Olde Towne in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Portsmouth Naval Hospital
Administering to Both the Union and Confederacy
Photographed By Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009
1. Portsmouth Naval Hospital Marker
Inscription.
Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Administering to Both the Union and Confederacy. 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 18 12 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.
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.
Topics and series. This historical marker
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is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1680.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 36° 50.419′ N, 76° 17.952′ W. Marker was in Portsmouth, Virginia. It was in Olde Towne. Marker was on Crawford Parkway, 0.1 miles east of Court Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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
Photographed By Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009
2. Portsmouth Naval Hospital Marker
by F. Newman.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,159 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 24, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.