The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-08-28
MISS SALLY
|. TOMPKINS
She Was Commissioned a Captain
in Confederate Army.
ESTABLISHED SOLDIERS HOSPITAL
Maintained il From Her Private Means Is Now
Inmate OF Home for Confederate Women
Seventy Three, We'll Preserved andHappy

counties. i- AN inmate of the Home for
Needy Confederate Women in Richmond,
where she will likely spend remainder
oi her days ia ease and comfort. Miss
Tompkins has a history. She is the
only woman who received a commission
from the president of the conirdcracy
That commission she has 10 this day
IL is signed by President Davis and SEQ
rctnry- -oi War Leroy + Walker
Miss TOmpkins was twcntY-srven
years old when the war between the
States was declared. She was living in
Richmond. and when a relative was
wounded while ont hunting she yolun-
tecrrd tu nurse him She made an excel
lont nurse That WAS the year preceding
the war Miss Iompkins had consiiera-
hle means. and when the first shock OF
the war came she saw that the hospitals
were crowded. that medicines and equip
ment were Inadequate. She said she
would establish "a hospital in Richmond
for the care of soldiers She equipped
the place. and the doors were thrown
open 10 the soldiers Judge John
Robertson. Of Richmond gave her the
FREE Use of his home
In l~G2 President Davis ordered all tie
private hospitals 20 Boz closed aud the
officers in charge were to 20 to the soy
eral field hospitals under thn control oi
the army. Miss Tompkins. however,
was not to hr outdonr. The claim had
been made that soldiers Were 10th to re-
turn 10 service from the private ho~pi-
tails. \ record was kept of the men who
came 10 Miss Tompkin-. and II showed
that ~ last ~ the men recovered they
were sent 90 the front The hospital
was not costing the cuniederacy Apenny
Miss Tompkin- paying every cent oi cN-
lensc and using her family servants to
care for the patients Among these were
Two colnrcd Wompu-Brtsy Ashhy and
Betsy Curtis. whom Miss Tompkin~ de-
clare- Wen. the most unseIii-h and deyot-
ed women -h. ever saw They remained
with her 20 the last
After CONFERENCE with Miss Tompkins.
President Davis said that be- could not
close the hospital. but that the only way
IN which 10 could Boz kept open was to
place some officer in command. The
friends Of Miss Tompkins demurred. 81
President Davis announced that be-
would make Miss Tompkins a captain of
cavalry. unassigned. so that she could
retain charg, OF the hospital which she
had established and in which she took so
much pride. When Miss Tompkins ac-
cepted the commission it was with the
understanding that the pas for her rank
was to remain IN the treasury, 10 be used
ior the prosecution OF the war, and she
never received penny for her four years
~ service.
During the war Miss Tompkins treated
800 soldiers They came from all over
the South. and thousands of men in the
service of the confederacy came 10 know
and 10 love her. She was kind and atten-
tive and would spend hours IN writing
letters home for the sick and injured and
in reading letters received 10y the men. She
was never too tired. the weather never
too warm or too cold for her To answer
any summons from the menin the hOsplt-
al. II was her one care. She was intensely
loval. and j. today rs devoted To the
South aud Virginia a. though the victO-
ry had come 20 the South
Miss TOmpkins was born IN 1888 III
the county OF Mathews and in thecOurt-
house there hangs on the walls picture
OF her. taken many years ago That L.
the only picture she has ever had taken.
She has scores OF relatives and friends.
She is now seventy-three years old, and
is well preserved She has grown bit
stout. her hair is sprinkled with
gray. Her face j. kindly and her voice
is that low. sweet and wel-mOdulated
voice Of the educated, refined and delicate
woman OF the South She is modest,
rarely talking OF her work, except to in
timate friends. She il connected with
the best families of the State. She now
has little Of the worlds goods, iscontent
that she made the sacrifice for her people
and never complains that she lost. Her
home is as comfortable rs one cares To
have. She has servants to wait on her.
an elegant room, located in the heart
OF the fashionable section, and her room
is daily visited by scores of people who
come To inquire aifectionately after her.
The men OF the coniederacy affection
ately call her Cousin Sally and she is
idOlized by those who knew her during
the memorable struggle She is content
I'd and happy, and will remain at the
home as long as she likes, go when she
peases and come when she pleases. But
she will not have her picture taken for
h, 10