patients in the hospitals were fed the same food as other troops.

Wounded Soldiers in Fredericksburg Virginia 1864

Descriptions of three hospitals where Sol Franklin appeared in the roll. 

Howard's Grove Hospital  - Richmond Virginia

The Grove was originally a popular Richmond picnic-recreation area. It was taken over by the Confederacy at the outbreak of the War as a drill and bivouac point for the first incoming troops to arrive in Richmond. Converted into a hospital area by the construction of buildings for ward and utility purposes and opened in June 1862. Occupied area now confined by the City streets fo Mechanicsville Turnpike in the east, Coalter street in the west, Redd Street on the north, and Q Street (extended) on the south; and having an extension east of Mechanicsville Turnpike to 19^th Street with T Street on the north and Fairmount Avenue on the south. An annex was located between 21^st and 23^rd Streets, T Street, and the ally south of Fairmount Avenue. Having a capacity of 659 in December of 1862. It was quickly expanded to over 1800. Employees averaged 85. A portion was set aside for the isolation of smallpox cases, both military and local civilians. It had its own laundry, bakery, storehouses, water supply, recreational facilities. Total of 62 buildings. Partially subsidized by the City of Richmond. Surgeons-in-chief (in order of their service): Dr. James Bolton, Dr. T. P. Temple, Dr. P. M. Palmer. Continued as Union Small pox Hospital after the City’s occupation. Named for the family (Howard) that originally owned the property.

Wayside Hospital General Hospital #12

Also called: Banner Hospital, Grant Hospital, Wayside Hospital. Formerly tobacco factory of William H. Grant. Designed by Samuel Freeman and built in 1853. Opened 2 December 1861. Libby Prison Hospital attached to its operation. Designated as Wayside Hospital for men on furlough or honorable discharge on 6 August 1863. Used as barracks by Federal occupation forces. Capacity over 250. Location: northeast corner of 19^th and Franklin Streets.

Wayside Hospital Number 9 in Richmond Virginia

Chimborazo Hospital

An extremely large hospital facility constructed after the outbreak of was and first opened 17 October 1861. It was on land bound by the present streets of Clay on the north, 30^th on the west, 34^th on the east, and the bottom of the hill on the south. The Richmond National Battlefield Park building stands in about the middle of the old hospital grounds. Named for the hill on which it was located which was named after Mount Chimborazo in Equador. One of the largest of all military hospitals up to its time. Normal occupancy was about 3,000. It had about 120 buildings in all. Those for patients were divided into five divisions. It had its own ice house, soup house, bakery, soap factory, etc., operated its own farms, beef and goat herds, canal trading boat. Divisions were designated for Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Maryland, at the beginning, but names varied at different periods. Medical staff about 45. Had natural springs. It claimed to have handled 17,000 wounded cases. Dr. James B. McCaw, surgeon-in-chief. Operated by Federal occupation forces for several weeks.