Letter from H. L. Ray to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 23

Authors

H. L. (Hugh L.) Ray

Files

Personal Name Recipient

Joynes, L. S. (Levin Smith)

Date

1864-09-23

Description

Letter from H. L. Ray to L. S. Joynes asking about the process for attending the Medical College of Virginia.

Transcription

H[ead] Q[uarters] Parole Comp, Columbus Ga. Sept[ember] 25 1864 Professor L. S. Joines, [Joynes] Richmond Va. Sir, I read Medicine in 1857-8, attended a course of Lectures at Nashville in 1859, obtained licence to practice physic from the medical examine board of North Alabama in the spring of 1860,-continued to practice medicine at Rodgersville Alabama until January 1862 when I was elected Captain of a company composed of gallant and noble young men. In compliance with the wishes and the attachments that I had form{ed} for those men, I remained with them in the midst of privations, and the many casulaties of war, until my company is almost extinct. So much so indeed that I have been ordered from the line to command the Parole Camp at this place, which is a very desirable position for an officer who wishes to occupy the position, but not for myself. I prefered a position as a medical officer at the beginning to that of a line office, it remains my preference, or rahter to finish my medical education, for I expect to resume the practice of medecine if, I should be so fortunate to Survive this war, consequently I feel more interest in the medical department, and that I am naturaly better fitted for it and that it is my proper Sphere in life. - I now wish to attend a course of Lectures and graduate. I know there is a medical faculty at Richmond for the benefit of those who wish to complete their medical education, but how They attain this favor, as rather how I am to I Know not, will you be so Kind Professor L.S. Joines[Joynes] to inform me whether I can be admitted as an assistant Surgeon and take charge of a ward, and hear Lectures also, or must I resign and enter as a Hospital Steward, in short on what terms will students be admitted in the Medical College at Richmond. What is the tuition,; will not Students be furnished Rations as Hospital Stewards and Surgeons are; must they, Students, be detailed and by whom; how shall I proceed in my present position to gain admittance in your medical college; by complying with my request you will confer a great favor upon a well wisher of the medical Science. - I will be able to give any certificate which may be requested of me I am very respectfully your obt. sert. H[ugh] L. Ray Capt[ain] com[man]d[in]g. Parole camp Columbus Ga [Endorsement:] H[ugh] L. Ray captain comm[an]d[in]g Parole camp Columbus Ga. Sept[ember] 23 1864 Inquiring to the ways and means of at- tending lectures.

Corporate Name Subject

Medical College of Virginia -- History -- 19th century

Topical Subject

Medical colleges -- Virginia -- Richmond -- History -- Archives

Geographic Subject

Richmond (Va.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Archives

Corporate Medical Subject

Medical College of Virginia -- history

Topical Medical Subject

Schools, Medical -- history -- Virginia

City/Location

Richmond (Va.)

Original Item Size

2 p.

Genre

letters (correspondence)

Local Genre

text; archives

Type

Text

Digital Format

application/pdf

Rights Statement URL

https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Rights

This material is in the public domain in the United States and thus is free of any copyright restriction. Acknowledgement of Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.

Collection

Sanger Historical Files (1859-1865), Excerpts

Physical Folder

Civil War Hospital Stewards

Source

Original letter: Letter from H. L. Ray to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 23; War, Civil Hospital Stewards; Sanger Historical Files, Accession Number # 82/Jan/1, Special Collections and Archives, VCU Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

File Name

san_cwstewards_18640923.pdf