By Trojan hands and Trojan flames be burned.
By recent information from Boston, Genl Howe is goeing to Send out a number of the Inhabitants in order it is thought to make more room for his expected reinforcements, there is one part of the information that I Can hardly give Credit to. A Sailor Says that a number of these Comeing out have been innoculated, with design of Spreading the Smallpox thro’ this Country & Camp. I have Communicated this to the General Court & recommended their attention thereto.
“
—

Letter from Gen. George Washington to John Hancock, President of Congress, regarding an alleged plot of the British to spread smallpox among the American troops, December 4, 1775, signature page

Bioterrorism, 1775-style (I’m not sure this is bioterrorism. Biological warfare, certainly, but why is it terrorism in particular?)

During the seige of Boston in the early part of the American Revolution, George Washington sent this letter to Congress, dated December 4, 1775, in which he passed along information he had heard from a sailor: that British General William Howe was sending people out from Boston who had been deliberately infected with smallpox so that they might pass on the disease to the Americans surrounding the city.  Although skeptical at first, after seeing an increased number of cases in those leaving the city, Washington came to believe that smallpox was indeed “a weapon of Defence they Are useing against us.”

(via todaysdocument)
Reblogged 2 months ago from todaysdocument
88 notes
Source: research.archives.gov
  1. aarsbog reblogged this from todaysdocument
  2. claro3 reblogged this from todaysdocument
  3. veritasveritas reblogged this from todaysdocument
  4. mssiemens reblogged this from todaysdocument
  5. mostlyunoriginal reblogged this from todaysdocument
  6. velvetcrux reblogged this from todaysdocument
  7. displacedca reblogged this from todaysdocument
  8. omglennis reblogged this from todaysdocument and added:
    So this is my question. Why is it every time a European is accused...intentionally sending...
  9. rainbowsandscholarship reblogged this from todaysdocument
  10. cheimaphilia reblogged this from todaysdocument
  11. jeannettelucas reblogged this from todaysdocument
  12. emir-dynamite reblogged this from todaysdocument
  13. akentuckyfriedchick reblogged this from todaysdocument
  14. yvonnesvisions reblogged this from todaysdocument
  15. vesperdomino reblogged this from todaysdocument