Although it is not as good of a parallel as the American Civil War, where Atlanta was burned to the ground, Richmond was shelled for a year and virtually destroyed and half a million lives were lost in an effort that resulted in the greater good of removing slavery from America, another parallel exists with the British government and the IRA's efforts in NI.
The point is that intentionally bombing a hospital has no excuse, Robert E Lee had honor and even with the south in ruins would have never dreamed of hitting an hospital.
edit> Robert E Lee was the commanding officer of the Army of Northern Virginia and the acknowleged military leader of the Confederacy.