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Affidavit of H Clinton Thompson MD respecting the condition of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum at Williamsburg Va during the time he was placed in charge of it by command of Maj Genl George B. McClelland commander and chief of the Army of the Potomac.
On or about the 17th of May 18 1862 I was commanded
by Gen Geo. B. McClelland to proceed to Williamsburg Virginia and take charge of the Eastern Lunatic Asy lum and supply the wants of its inmates by obtaining supplies from the Military Governor Col David Campbell then stationed at that place. Medical Director Surgeon Chas. T. Tripler communicated the order to me and im pressed my mind with the importance of dispatch in executing the command, as the patients in the Asylum were suffering for want of suitable food. I received the order at what was known as the Whitehouse landing Va, and making all possable haste, I arrived on the next day at Williamsburg. And was introduced to the As ylum by Gov Campbell, and assumed the charge of its affairs in accordance with my Generals command. On examining the condition of the asylum I found that the building bore unmistakable signs of the presence of war in the country. The leaden pipes sewerage of the buildings had been dug up and removed to Richmond Va. as I was informed for military purposes. The destruction of the sewerage caused basement floors to be flooded by every heavy rain, thereby rendering the condition of the patients occupying this part of the house truly pitable. All the departments of the spacious building wore signal marks of neglect, and I suppose could not have been prevented owing to the condition of the Country. Many of the inmates complained bitterly of suffering from insufficiency of suitable clothing & proper diet. There was no materials on hand in the Store out of which the Attendants could properly cloth them the pro visions, such as were on hand were almost exhausted, the Attending Clerk Mr. Douglass informed me that he had been unable for sometime past to procure assistance from Richmond that he had tried to obtain meat from the farmers but the rigid discipline of the Federal Army would not permit him to pass the lines. The was a small lot of bacon and lard but deemed so trifling in amount that the Clerk thought the labor of weighing it unnecessary, when he made out a list of articles to be placed under my care. This was quite exhausted by the time Doctor Watson brought me a lot of Bacon from Baltimore. The beding of the establishment was very limited, many of the beds being entirely without sheets. I was surprised at the general destitution of this ancient institution which had so long been the [?] of the historian and the philanthropist and had since the days of the Revolution reflected honor and credit on the citizens of Virginia. The ex planation given me by some of the citzens of the place was that the provisions had been ample but they had been consumed by the Rebel Army which had been stationed at Williamsburg that the cloths had been carried away by them, and the sheets & Linens had been manufactured into bandages for the use of the So. Army. I had been instructed by my superior officers to place none but good Union people over the business of the institution. Accordingly I called to my aid Henry M Bowden and Mrs Henryetta Bowden his wife. This gentleman and lady had been officers of the institution for some considerable time, I was informed, before the war, and were well acquainted with the [?] of managing the institution, and they appeared to be the only loyal and suitable persons for the positions I could pro cure in the Town. I appointed Mrs. Bowden matron and Mr. Henry M Bowden Store Keeper and Steward of the Asylum. This gentleman and his lady devoted themselves entirely to the duties of their Offices and to their rigid economy in administering the affairs of this institution and their liberality in furnishing their own means to support it. The State of Virginia owes them a debt of lasting gratitude. Mr. Bowden had when I took charge of the Asylum three servants regularly hired [to?] to institution, and on finding a scarcity of servants I requested him to furnish two more, which he immediately did, under the direction of orders from headquarters, to me directed, the military General of Williamsburg. Cl David Campbell supplied the wants of the institution many of the servants employed had determined to leave but consented to remain under assurance given by me that the Federal Government would become their paymaster. After having put with Gov Campbell's and Mr Bowden's assistance, the institution in as good condition as circumstan ces would permit I forwarded to Surgeon Chas S Tripler Med Director of the AP a statement of the condition of the Asylum, the destitution of the patients in the articles of clothing and asked if I should make a requisition on the Government for supply. He answered that the Government of the US could not furnish clothing for the insane of the State of Virginia that as soon as possible I should make out a general statement of the condition of the Asylum to the Gov of Western Virginia and request him to send a competent person to take charge of it and that he would make such arrangements for clothing and feeding the inmates as would relieve the Government and restore me to the ranks of the Army. These orders of Surgeon Tripler I obeyed and sent to the Governor of Western Virginia, the statement as directed. After a few weeks the Gov sent me Doctor Gillet F. Watson a most excellent and suitable gentleman, to take charge of and superintend the asy lum and to assume all the liabilities incurred by the General Government in support of its inmates. The Doctors arrival was most opportune. In the few weeks I had been acting superin tendant, the little stock of Bacon had become quite exhausted and the garments of many of the patients were worn out. Doctor Watson brought on from Baltimore a supply of Bacon, Groceries and Dry Goods. In accordance with my instructions I handed over to him the instruction and such liabilities as had been contracted for the support of the Asylum. I remained in the asylum for several days assisting Doctor Watson and it afforded me very great pleasure, here, under the extremities of an oath, to state that Superintendant Watson and Mr & Mrs Bowden the matron and Store Keeper devoted themselves to the most strict system of management in the affairs of the asylum. And appeared during my stay to do all that could be done for the comfort and happiness of the unfortunate inmates. I found it necessary to place some of the inmates to board with Mr. Bowdens family one of them remained boarding with him during my stay. This appeared a necessary step in her treatment in order that her health might be completely restored. Mr Bowden cheerfully complied with all my directions furnishing his table out of his purse with the most substantial food. About the 7th of July 1862 I was compelled to leave on account of ill health. All of this statement is most respectfully submitted for the benefit of all concerned and is due to the parties who had charge of the Asylum at Williamsburg Va during the above stated period.
The state of Indana Marion County
W Clinton Thompson being duly sworn on his oath
say that the matters & things set forth in the foregoing statement are true in substance and in fact.
W Clinton Thompson
Subscribed and sworn as before me this 3rd day of March 1866
Charles Fisher JP (seal)
State of Indianna
Marion County SSi
I William C Smock Clerk of the
Circuit Court within and for the County of Marion aforesaid do hereby certify that Charles Fisher Esq whose certificate of acknowledgment appears to the Instrument of writing to which this is attached was on the date and at the time of making such certif- icate, to wit the Third day of March 1866 an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County of Marion duly elected, commission [?] and qualified and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his official acts and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
(Marion County Seal) In Witness of which, I hereunto affix the seal of said Court and subscribe my name at Indianapolis this 3rd day of March AD 1866
William C. Smock Clerk
Norfolk, Virginia March 31st 1866 I certify the [?] is a true copy of the original [D W Fodd?] JP
