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1822 Yellow Fever
Distressing News From Pensacola
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
October 16, 1822 Page 2
Private Correspondence
Barancas, near Pensacola, September 6, 1822
Since I had the pleasure of writing to you last, a terrible epidemic
has visited Pensacola, and committed great devastation among the Americans
in that place, the Creoles being generally exempt from it. About a hundred
and fifty have, in twenty days, been consigned to the tomb, and as many
as eighteen have fallen in a single day. Never, perhaps, was a fever
more universally fatal, utterly defying the aid of medicine; no instance
of a recovery after an attack, has occurred, and persons who have lived
in New Orleans and the West Indies, pronounce its mortality and rapid
termination unexampled.
Among its victims are Dr. Bronaugh, Mr. J. D. Simms, Navy Agent;
Mr. Harrison, Attorney for the territory, and his lady, and a long
list of respectable persons, who I presume are unknown to you. Such
was the alarm, that many of them were conducted to the tomb without
A single attendant but the man who conveyed them in his cart; and sunk
on the bed of pain and despair without a single friend to shed a tear,
or soothe their last moments with offices of sympathy and kindness.
This work of destruction has somewhat abated, not that the disease has
at all diminished in its malignity and violence, but because fewer subjects
remain for it to operate upon all who had it in their power seeking
safety by flight. I saw the danger at an early period of the disease,
and deemed it most prudent to avoid it by a timely retreat.
In a country so thinly settled, it was not easy for fugitives to obtain
shelter, the neighbouring houses are consequently much crowded, and
many of the poor are compelled to be exposed to the wide expanse of
the heavens. The Legislative Council and troops retired to the country;
among the latter some cases of fever have occurred. There will be no
safety in returning to the town, until the occurrence of one or two
white frosts, which may not be probably expected before November.
Nat. Intell.
(another paragraph - same paper)
Letters have been received in this city from Pensacola, dated the 6th
of September; at which time, the sickness continued. The report of the
death of Dr. J. C. Bronaugh, the President of the Legislative Council,
is but too certain, though we have not the date or other particulars
of his decease. Edmund Law was chosen in his stead President of the
Legislative Council, the session of which was to have terminated on
the 22d of last month. Nat. Intel.
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania)
Wednesday, October 23, 1822 Page 1
From Pensacola
The latest accounts of the fever at this place are truly appalling.
The U. S. schooner Amelia, Capt. Baker, arrived at New Orleans
from St. Marks, East Florida and informs that death and desertion had
nearly depopulated Pensacola! A list of deaths at that place and Barancaas,
from the 15th of August to the 11th of September has been furnished,
containing 84 names, and it was supposed there had been about 40 others,
whose names could not be ascertained. -- Nat. Intel.
[Submitted
by Nancy Piper]
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania)
November 6, 1822 Page
4
Fever at Pensacola
A letter from Pensacola, dated September 25th, (ten days the latest)
says Nearly every American who attempted to remain in town, took the
fever but very few recovered they generally died in 4 or 5 days
the deaths are about 150, nearly all Americans there are now only
about a dozen Americans in town, those who escaped the fever having
moved off. Some of the citizens had erected temporary cabins near it,
as a refuge against the malady. N.Y.E. Post.
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania)
November 6, 1822 Page 4
Extract of a letter from Pensacola, dated Sept. 22.
Doct. Elliot died on the 2d inst., and there is not now a physician
remaining in the place. It is impossible to give you an idea of the
extent of the calamity which has befallen Pensacola; out of a population
of fourteen hundred, which it was said to contain when we arrived, short
of four hundred now remain; the rest have either died or made their
escape. We are the only American family that remains alive in the place,
and there are but very few other Americans here. The disease is still
raging among the creoles, and a severe mortality attends it.
All our authorities have either died or deserted; we have no governor
and council; no police, no post office, no printing office, nor in short
any other office. There are only two or three stores open in the town.
Nothing can exceed the deadly gloom that pervades every thing here.
You may cast your eyes for hours every day round and not see an individual
moving, save the hardened carman with his heavy loaded hearse. The fever
has now broke out among the troops which were removed about three miles
from town, and I understand great numbers die daily. Many of the Officers
whom I knew have died. Two of the Judges of this place have died, the
others fled.
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania)
November 27 1822 Page 3
Fever at Pensacola
A letter received at Charleston from an officer in the U. S. army, dated
at the Barancas, near Pensacola, on the 15th ult., states, that the
ravages made by the fever at Pensacola, are beyond conception scarcely
an American remains. About the 10th ultimo, it made its appearance amongst
the troops at the Barancas, and several had fallen victims to it. Capt.
Pierce, of the Artillery, removed the troops into the country, where
the fever again broke out. Captain Pierce had since returned to the
Barancas, sick. The most lamentable case of mortality, is that of Major
Denkins, who died on the 8th, having contracted the disease by his
constant attention on Doctor Merrell, of the army, who is now convalescent.
Balt. Amer.
[Submitted
by Nancy Piper]
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania)
November 27 1822 Page 3
From Pensacola
By the brig Franklin at Charleston, from Pensacola, we learn that the
fever had abated in that city. Its previous ravages had been excessive
upwards of one half of the inhabitants having fallen its victims.
About 70 of the U. S. Soldiers had died at the Barancas. It is stated
that Lieut. Gaillard, of the U. S. army was one of the last victims
of this terrible malady. Balt. Amer.
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
Republican Compiler, (Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania)
Wednesday, January 1, 1823 Page 4
Pensacola
A letter from Pensacola, received in this city, dated the 24th Nov.
announces the arrival of the brig Delaware, from Philadelphia, with
a detachment of recruits under the command of Captain Sands, and Lieutenant
Thompson, after a short and pleasant passage of sixteen days. There
had not been any death at Pensacola of yellow fever for six weeks
and it was the prevailing opinion that the late epidemic was occasioned
by putrid fish, as the first cases which occurred were in the neighborhood
where a quantity had been deposited. Balt. Fed. Gaz.
[Submitted by Nancy Piper]
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