Sunday, July 20, 2014

Yellow Fever in Key West

JULY 27, 1864:  Rear Admiral Bailey wrote Secretary Welles from Key West describing the severe epidemic of yellow fever among the officers and men of his squadron:  "My worst fears have been more than realized, and for more than two months the disease has held course without abatement and now as virulent as at any time....

"The mortality on the island I am told has reached as high as 12 to 15 in a day.... The squadron is much crippled."

Yellow Fever Was a Problem on Both Sides.  --Old B-R'er

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