Born: Nov. 9, 1833 Died: July 25, 1916 Biography: Sally Louisa Tompkins was born on November 9, 1833 in Poplar Grove, Mathews County, Virginia. Her parents were wealthy plantation owners in the tidewater area of Virginia. Sally's father died just before the Civil War began, and her mother moved the family to Richmond. Sally was very religious, and she felt her duty during the war was to nurse the sick and wounded. After the battle at Bull Run, it was obvious that there was a need for hospitals. Judge Robertson generously donated his large home to become Sally's private hospital, named Robertson Hospital after the judge. At 27 years old, Sally used her family's influence to secure donations of supplies, food and money. Sally Tompkins demanded the highest standards for nursing care and cleanliness. Of the 1,333 men entrusted to her care over the course of 3 1/2 years, only 73 died. Robertson Hospital had the best record in the city, and officers tried to put their most seriously wounded men in her hospital. She was known as "Aunt Sally" to the men and she carefully administered to their needs. When the men were well enough to be discharged, each one was given a clean change of clothes, and a prayer book. President Jefferson Davis had issued an order calling for all hospitals to be run by military personnel. This ruling closed the doors on all the private hospitals in the city. Sally Tompkins met with the President and used her high success rate to convince him to keep Robertson Hospital open. On September 9, 1861, to circumvent his recent ruling, he appointed Sally Louisa Tompkins a Captain in the Cavalry. This made her the only woman to hold a commission in the Confederate States Army. Her military rank allowed her to draw rations and a salary from the government. After the war, she continued her charity work in Richmond. By 1902, in poor health and her finances depleted, she accepted an invitation to live the rest of her days at the Richmond Home for Confederate Women. She lived until her death on July 25, 1916. She was buried with full military honors.