Campbell General Hospital facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Campbell General Hospital
Part of military hospitals in the United States
Washington, D.C.
General view of the hospital
Campbell General Hospital
Coordinates	38°55′00″N 77°01′21″W / 38.916748°N 77.022436°W / 38.916748; -77.022436
Site information
Controlled by	Union Army
Site history
Built	1862
In use	1862–1865
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Campbell General Hospital was a very important hospital during the American Civil War. It was built for the Union Army. The hospital helped many soldiers who were injured or sick. It operated in Washington, D.C. from September 1862 until July 1865.

Where Was It Located?

The hospital was located in the northwest part of Washington, D.C.. It was on a street called Boundary Street NW. Today, this street is known as Florida Avenue NW. It was situated between 5th Street NW and 6th Street NW.

History of Campbell Hospital

General view of the Campbell Hospital during the Civil War

Campbell General Hospital first opened its doors in September 1862. However, it started receiving most of its patients a few months later, in December 1862.

The hospital was quite large for its time. It was built to hold about 900 beds for patients. By December 1864, around 633 of these beds were being used by soldiers.

A Special Hospital Feature

Campbell Hospital was similar to other hospitals of its time. But it had one very unique feature: a theater! This theater offered nightly entertainment for the patients. It was a way to help the soldiers feel better and lift their spirits.

This theater almost became a very famous place in history. On March 17, 1865, John Wilkes Booth planned to harm President Lincoln. Booth heard that President Lincoln would be at Campbell Hospital. He was supposed to watch a play called Still Waters Run Deep.

Booth quickly set up a plan to ambush the President. But when a carriage arrived, it was not President Lincoln inside. It might have been Salmon P. Chase, who was a very important judge. President Lincoln's plans had changed that day. He was meeting with soldiers from Indiana instead. Because of this, the plan to harm President Lincoln was delayed. It happened later, on April 14, 1865, at Ford's Theatre.

Freedman's Hospital Connection

In 1862, another place called Camp Barker was set up nearby. It was created by the War Department. In 1863, Camp Barker was renamed the Freedmen's Hospital. This hospital helped formerly enslaved people.

In January 1865, Freedmen's Hospital moved to the Campbell General Hospital site. The original one-story building of Freedmen's Hospital was taken down. Later that year, Freedmen's Hospital became part of the Freedmen's Bureau. Freedmen's General Hospital had 72 beds, and they were all full in 1864.

Campbell General Hospital was reported to be empty by July 1865. This was shortly after the Civil War ended.

Images for kids

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  The Garden at Campbell Hospital, a place for patients to relax.

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  A plan showing the layout of Campbell General Hospital.