The Sept. 26, 1862, Charleston (SC) Courier reported that Wilmington Mayor Dawson had sent dispatches asking that city for help, "The yellow fever is epidemic here, increasing rapidly, and our physicians are nearly exhausted. Some of them are already sick," he wrote.
Civilians and military rushed to help, but it was too late for Dr. Dickson, who died September 28th, 150 years ago today.
In September 30th, the Confederate Army assigned three surgeons to temporary duty in Wilmington. One was Dr. William T. Wragg, of Charleston who was an expert on the disease. He wrote of his arrival, "At the time of our arrival the alarm and excitement of the population were thoroughly aroused, a large part of the inhabitants had fled from the city to seek refuge in other places, and fires of rosin and lightwood were burnt in the streets in every portion of this city."
Dr. William George Thomas contended that it arrived on the Kate. Wragg maintained that it was already in the city, saying that ten patients were already displaying jaundice and other yellow fever symptoms before August 6th.
Well, the Burning Fires Would Discourage Mosquitoes Somewhat. --Old B-Runner
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