This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in and around the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay. Last week, Washington and the Continental Army are struggling with enlistment and re-enlistment. The low morale, low supplies, and lack of confidence over wages are all brewing a potential disaster. Cambridge also received distressing news from Benedict Arnold’s column in Quebec, with the Colonel facing disastrously low supplies and desertion. At that same time further west, Major General Richard Montgomery had just captured Montreal, facing little resistance taking the city. Finally, the famous Knox Expedition began, with the “noble train of artillery” soon heading back to Washington.

            On November 18, 1775, General George Washington’s General Orders for the day initially called for all “Horns of the Bullocks,” or steers, to be kept in order to be used as powder horns. Following this, Washington declares that he and the Massachusetts General Court have made the upcoming Thursday, December 23, a day of thanksgiving. He also hopes to earn the favor of God, saying “he would be pleased graciously to continue, to smile upon our endeavors, to restore peace, preserve our rights, and privileges, to the latest posterity; prosper the American arms, preserve and strengthen the harmony of the United Colonies, and avert the calamities of a civil war.”

            A President George Washington would later sign the National Thanksgiving Proclamation which made Thursday, November 26, 1789, a day of public thanksgiving and also ensuring the last Thursday of November would continue to be celebrated as such.

            On November 19, Washington responds to John Hancock and the Continental Congress’ plan to dispatch men to Nova Scotia to cut off British lines of communication and control. The general wards against such plans, asking “whether this is a time to weaken our lines.” He also mentions his spies have spotted more British battalions from Ireland arriving in Boston, further cautioning against sending some of his troops north. He speaks of Benedict Arnold’s hardships in Canada, saying more troops north would “find it impossible to supply.”

            The next day, Washington hears from Colonel Arnold who informs the general of his successful crossing of the Saint Lawrence, nearing Montgomery and company in Montreal. Nearing Montreal, he informs Washington he asked the city for supplies and clothes. He says, “I have been obliged to send to Montreal for clothing for my people about 650 in the whole, who are almost naked & in want of every necessary.”

            On November 21, the General Orders for the day detail three court martials: one for hoarding supplies and two for abandoning their posts. The General says they should “be punished with fifteen lashes each,” but is pleased at the military court’s ruling, saying “on account of the youth and ignorance of their duty; the court recommend the prisoners for mercy.” The prisoners are pardoned, but the general highlights the rarity of this instance, and as to not inspire others, says “such a crime will not meet with mercy in future.”

            On November 22, Major General Philip Schuyler writes from Fort Ticonderoga, showing a common talking point is the troop movements in Quebec. He references Arnold’s journey north, saying “Whatever may be Colonel Arnold’s fate at Quebec, his merit is very great, in marching such a body of troops, thro’ a country scarcely trodden by human foot.” He is confident in the campaign to Washington, though writings back and forth between him and the other commanders show Quebec is a grueling mission. The temperatures are only dropping.

            The following day, Washington’s General Orders further focus on winter preparations. As many men enlisted at the start of the year with a year-long contract, December 31 would mark their final day. He instructs his commanders to give re-enlisting men a two-month pay allowance. He also shifts some soldiers around, pulling recruiters who have thus far been ineffective and sending them back to general service.

            This also happens to be the general-declared official day of thanksgiving. Considering this was taking place in 1775, it would be about 150 years following the original thanksgiving meal between the Plymouth Pilgrims and Wampanoag with Massasoit over a famous meal. Even in Washington’s time, this encounter would be a fabled and well-regarded founding story, at least by the colonists.

This Week in Revolutionary History

By Sam Bishop

First, you should know that influenza is a serious illness, not a bad cold. If someone says they missed work yesterday because they had “a touch of flu,” it was not influenza. We get upper respiratory illnesses from a myriad of viruses, and most are annoying but not serious.

            Influenza comes with a high fever, bad cough (including possible pneumonia), feeling too weak to do normal activities and the possibility of dying. In the U.S., depending on the influenza strain, between 20,000 and 60,000 adults die of influenza each year. Those at highest risk are the very old and the very young.

            Experts are expecting this to be a bad season since it was bad in the southern hemisphere during their May to September flu season, and that usually predicts what we will experience in our November to March season.

            Another troubling factor is that there is a new strain circulating, already causing the majority of influenza cases in Britain and Japan, which is not targeted in this year’s vaccines. The influenza virus constantly mutates, trying to evade our immune system.

            Until we switch to the “just-in-time” production of flu vaccines using mRNA technology, we are going to be using educated guesswork to decide what to put in the vaccines. Some years the experts guess right and other years, like this one, the virus fools us.

            So, what should you do?

            Number 1: get vaccinated! Even if the vaccine is not perfect, it will reduce your chances of getting influenza and it will markedly reduce your likelihood of being sick enough to be hospitalized or die. If you are over 65, get the high-dose vaccine.

            The national association of cardiologists recently emphasized that flu vaccines prevent hospitalizations and deaths in people with cardiovascular disease.

            Number 2: wear a mask when you are indoors in crowded places like theatres or Black Friday stores. Masks are not a panacea but do reduce transmission of respiratory viruses by about 25%.

            Number 3: if you are sick and coughing, stay home. Sharing your toys is good. Sharing your viruses is not.

            Don’t spoil the holiday season by catching or giving influenza.

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer