Richard Eppes
Encyclopedia
Richard Eppes was a prominent surgeon
in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
.
Eppes was born in City Point, Virginia
. He had earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania
and inherited his ancestral home, Appomattox Manor
at City Point, by the age of twenty. At the time of the Civil War, he was married, had a family, and owned nearly 130 slaves and 2,300 acres (9.3 km²). Eppes favored preservation of the Union
, provided that Southern rights in slave property could be protected. In the Election of 1860, he supported John C. Breckinridge
, who led the Southern
faction of the Democratic party. Breckinridge represented those who were states-rights and proslavery men, but who were not radical secessionists.
When war broke out, Eppes enlisted in the 3rd Virginia Cavalry
and helped equip the unit. About a year later, he furnished a substitute to complete his obligation. Early in May 1862, his wife and children moved into Petersburg
for protection. Just days later, a Union
raiding party landed at City Point. When the troops departed, all but twelve of Eppes's slaves had decided to cast their fortunes with the Union army.
Eppes then became a civilian contract surgeon for the Confederate army in Petersburg for the duration of the war. He was able to get his family out of Petersburg in the middle of the siege. They traveled to his in-laws in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, to wait out the war. When Petersburg fell, he decided to stay behind with the wounded as Robert E. Lee
evacuated the city.
By May 1865, Eppes had taken the Amnesty Oath
but found that because of his wealth
he did not qualify to benefit from the Amnesty Proclamation. He had to raise money to obtain the title to his land and to settle up with the Federal government. Also he had to purchase any of the structures the Union army left behind on his land before he could touch them. By early 1866, after a favorable transaction with the government, the plantation
was back in his hands, and by March his family was together again at City Point.
Eppes kept voluminous, detailed diaries. The volumes for 1849 and 1851-1896 are in the collections of the Virginia Historical Society
, in Richmond.
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Eppes was born in City Point, Virginia
City Point, Virginia
City Point was a town in Prince George County, Virginia that was annexed by the independent city of Hopewell in 1923. It served as headquarters of the Union Army during the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War.- History :...
. He had earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and inherited his ancestral home, Appomattox Manor
Appomattox Manor
Appomattox Manor is a former plantation in Hopewell, Virginia, USA. It is best-known as the Union headquarters during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864-65....
at City Point, by the age of twenty. At the time of the Civil War, he was married, had a family, and owned nearly 130 slaves and 2,300 acres (9.3 km²). Eppes favored preservation of the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
, provided that Southern rights in slave property could be protected. In the Election of 1860, he supported John C. Breckinridge
John C. Breckinridge
John Cabell Breckinridge was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Kentucky and was the 14th Vice President of the United States , to date the youngest vice president in U.S...
, who led the Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
faction of the Democratic party. Breckinridge represented those who were states-rights and proslavery men, but who were not radical secessionists.
When war broke out, Eppes enlisted in the 3rd Virginia Cavalry
3rd Virginia Cavalry
The 3rd Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
and helped equip the unit. About a year later, he furnished a substitute to complete his obligation. Early in May 1862, his wife and children moved into Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
for protection. Just days later, a Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
raiding party landed at City Point. When the troops departed, all but twelve of Eppes's slaves had decided to cast their fortunes with the Union army.
Eppes then became a civilian contract surgeon for the Confederate army in Petersburg for the duration of the war. He was able to get his family out of Petersburg in the middle of the siege. They traveled to his in-laws in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to wait out the war. When Petersburg fell, he decided to stay behind with the wounded as Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
evacuated the city.
By May 1865, Eppes had taken the Amnesty Oath
Oath of allegiance
An oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to monarch or country. In republics, modern oaths specify allegiance to the country's constitution. For example, officials in the United States, a republic, take an oath of office that...
but found that because of his wealth
Wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
he did not qualify to benefit from the Amnesty Proclamation. He had to raise money to obtain the title to his land and to settle up with the Federal government. Also he had to purchase any of the structures the Union army left behind on his land before he could touch them. By early 1866, after a favorable transaction with the government, the plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
was back in his hands, and by March his family was together again at City Point.
Eppes kept voluminous, detailed diaries. The volumes for 1849 and 1851-1896 are in the collections of the Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society , founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history...
, in Richmond.