Nashville Female Academy Hospital (Federal Hospital No. 14)

By Aloysius F. Plaisance and Leo F. Schelver, III

The Nashville Female Academy Hospital on Church Street was situated on a six-acre plot of land and was fairly well enclosed by a fence to keep out possible curiosity seekers. Some portions of the fence had been destroyed but this did not affect the grounds which included a lawn with several large shade trees. Porticos, corridors, and covered pavements furnished ample accommodations for exercise in all kinds of weather.

The Nashville Female Academy Hospital had 350 iron cots, well furnished with bedding and 191 patients. There were five surgeons in attendance at this hospital; Major Frederick Seymour was Surgeon-in-Charge. The yardmaster, steward, clerks and apothecary took care of all the other details. The nursing and care of the patients was superintended by ten Catholic Sisters of Charity from Cincinnati. Besides the Sisters, there were twenty-six male nurses, two white male servants, sixteen colored female servants, and twenty-six colored males.

Excerpted from: "Federal Military Hospitals in Nashville, May and June, 1863", The Journal of Civil War Medicine Vol. 12, No, 4.

IMAGE: Sketched by A.E. Matthews, member of the 31st Ohio Infantry. Besides being used as a hospital (No. 14), it was also used by the Provost Marshal and as a shelter for refugees.

Posted in: Civil War Hospitals