Portsmouth Naval Hospital Marker

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Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Administering to Both the Union and Confederacy

Portsmouth Naval Hospital Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009

1. Portsmouth Naval Hospital Marker

Inscription. This is the site of the Portsmouth Naval Hospital which served both the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. The Portsmouth Naval Hospital, the U.S. Navy’s first hospital, was founded in 1827 by Secretary of the Navy Samuel L. Southard. Architect John Haviland created Building No. One’s impressive Greek Revival design which features an embellished Doric portico of 10 columns. The facility opened in 1830. The hospital was built on the site of the Fort Nelson of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 era, which was a fortification made obsolete by the construction of Fortress Monroe across Hampton Roads on Old Point Comfort. Materials salvaged from the fort’s demolition were used in the construction of the hospital building.

When Virginia left the Union the hospital was used by the Confederacy until Portsmouth was abandoned by Southern forces on May 10, 1862. The Union maintained the hospital through out the remainder of the War supporting the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

In the hospital grave yard is a memorial to the 337 dead of USS Cumberland and USS Congress killed when these vessels were sunk on March 8, 1862, by the CSS Virginia. Fifty-eight Confederates are also buried there.

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Marker series. This marker is included in the

By Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009

2. Portsmouth Naval Hospital Marker

Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.

Location. 36° 50.419′ N, 76° 17.952′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. Marker is on Crawford Parkway 0.1 miles east of Court Street, on the right when traveling west. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Elizabeth River (here, next to this marker); Arnold's British Defenses, 1781 (here, next to this marker); Crawford Bay (about 400 feet away, in a direct line); Craney Island (about 600 feet away); Cornwallis at Portsmouth (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Arnold's British Defenses, 1781 (about 700 feet away); Olde Towne Portsmouth (about 700 feet away); Spanish-American War 1898-1902 (about 700 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Portsmouth.

More about this marker. On the left is a photo of Building Number One. On the right is a painting captioned, "The Sinking of the 'Cumberland' by the Iron Clad 'Merrimac,' off Newport News, VA March 8, 1862." Sketched by F. Newman.

Credits. This page originally submitted on July 24, 2009, by Scott Rollins of Virginia Beach, Virginia. This page has been viewed 257 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. Submitted on July 24, 2009, by Scott Rollins of Virginia Beach, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.