A Brief History of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences by G. David Anderson, University Archivist Page: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7

The following years were prosperous ones for the GW Infirmary, but with the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861, the school entered a difficult era.

Both medical students and faculty joined forces in the North and the South, though their numbers were significantly higher among the Confederate ranks. Beginning a long tradition of GW service to presidents, Dr. A. Y. P. Garnett left Washington to become Jefferson Davis's personal physician, while Dr. Robert King Stone remained to serve Abraham Lincoln.

After the war began, the government reclaimed the Infirmary for use as a military hospital, and less than seven months later the building was destroyed by fire. The Washington Star of November 4, 1861, headlined the disaster with "The Burning of the E Street Infirmary--Terrible and Thrilling Incidents--Removal of More than One Hundred Patients." So ended GW's first established teaching hospital.

Despite the chaos of the war, the medical college regrouped and in 1863 reopened in the Constitution Office on E Street between 12th and 13th Streets, NW. From 1865 to 1867 it shared space in the Columbian College Law Building on 5th Street between D and E Streets, NW. The building also served as a church on Sundays.

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