Bacteria and Bayonets : The Impact of Disease in American Military History

For hundreds of years men have fought and died to expand and protect the United States relying on martial skill and patriotism. Various powerful enemies, from the British to the Nazis, and legendary individuals including Tecumseh and Robert E. Lee have all fallen before the arms of the American soldier. Yet the deadliest enemy faced by the nation, one which killed more soldiers than all of its foes combined, has been both unrecognized and unseen. The war waged by the United States against disease, and by disease against the United States, has impacted the country more than any other conflict and continues to present a terrible threat to this day. Illness has been more than just a historical cause of casualties for the American military, in numerous wars it has helped to decide battles, drive campaigns, and determine strategy. In fact the Patriots owed pestilence as much for their victory in the Revolution as they did their own force of arms. Likewise disease helped to prevent the conquest of Canada in 1812, drove strategy in the Mexican War, handicapped Lee's 1862 advance, and helped lead to World War II. Disease also provided an edge in the wars against Native Americans, yet just as soon turned on the US when unacclimated US troops were dispatched to the southern Pacific. This book not only traces the path of disease in American military history but also recounts numerous small episodes and interesting anecdotes related to the history of illness. Overall it presents a compelling story, one that has been overlooked and under appreciated. Yellow fever, malaria, tuberculosis, glanders, bubonic plague, smallpox, and numerous other bacteria and viruses all conspired to defeat America, and are enemies that need to be recognized. A fascinating look at how microbes have affected war outcomes from colonial times to the present. Various powerful enemies from the British to the Nazis, and legendary individuals including Tecumseh and Robert E. Lee, have all fallen before the arms of the American soldier. Yet the deadliest enemy faced by the nation, one that has killed more warriors than all its foes combined, is disease. But illness has been more than just a historical cause of casualties for the American military. In numerous wars, it has helped to decide battles, drive campaigns, and determine strategy. In fact, the Patriots owed pestilence as much for their victory in the Revolution as they did their own force of arms. Likewise, disease helped to prevent the conquest of Canada in 1812, drove strategy in the Mexican War, handicapped Lee's 1862 advance, and helped lead to World War II. Disease also provided an edge in the wars against Native Americans, yet just as soon turned on the United States when unacclimated US troops were dispatched to the southern Pacific. This book not only traces the path of disease in American military history but also recounts numerous episodes and anecdotes related to the history of illness. It is a compelling story, one that has been overlooked and underappreciated. Yellow fever, malaria, tuberculosis, glanders, bubonic plague, smallpox, and numerous other bacteria and viruses all conspired to defeat America—and remain enemies that need to be recognized. Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction 10 One Columbus Day or Contagion Day: Disease “Arrives” in America 12 Two “Deus Flavit Nasus et Dissipati Sunt”: The Protestant Wind and the Catholic Flu 24 Three Pocahontas and the Plague: The English and Disease in the Conquest of the Colonies 30 Four “The Paths to Glory Lead but to the Grave”: Disease in the Early French and Indian Wars 43 Five “Pestilence Gave Them a Common Death”: Disease and the English Conquest of North America 65 Six Typhus and Taxation: Disease and the American Revolution 75 Seven A Nation Forged in Gout and expanded by Venereal Disease: A Medical Look at the Early Republic 117 Eight Montezuma’s Revenge: Disease and Manifest Destiny 139 Nine Johnny Dysentery and Billy Typhus: Disease and the Civil War 152 Ten Remember the Maine, to Hell with Yellow Fever: Imperialism and Illness 173 Eleven Love in the Age of Cholera, Warfare in the Age of Typhoid: Progressivism and Pestilence 186 Twelve Bullets, Bayonets, and Botulism: Biological Warfare in the Twentieth Century 200 Thirteen Al-Qaeda, Anthrax, and America: Terrorism and Disease in Post-Cold War America 220 Conclusion 226 Endnotes 228 Bibliography 245 Index 260 Columbus Day Or Contagion Day: Disease Arrives In America -- Deus Flavit Nasus Et Dissipati Sunt: The Protestant Wind And The Catholic Flu -- Pocahontas And The Plague: The English And Disease In The Conquest Of The Colonies -- The Paths To Glory Lead But To The Grave: Disease In The Early French And Indian Wars -- Pestilence Gave Them A Common Death: Disease And The English Conquest Of North America -- Typhus And Taxation: Disease And The American Revolution -- A Nation Forged In Gout And Expanded By Venereal Disease: A Medical Look At The Early Republic -- Montezuma's Revenge: Disease And Manifest Destiny -- Johnny Dysentery And Billy Typhus: Disease And The Civil War -- Remember The Maine, To Hell With Yellow Fever: Imperialism And Illness -- Love In The Age Of Cholera, Warfare In The Age Of Typhoid: Progressivism And Pestilence -- Bullets, Bayonets, And Botulism: Biological Warfare In The Twentieth Century -- Al-qaeda, Anthrax, And America: Terrorism And Disease In Post-cold War America. David R. Petriello. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.