Smallpox in Virginia

reports of smallpox in the time of the American Revolution
Source: University of Georgia, Pox Americana

During the American Revolution, British forces marched through Virginia in 1781. On their way to establishing a base at Yorktown, the Marquis de Lafayette and General "Mad Anthony" Wayne threated the rear of the British Army near Jamestown.

According to an American officer, the British sought to delay the Americans by forcing them to bypass people with smallpox infections:¹

At dark took up our line of march in order to overtake Col. Simes's horse, who had the rear guard with a great number of cattle, plundering as he was making his way towards James Town; [the British] left one negro man with the small-pox lying on the road side in order to prevent the Virginia militia from pursuing them , which the enemy frequently did ; left numbers in that condition starving and helpless, begging of us as we passed them for God's sake to kill them, as they were in great pain and misery.

Links

• University of Georgia
• Pox Americana

References