This Day in History: February 20

The troops are recovering from the smallpox. I apprehend between twenty and thirty have died in the course of inoculation—but a considerable part of them by a putrid fever, supposed to be principally owing to a habit rendered almost putrid by the itch. As soon as the men are generally through, returns of the whole who have had the distemper, and the number who have died, shall be called for and transmitted to your Excellency. [More]