Lucy Knox to Henry Knox on Smallpox, 1777

Background

Smallpox was one of the most feared and deadly diseases of the 18th century and most American colonists had no immunity to it. John Adams wrote in 1776 that “the smallpox is ten times more terrible than the British, Canadians and Indians together.” In February 1777, George Washington took the bold step of ordering the inoculation of his entire army against smallpox. It was the first wartime inoculation of an army. Unlike vaccines of today, people who received inoculations frequently fell ill. After much consideration, Lucy Knox decided to have both herself and her infant inoculated against smallpox so that she could visit her husband in camp. Both contracted the disease. Writing from a military hospital near in Brookline, Massachusetts, in April 1777, Lucy discusses the disease and her fears.

Transcript

A Letter from Lucy Knox to Henry Knox, April 31, 1777

Brokline April 31st 1777 –

My dearest dear friend –

In what words shall I convey an idea to my Harry how dear he is to me or how much I want to see him – indeed indeed we must not live so – I am unhappy – and that I am sure will make my H – so – join with me my love, in humble gratitude to him who hath preserved your Lucy and her sweet babe: and thus far carried them thro the Small pox – no person was ever more highly favored than I have been since it came out – but before for three days – I suffered exceedingly – I have more than two hundred of them – twenty in my face – which is four times as many as you bid me have – but I believe none of them will leave a mark – Lucy has but one – and has not had an Ill hour with it – both hers and mine have turned and are drying away – and now for a jaunt to Morristown – what hinders my coming with Peter – only think my love of his being absent all this time – he writes me he has no prospect of returning soon nor do I know how to manage upon my return – Munson (who prevailed upon my compassion to take him back) has inlisted – nor is there a man to be hired under 10 dollars a month – Boys are not to be had as they can earn much more by working in the forts – and standing ocasional centrys in short I am in a very disagreable Situation – and unless – you will take me under your wing I know not what will become of me

I thank you ten thousand times for your kind letters eaight of which I have received – but alas – not one encouraging word of meeting soon I must describe the place I am in at present – it is called an officers room and is to be sure some degrees better than the common ones – when I first came which was last wednesday – it was enlightened by one chearful window of about 2 foot square – but it was glass – there were two others of boards which were some bigger – neither clabboards upon the outside nor plaistering within – but a few rough plank was my gaurd from the weather – which answered very well when the wind was calm – two soals of old shoes served for hinges to the door on Which was chalked – the cloven footed gentleman upon his head – in short I never was so horror struck in my life – but presuming upon my connection with the military sent for the barrack master – who gave orders that the carpenters should obey my directions by which means I am much more comfortable –

I have no glass but from the feel of my face I am almost glad you do not see it I dont beleive I should get one kiss – and yet the D^r tells me it is very becoming he the D^r. – has been very kind and attentive for which I desire you will write him a letter of thanks – and not call me by the formal name of M^rs K – I want an answer to a very saucy letter, I wrote you before I was sick by a M^r Spooner – wherein I returned you a part of one of yours – for an explanation – what you meant by it I cannot tell – unless it was to rally me upon a subject which is too delicate to be played with – I have just come from a scene my Harry which has roused my very soul in gratitude to my bountiful benefactor a man who was innoculated at or about the time I was lay in the last agonies his pock proved the purple sort – and he poor soul must die – his brother had just arrived from his wife, who was near laying in – and very impatient for his return – and as a proof of her affection – had sent him some good things such as he might venture to eat – he sent for M^r Gardiner (who is in the next room to me) to make his will – and I had curiosity to go – he is just now dead – what a stroke will it be to that poor miserable woman – but oh my god my own situation will not bear reflection – how do I know to what the dear partener of my Soul is at this minet exposed – indeed my Harry I am serious, I cannot live at this distance from you – what has become of Springfield – have you no prospect you sure are not indifferent about it – if you are you are greatly altered since

You parted from your LK

 

Source: Lucy Knox to Henry Knox, April 31, 1777, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02437.00582.

Excerpt

A Letter from Lucy Knox to Henry Knox, April 31, 1777

Brokline April 31^st1777 –

My dearest dear friend –

. . . join with me my love, in humble gratitude to him who hath preserved your Lucy and her sweet babe: and thus far carried them thro the Small pox – no person was ever more highly favored than I have been since it came out – but before for three days – I suffered exceedingly – I have more than two hundred of them – twenty in my face – which is four times as many as you bid me have – but I believe none of them will leave a mark – Lucy has but one – and has not had an Ill hour with it – both hers and mine have turned and are drying away . . .

I thank you ten thousand times for your kind letters eaight of which I have received – but alas – not one encouraging word of meeting soon . . .

I have no glass but from the feel of my face I am almost glad you do not see it I dont beleive I should get one kiss – and yet the D^r tells me it is very becoming he the D^r. – has been very kind and attentive for which I desire you will write him a letter of thanks . . . I have just come from a scene my Harry which has roused my very soul in gratitude to my bountiful benefactor a man who was innoculated at or about the time I was lay in the last agonies his pock proved the purple sort – and he poor soul must die . . . he sent for M^rGardiner (who is in the next room to me) to make his will . . . but oh my god my own situation will not bear reflection . . . indeed my Harry I am serious, I cannot live at this distance from you . . .

You parted from your LK

 

Source: Lucy Knox to Henry Knox, April 31, 1777, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC02437.00582.