https://www.historynet.com/the-last-patients.htm June 1865 - Photo originally owned by Chaplain James Tuttle Smith (6 July 1831–18 December 1910) Name with date on photo verso in period ink and tagged on back of mahogany frame)
Ladies Home - U.S. Army General Hospital was the first Civil War Hospital in NYC and managed by Dr. Alexander Brown Mott, surgeon (31 March 1826 - 12 August 1889)
Liberty Hook and Ladder No. 16 - (with horses) -- 136 East 50th street at Lexington. Liberty Hook and Ladder 16 was still a volunteer station when this photo was taken by Jeremiah and Benjamin Gurney (Gurney & Son). NYC fire fighters became full time employees in November of 1865.
Fire truck built by Charles E Hartshorn in 1862, drawn by horses. Liberty 16 name plate is held at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
Robert Gamble - New York Coroner and Fire Station Foreman - 1863 through October 1865.
A.J. BRADY, Foreman, corner of Fiftieth-street and Lexington-avenue. (NOV. 3, 1865) replaced Robert Gamble.
May 5, 1864 The New York Times -
The second anniversary of the reception of Sick and Wounded Soldiers in the above-named hospital, was held last evening at the hospital, corner Lexington-avenue and Fifty-first-street. "The room was neatly dressed, and very well filled, one-half with such of the soldiers, inmates of the hospital, as were able to attend, and the other half with ladies and gentlemen, friends and patrons of the institution. Hon. GEORGE OPDYKE presided. The exercises were opened by prayer by the Rev. Dr. MATTHEWS, after which Dr. VANDERPOOL read the reports of the Secretary, Miss BELLA MATTHEWS, and the Finance Committee, prepared by Mrs. EDWARD VANDERPOOL. The following is the report of the Finance Committee:
The Finance Committee deem it necessary in making their first report to state the origin of the enterprise. This hospital was obtained by some of the ladies (who still remain) from our worthy and patriotic Mayor, GEORGE OPDYKE, in April, 1862. On the 2d of May the inauguration took place; on the 4th the first soldiers were received. The board of ladies, seven in number, continued their work until the last of July. The hospital was sustained by the efforts of themselves and friends, until August, when an order was issued by Government requiring the control of all hospitals. By request of Dr. A.B. MOTT, the Surgeon in charge, a meeting was called, and the requirements of Government were made known to them. They demurred; and four of the seven withdrew, taking all the money and books with them, leaving the hospital in debt more than three thousand dollars, $2,850 was paid by Dr. MOTT, and the balance by the ladies who remained. The expenditures from the 28th July, 1862, until the 1st of May, 1863, were $2,071; from 1st of May, 1863, until 1st of May, 1864, $2,700; leaving a balance in the treasury of $1,520. The Committee return their heartfelt thanks to their friends and the public who have so generously aided and sustained them in their labor of love; and trust by a continuance of their efforts to retain the confidence which their friends have placed in them, by maxing them the almoners of their bounty. The liberal donations and sums of money have not, as we desired, been acknowledged through the press, our finances not warranting any such expenditures. Gratifying as it might have been to us, we believed we were acting more in accordance with the wishes of the donors by expending it for the comfort of the soldiers. We earnestly entreat a still further continuance of your generosity, and pledge ourselves to prove faithful to the trust. In retrospect, we are proud of our hospital -- of its management -- and sincerely do we thank Dr. MOTT for the facilities afforded us of doing good, and also his gentlemanly staff, whilst in the faithful performance of their arduous duties. The Committee, and Ladies of the Home, feel that they would be lacking in gratitude to Almighty God, did they not thus publicly acknowledge His kind, fatherly care and protection during the past two years, and would most gratefully acknowledge
"That hitherto the Lord hath helped us."
In behalf of the committee
Mrs. EDWARD VANDERPOEL (Ann Priscilla Barnes Vanderpoel).
GEORGE W. BUNGAY, Esq., then delivered a short but very excellent address, congratulating the soldiers on the comforts and advantages they here enjoyed, and the ladies on the success of their enterprise, and the excellent lessons they here learned in housekeeping while "in the service." He was followed by JAMES B. MERWIN, who well described the condition of the wounded soldiers, and who was listened to with much attention. Mr. DE CORDOVA followed, and was heartily applauded. After him, an address was delivered by Prof. R.D. HITCHCOCK, and the exercises were closed with a benediction by Rev. J. TUTTLE SMITH, Chaplain of the Hospital.
A very interesting event occurred in the presentation of a beautiful basket of flowers to Mrs. VANDERPOOL -- a lady who has materially aided in the success of the hospital. The hearty cheers of the soldiers when the basket was presented showed how truly her services were appreciated by them. Three cheers were given for Gen. ANDERSON, who was present, and briefly responded; and three more for Dr. MOTT, who was also obliged to speak; he seemed to be very popular with the men, and at the close of his speech was loudly applauded by them. A collection was taken up, which amounted to $63 65.
The following is the medical staff:
Surgeon Alex. B. Mott, United States Volunteers, in charge. Acting Assistant Surgeons United States Army -- John W. Robie, Austin Flint, Jr., Gouverneur M. Smith, L.L. Lozier, J.C. Stone, Medical Cadets United States Army -- F.P. Casey, E.C. Seguin, S.B. Merchon, G.W. Teraberry, John Van Duyn. Hospital Stewards United States Army -- H.J. Anderson, Jr., Jas. Hatfield.
