Autograph Letter Signed

Williams informs Knox of fever

Letter, advises that army clothing is believed to be the vector of a malignant fever which has produced fatalities.

1793

09

18

Mount Pleasant

Boston

Henry Knox

Jonathan Williams

Col. Hodgdon

Boston

Mount Pleasant

Lancaster

Philadelphia

Susquehanna

Carlisle

York Town

remember me respectfully to your good lady

hope that your next official accounts will prove that these reports are rather the suggestions of timid minds than the results of melancholy facts

returned from your deserted mansion & saw your babe in fine health

on the smallest reason to doubt as to its safety I will take the nurse & infant under my own roof

there is no danger if there be no communication with the town

pointed directions on that score to your servants

malady I hear abates

approaching cool season must check it

situation of the stores under Col. Hodgdon's care is generally known

supposed to be the focus of the malady, the apprehension is more general

reasonable means of satisfying the people as to the promotion of further communication of the disorders

no remedy can arrive in time for the evil

army waggoners with cloathing

[clothing]

met a party of troops

arrival of a waggon load of cloathing a bale was opened to get out some of the recruits when the waggoner & an assistant took the malignant fever & died

people determined to burn the cloathing

authority of this report

it was believed at York

repeated information that the waggoners had died between Philadelphia and Susquehanna

report prevailed which you ought to know

arrived yesterday

1793091840101

1

[stamped / postmarked]

21

SE
General Knox

Secretary of War

Boston
[added identifier notes:] J. Williams XXXIV - 97 3752

Dear General Mount Pleasant

Sept. 18. 1793


I arrived yesterday, and was but one day [&] [had/back]
in coming from York Town . --------- When I left
that place a report prevailed which you ought to
know. ---- A person from Carlisle report said
that on the arrival of a waggon load of Cloathing
a Bale was opened to get out some for the
Recruits, when the waggoner & an assistant took
the Malignant Fever & died, on which the
People determined to burn the Cloathing. ----
I can say no more as to the authenticity of
this report than that it was believed at
York. ----- On my way I found that by repeated
information that the[se] waggoners had died
between Philadelphia & the Susquehanna. Two
of
of these [blotted out word] it was supposed
were army waggoners with cloathing --
I met a part of Troops marching toward
Lancaster, these will no doubt protect what
waggons may be within their reach, and
take all the reasonable means of satisfying the
people as to the prevention of further com-
munication of the disorders; So far as those
in advance are exposed, [scribble] no remedy can
arrive in time for the evil. ---
the Situation of the Stores, and as that is supposed
to be the Focus of the malady, the apprehension
is more general --- I hope your next
official Accounts will prove that these Reports
are
are rather the suggest of timid minds,
than the results of melancholy Facts. ---
I have just returned from your deserted
Mansion & saw your Babe in fine health,
you may depend on Mr. W. 7 my attention as
\scrupulously as if it were our own child, & am
the smallest reason to doubt as to its safety I
will take the nurse and infant under my own
Roofs. Then is no danger of these be no communi-
cation with the Town, and I have given pointed
directions on that care to your servants. The
malady I hear abates, & indeed the approaching
cool season must check it. ----
Remember me respectfully to your good Lady
and believe me most Sincerely & Affectionately,
Your Friend & [ ]
J. Williams