In May 1862, the Confederate government established a general hospital in Guyton, Georgia, on a nine-acre tract between the Central Railroad and the present area of Georgia Highway 119, Lynn Bonds Avenue, and Pine Street. The railroad was a determining factor in locating hospitals. At the end of May, the hospital had five people on its medical staff, and five months later that number had reached 46, including surgeons, assistant surgeons, contract physicians, hospital stewards, ward masters, matrons, ward matrons, assistant matrons, nurses, cooks, and laundry workers. By May 1863, the medical staff numbered 67. Confederate documents show that the hospital had 270 beds and 46 fireplaces. When it was filled to capacity, the Guyton Methodist Church was used to receive patients who could not be placed in the hospital. Surgeon William H. Whitehead served as surgeon-in-charge from May 1862 until February 1863, when Surgeon William S. Lawton took over and remained in charge until the hospital was abandoned in December 1864 as the 17th Army Corps of General Sherman's Federal army approached. From May 1862 to December 1864, the hospital provided medical care, food, clothing, and lodging for thousands of sick and wounded Confederate soldiers.