A Study of Army Camp Life during American RevolutionSnuff, Mary Hazel
History
A Study of Army Camp Life during American Revolution
Snuff, Mary Hazel
United States -- Armed Forces -- Military life; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- American forces
"Dysentery 5
Diorrhoea 2
Rheumatis 2
Intermit. 2
B. Remit. 5
Asthma 1
Ophthalnia 2
Ulcers 2
Wounded 11
---
Total 30"[106]
_January 24 to 31 1980_
"Wounded 6
Intermitting fever 0
Dysenteria 1
Diarrhoea 1
Asthma 1
Ophthalnia 1
Rheumatism 3
Ulcers 2
---
Total 15"[107]
If the above tables are any index at all the most dangerous season was
summer in spite of the crowded unsanitary conditions of the winter
quarters. They also show that the number in hospitals due to sickness
was larger that the number due to injuries received in battle.
Smallpox was one of the most dreaded of all the diseases, mostly
because there were few ways of combating the disease. Inoculation was
only slightly known and there was much opposition to it, even sermons
were preached on the question it was so much discussed.[108] The
British knew the New England people were especially opposed to it and
were known to send out spies to spread the disease in the American camp
which Shreve wrote "killed more Yankees than they did".[109]
The disease was especially serious in the Northern army causing greater
dread than the enemy.[110]
Thacher in his _Military Journal_ emphasizes another disease which
caused a great deal of suffering but strange to say there was only
one remedy for it and that was a furlough for the disease was
home-sickness. In reality that was a fact which caused anxious moments
for General Washington for the men were continually trying to bribe the
physicians to declare that they were unfit for duty.[111]
Other provisions were made for the health of the soldiers besides
the establishment of hospitals. The others were along the line of
prevention, such as keeping the tents and huts clean and dry, the
careful preparation of food, the washing of clothes, caring for
refuse,[112] and the soldiers own personal cleanliness.[113]
[Footnote 83: _Journals of Congress_, Vol. II, pp. 209, 210, 211.]
[Footnote 84: _Journals of Congress_, Vol. III, p. 294.]
[Footnote 85: Ibid., p. 296.]
[Footnote 86: Ford, _Writings of Washington_, Vol. V, p. 204.]
[Footnote 87: _Journals of Congress_, Vol. II, p. 568.]
[Footnote 88: The country was divided into departments or divisions and
in each department there was what was called a general departmental
hospital, in distinction to the regimental hospitals where the soldier
received immediate care, before being sent to the general hospital.]
[Footnote 89: Coit, _Orderly Book_, (June 7, 1775) p. 36.]
[Footnote 90: Jordon, "Military Hospitals at Bethlehem and Lititz
during the Revolution" in _Penn. Mag._ Vol. XV, p. 137.]
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