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This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon. C. G.

                     March 30, 1957

Dr. Clifford B. Farr Pennsylvania Hospital 111 North 49th Street Philadelphia 39, Pennsylvania

Dear Dr. Farr:

Your March 26th letter is being forwarded to Dr. Jones who is now serving as superintendent of the Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock. We know he will enjoy reading of your stimulating exhibit.

We are not sure, from the filed correspondence, that you received the data which Mrs. Meta Newman found in the Calendar of State Papers (Virginia).

The first reference to G. F. Watson appears in Section 11 C, page 376, in a letter dated May 31, 1862 from G. F. Watson to the Governor. This mentions that "the Lunatic Asylum is put in charge of military surgeons."

Then a letter dated June 5, 1862 to F. W. Pierpont, Esq., Governor of Virginia, mentions that "Dr. W. Clinton Thompson resigned and placed the institution in the hands of Dr. Watson." This letter mentions the names of all employees who took oath of office to the United States Government and those who would not. Those refusing to take the oath, the letter states, were dismissed.

Than a letter dated June 9, 1862 from G. F. Watson to Governor Pierpont states that "One Physician was furnished by General McClellan . . . found no clothing no medicines or provisions of any consequences...Now purchasing such articles as the asylum cannot do without." The letter states that $60,000 was spent as the operating budget during the previous year and that he (Dr. Watson) thinks he could operate the hospital for $40,000 a year.

(You will remember that the letter you sent us was dated June 17, 1862. In it Dr. Gillet F. Watson addressed Dr. Nickels asking for assistance in securing an experienced assistant saying "The salary is good." Evidently Dr. Nickels sent this on to Dr. Kirkbride.)

The next letter in the Calendar of Papers (11 C. page 393) dated Sptember 28, '62 from Dr. Watson was written from Drummondtown to Governor Pierpont: "I see by the late proclamation of the President he offers no compensation to the few loyal amongst us . . . I am happy to report that the secessionists are baying their rights dealt to them in a proper manner...Judge Bowden is with me. Direct your letter to Hotel Willard, Washington, D.C."

• Gillet F. Watson is reported as graduating from Jefferson Medical College in 1841 in American Medical Intelligencer, new series, 1842, v 1, pp 195-196, 224

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Dr. Clifford B. Farr Pennsylvania Hospital 111 North 49th Street Philadelphia 39, Pennsylvania

The next entry bearing upon the hospital in the Calendar of State Papers (11C, page 228) records a letter from Talbot Sweeney, "deposed but rightful attorney of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum dated October 24, 1862. He states that the patients "suffer from want of clothing and attention of every kind" as "the physician having been absent on a visit to Philadelphia and have no proper substitute left in his place." He continues, "Many servants have left and those remaining are under no restraint and are indifferent to the patients."

In a subsequent paragraph Attorney Sweeney says: "Those unworthy men who affiliated with the enemy and who were inaugurated here and partook so freely of the sacred ceremonies of Lincoln and Pierpoint authorities did more plundering by far than service and at the imaginary tread of danger buckled on their armors and in choice language of the Yankee nation "did everlastingly skedaddle."

Mr. Sweeney goes on to state: "Your officers stood to their posts and met the enemy with untrambling neutrality. Col. Campbell invited old officers to return to their posts

                March 30, 1957
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without the condition of hateful parole or oath. The steward and matron in obedience to the institution's need accepted. Mr. Sweeney then asks the Governor for funds to compensate those at their posts.

Much the same story is told by W.R.C. Douglas, Steward, who in the investigation which was held later testified that he served as steward from January 1861 to June 1862 and resumed his position in August 1862 and held it until April 1863. In a letter to the Governor dated November 1, 1862 (See Calendar State Papers, Section 11C, p.236) he says:

"During the superintendancy of Dr. Watson I held no official connection with the institution...When he and his official corps skedadled, I returned to my duties at the request of Col. Campbell, then the military governor of this post. On my return the institution stripped of everything like provisions ad goods from the store had also been carried off."

"Through the instrumentality of the U.S. Govt. I succeeded in securing, after some trouble, an abundant supply of provisions and have been promised goods for the winter- clothing for the patients, etc. In these particulars we are beyond want but there are still needs of an immediate and pressing character - on is fuel, the other servants...All hirelings have left or will leave by Xmas holiday. White servants cannot be procured and it will be impossible, I suspect, to hire Negroes."

Mr. Sweeney's letter, cited above, is less favorable. He explains that "it may be necessary to have the patients taken north and the buildings used for barracks.

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...We certainly have little to hope for from the 5th Pennsylvania Calvary now in possession of this place." Further prejudice is evidenced in his comment that this unit is "so corrupt is smells to heaven."

In the same letter Mr. Sweeney states that the treasurer, Mr. Powell, has no funds, and the president, Mr. Saunders, is away in Pittsylvania. Under these circumstances he suggests that the Governor place funds in his hands to pay the "officers of the institution." who have been without salaries for half a year. He closed by telling the Governor to avoid referring to this letter in subsequent communications and send his answer to Mr. Sweeney through Mr. Wm. L. Spencer, James City County, Centerville Road.

The full explanation appears in the report of a subsequent investigation, dated July 16th, 1866 which occupied many printed pages in Section 11C, Calendar of State Papers beginning with page 473.

Dr. P.M. Thompson, for example, in his deposition as a witness reports that there were 330 patients in the hospital in 1860 with an annual appropriation of $45,000 and when the group withdrew in June, 1862, there was a balance of $24,331.73 in the treasury.

Robert Saunders, president, who had been living in Pittsylvania, testified that the number of patients in residence had dropped to 180 and had urged that officers near the scene take over the hospital's operation.

Thomas Lindsay testified that Judge Bowden had chartered a vessel in August, 1862 to carry of hospital supplies from College Landing.

Somersett Moore, another witness states that Mr. Bacon's little sloop took supplies to Norfolk.

Mr. Bacon called to testify, said that he was ordered by Lemuel G. Bowden, President of the Board of Directors, to take Bowden's household furniture and supplies on board while Dr. G. F. Watson was superintendent and doctor in charge.

Other witnesses said that many employees had left the institution because Bowden required them to vote for him as a member of the House of Delegates. These witnesses said that employees voting for Smith, Boden's opponent, were dismissed from their positions.

Later witnesses testified that a Dr. Henley, who had taken over the superintendency, also seemed to have been engaged in threatening all employees with dismissal if they did not vote for Bowden.

So the investigation goes on for pages and pages.

                    March 30, 1957

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Dr. Clifford B. Farr Pennsylvania Hospital 111 North 49th Street Philadelphia 39, Pennsylvania

The only essential fact, which never found its way into such an investigation, was that on the morning when Federal troops occupied Williamsburg on May 6, 1862, Dr. John Minson Galt II who had been caring for the mental patients in this hospital for 20 years was refused admission to the grounds.

This outstanding man in his field, who was one of the founders of what is now the American Psychiatric Association, felt that his work was ended at the time that he was most able to serve. Twelve days later, May 18, 1862 he died of what was diagnosed as heart disease aggravated by the tensions arising out of his feeling of obligation toward the 300 patients left without a qualified doctor to care for them.

                       Very cordially yours,

                      JOSEPH E. BARRETT, M.D.

MPN/n Superintendent