In 1861, the Civil War broke out. Sally like many other women volunteered her time to help out. After the first battle of Manassas, many soldiers were wounded. There were so many wounded soldiers and not enough places to keep them.

Sally saw this as a great opportunity to help the men fighting for her country. She opened a hospital called Robertson Hospital. She named the hospital after her generous friend Judge Robertson, who let her use his house for it. Sally’s hospital was successful because she had a "keen eye for detail and an obsession with cleanliness." The hospital had 22 beds and six staff members. The hospital ran for about 5 years. In those 5 years there was only about 73 deaths. It had the lowest death rate of any facility in both the North and the South.

In September 1861, President Jefferson Davis issued an order to discontinue all private hospitals but when he saw how good Robertson Hospital records were, he commanded it to stay open. He also commissioned Sally as a captain of the Confederate Cavalry. Sally was soon known as "Captain Sally." Miss Tompkins was the first and only woman to receive an officer’s commission in the Confederate Army.

Miss Tompkins broke many soldiers’ hearts. She was well known among the men. The wounded soldiers would plead to be taken to the hospital with "the lady with the milk white hands." Many of the men asked her hand in marriage but, she always refused saying "poor fellows, they are not yet well of their fevers." She never did get married.

Many people appreciated all the hard work Sally did to help the rebel soldiers.

J.S.B. Dorsey, President of Maryland Society, wrote this letter to thank Miss Sally for taking care of the "Maryland Boys."

Richmond

August 25^th, 1864

To: Miss S. Tompkins

The Maryland Society begs Miss Tompkins’ acceptance of the small donation enclosed, as a slight token of their high appreciation of Miss Tompkins patriotic exertions in behalf of the sick and wounded, and particularly of her untiring kindness and attention to the "Maryland Boys."

With great respect

Her obt. Servt.

J.S.B. Dorsey

Pres. of Md. Society

Sally Tompkins died on July 25, 1916. She died with full military honors. She touched many people’s lives with her compassion to help others.