"Finding the #smallpox to be spreading much and fearing that no precaution can prevent it from running through the whole of our Army...", General #GeorgeWashington instituted the first mandatory widespread #inoculation order in #militaryhistory on Feb 6 1777. #COVID19 #vaccines 
2. GW recognized the risks especially that inoculation, unlike vaccines, led to the contraction of a "less" virulent case. "This Expedient may be attended with some inconveniences and some disadvantages, but yet I trust in its consequences will have the most happy effects."
3. But for GW it was a military necessity and an order that was needed to be given to save the army, the Revolution, and the nation.
4. Smallpox was a threat worse than the British. "Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure, for should the disorder infect the Army in the natural way and rage with its usual virulence we should have more to dread from it than from the Sword of the Enemy."
5. Congress had been hesitant to mandate inoculations for fear that it would make the army inoperational, as there was a recovery period. Outside Boston, GW used quarantining as he was "particularly attentive to the least Symptoms of the Small Pox"
6. Boston was facing a smallpox outbreak during the campaigns in and around the city in 1775-76
7. GW did use soldiers that were inoculated to enter Boston after the British evacuated the city
8. GW had previously forbidden #inoculations fearing that effects on the readiness of the army. It would require mandatory quarantine after taking place.
9. GW had previously contracted smallpox while in Barbados with his older half-brother Lawrence in 1751. He recovered and gained immunity, but pox marks scars remained on his face .
10. Martha Washington, who traveled on campaign with her husband, received an inoculation...she gained immunity, but her case was not mild...
11. Mass inoculations of the army began in Philadelphia and spread elsewhere.
In CT, Gov. Jonathan Trumbull reported: "Our new Inlisted Soldiers are under Inoculation—have heard of nothing unsuccessfull among them"
In CT, Gov. Jonathan Trumbull reported: "Our new Inlisted Soldiers are under Inoculation—have heard of nothing unsuccessfull among them"
12. Meanwhile in winterquarters at Morristown, NJ, GW ordered:
"send all your recruits, who have had the small pox to join the Army. Those, who have not, are to be sent to Philadelphia, and put under the direction of the commanding officer there, who will have them inoculated".
"send all your recruits, who have had the small pox to join the Army. Those, who have not, are to be sent to Philadelphia, and put under the direction of the commanding officer there, who will have them inoculated".
13. The trick was to cycle the soldiers so that not all would be inoculated at once to leave others combat-ready.
14. Some states opposed inoculation, including Gov. Patrick Henry of VA at first...but GW reached out, and soon PH wrote: "But, reflecting on the necessity..tell me whether that Regiment will be a desirable Aid... If it is, perhaps Inoculation ought to be set about immediately. "
15. From the start of the war, many were afraid of infection. Gen. Philip Schuyler (#AlexanderHamilton's future father-in-law) said of soldiers "they are extremely apprehensive of being infected with the small pox, and not without Reason as it proves fatal to many of them."
16. The initial inoculations were carried out in Philadelphia under Dr. #WilliamShippenJr, Director of Hospitals for the #ContinentalArmy
5a. GW, therefore, prohibited inoculations at first "in endeavouring to prevent the spreading of the Small-pox (by Inoculation or any other way) in this City, or in the Continental Army, which might prove fatal to the army"
founders.archives.gov/?q=inoculation…
founders.archives.gov/?q=inoculation…
And the punishment was severe...
"Any Officer in the Continental Army, who shall suffer himself to be inoculated, will be cashiered and turned out of the army, and have his name published in the News papers throughout the Continent, as an Enemy and Traitor to his country."
"Any Officer in the Continental Army, who shall suffer himself to be inoculated, will be cashiered and turned out of the army, and have his name published in the News papers throughout the Continent, as an Enemy and Traitor to his country."
So in summary, though GW was naturally immune and believed in inoculations he initially prohibited them to preserve combat power labeling those who took it as "an Enemy and Traitor to his country" in 1776 but ordered mass inoculation in 1777 to preserve the army and nation.
Primary sources from Feb 5 , 1777 to #JohnHancock
"The small pox has made such Head in every Quarter that I find it impossible to keep it from spreading thro’ the whole Army in the natural way."
founders.archives.gov/?q=inoculation…
"The small pox has made such Head in every Quarter that I find it impossible to keep it from spreading thro’ the whole Army in the natural way."
founders.archives.gov/?q=inoculation…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
