Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-05-27

W SOHu SIO
At the beginning Of the Civil
War the first hospital the Gov
eminent had use for in Washing
ton was the City Infirmary, which
stood in Judiciary Square, on the
north side of E street between
Fourth and Fifth streets. It was
to this hospital that the soldiers
of the 9Th Massachusetts, Regi-
ment were taken upon their ar
rival in Washington after being
wounded, when passing through
Baltimore. on April 10, 1861, tne
anniversary of Lexington and Con-
cord.
On November 3, a few months
later, this hospital was destroyed
by fire and not rebuilt.
Another hospital in Judiciary
Square was the Fifth Street Hos
pital, which was pressed into serv-
ice after the burning of the in
Urinary. This building, which had
been used as a school. proved un-
satisfactory for the purpose and
was abandoned on the opening
of the Douglas Hospital in JAN
uary, 1862.
Wounded in the Capitol
The first Battle Of Bull Run.
July 81. 1861, and the early Skir-
mishes around Washington made
lit necessary to provide hospitals
for the wounded soldiers of the
Army. Naturally, all possible
speed was used in this direction,
but so imperative became the
situation during the latter part Of
1862, that even the United States
Capitol was used for this purpose
from September to November.
1862, until other accommodations
could be secured.
It is interesting at this late day
to follow up the old temporary
hospital buildings, some Of which
are still standing and rendering
good service to the city. though,
Of course, in other ways. In all
there were, during the four years
Of the war, about 43 military hos
pitfalls in the city and about seven
in Georgetown, including the one
opened in the Georgetown College
Building, which was used from
September, 1862, to February J.,
1865. Another Catholic building
which was taken over for a brief
time was Trinity Church at the
corner of what was then Lingan
and Second streets.
| st. Aloysius Church at North
Capitol and I streets, through the
exigencieS Of the war, was also
demanded for the accommodation
of the sick and wounded, but
Father Mcguire and the congre-
CATION begged the privilege OF
lerecting a special building for the
purpose, which, when completed,
was turned over to the Govern
Iment.
Churches Became Hospitals
Numerous churches Of other
denominations were taken over
and used through dire necessity
Ascension Hospital consisted OF
three churches: Church Of the
Ascension, on H street between
Ninth and Tenth streets NV.
where the Rev. William Pink
ney, was pastor; the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, on Ninth
street between G and H streets
and the Methodist Episcopal
South, on Eighth street between
H and I streets, now the site OF
1.-THE Jewish synagogue.
Epiphany Hospital included the
present Episcopal Church on g
street between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets, by that name,
land the First Baptist Church,
which then stood on Thirteenth
street between G and H streets,
where now stands the telephone
office.
Other churches pressed into
service were: Ebenezer. on Fourth
street between E and G streets
Sc; Grace Episcopal Church
Ion D street South between
Eighth and Ninth streets. which
was opened in 1862 and closed in
January. 1868. Ryland Chapel
also on the island, and still stand
ling, was turned over to the Gov
eminent by Pastor j. c. Coombs
in July, 1862, and was not usec
again for religious purposes unit
January of the following year.
Private Homes
Trinity Episcopal Church a
Third and C streets NV, ant
Union Chapel M. E. Church o,
Twentieth street near Pennsyl
vania avenue were also used al
hospitals during early days of tn
Civil War.
When pressed for accommoda'