The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-26
ONLY WOMAN CAPTAIN
IN CONFEOERACY DIES
Miss Sally Louisa Tompkins Was
Given Commission Out of Regard
For Distinguished Service.
CARE FOR SOLDIER WOUNDED
Conducted Hospital In Richmond
During Entire Duration of War.
Funeral WIN BE Held This After
noon.

Funeral services for Captain Sally
Louisa Tompkins, the only woman
who ever received a commission as
aptain in the Confederate Cavalry
Will take place this afternoon at s
O'Clock at the Home for Needy Com
federate Women, East Grace Street.
Representatives from the Richmond
Blues, Howitzers, Lee Camp OF Con-
federate Veterans and Lee Chapter of
the Daughters of the Confederacy will
attend the funeral, and the military
representatives will escort the body
to the steamship. which will Leave the
Old Dominion Wharf at o'clock.
The burial will be in the old family
section in Mathews County A detail
of the Lee Camp. Confederate
veterans will accom- pany the body TO
Mathews, Captain Tompkins was an
honorary member of that organiZa-
ton. In the absence OF the Rev G.
Freeland Peter, of st. James Fpisco-
pal Church, the Rev. G. q. Chamber
layne Will conduct the services.
Captain Tompkins died yesterday
morning about p o'clock in. the home
for Needy Confederate Women, and
was about eighty-three years old. She
was born at Popular Grove. Mathews
County, November 8, 1893, and was
the daughter of Christopher and Mrs
Maria Patterson Tompkins Among
her nearest surviving relatives are DR.
Christopher Tompkins, who Is her
nephew. and Mrs. Ellen Tompkins
Wise, OF this city. and Miss Clemen-
tine Tompkins. Of New York. her
nieces. Her sisters Misses Elizabeth
and Marie Tompkins died many years
ago.
Her War Record.
Tlity~fp1rr
conducted the famous Robertson pri-
vate hospital at Third and Main
Streets, on the site of the home of
Judge John Robertson When an
order was issued closing all private
hospitals, she was commissioned cap
tain OF cavalry at the request of Presi-
dent Jefferson Davis. and allowed to
conduct her hospital until the close of
the war. The institution was main
tanned at her own expense while she
was in the service of the Confederacy.
Just after the war began Miss
Tompkins, with her mother and sis
ters, was boarding at the Arlington
House, About this time the Confed-
crate government being unable to
care for all OF the sick and wounded,
made call on the people To help in
the hospital work. Although board
ing, she felt r. was her duty to take
care Of at least one soldier, which
she did. Late Judge John Robert
son heard Of her Interest in the work.
and sent her message that hts fam
lily had gone 70 q farm TO remain un-
I'll the end OF the war, and that she
was welcome to his house ut the cor
ner OF Third and Main Streets. She
took her mothers old cook, and
opened the hospital ten days after
the first battle OF Manassas, closing
it on June IS, 1855.
Al the close Of the war Miss Temp
kins spent much of her time as the
guest OF the Lightfoots at Port
Royal and in visiting the home of
Colonel William II. Tayior's father
in Norfolk. For many years she was
a devout member OF st. James Epfs-
copal Church, Of this city. and in the
early part OF her life she spent much
OF her time In aiding the clergy.