Sally Louisa Tompkins Becomes the Only Woman Officer in the Confederate Army

On this day in history: September 9, 1861

Photo byPublic Domain

On September 9, 1861, Sally Louisa Tompkins became the only woman commissioned as an officer in the Confederate Army. She earned the rank of captain. Born in Virginia, Tompkins opened Robertson Hospital in Richmond at the onset of the Civil War. (“Robertson Hospital Register | Virginia Commonwealth University-VCU.edu”)

Using her own wealth, she provided medical care for wounded Confederate soldiers. Known for its high survival rate, her hospital treated over 1,300 soldiers with only 73 deaths. (“Captain Sally Tompkins | Proquest.com”)

When the Confederate government ordered the closure of private hospitals in 1861, President Jefferson Davis personally intervened. To keep Robertson Hospital open, Tompkins was commissioned as a captain in the Confederate cavalry. It allowed her to continue running the facility under military jurisdiction. (“Sally Louisa Tompkins: Nurse, Philanthropist, Captain | Emergingcivilwar.com”)

Her commissioning remains a unique moment in Civil War history, highlighting the significant yet often overlooked role women played in the conflict.