- Home
- Search This Site
- Slavery: Colonial Era
- Slavery: Revolutionary Era
- Slavery: Pre-Civil War Era
- Slavery: Charles County
- Samuel A. Mudd
- The Civil War
- 1864: A Very Bad Year
- John Wilkes Booth
- The Booth Escape Route
- The Accused
- Prison & Penitentiary
- The Conspiracy Trial
- Conviction
- The Dry Tortugas
- Attempted Escape
- Prison Life
- Yellow Fever
- Dr. Mudd Pardoned
- Arnold/Spangler Pardoned
- The Final Years
- Reference Library
- Contact Us
12/25/1867: Dr. Mudd's Letter to Dr. Whitehurst
Source: Weedon and Whitehurst Family Papers, Manuscripts Department, Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina, Microfilm call number 1-4485.
Dr. Mudd wrote this letter shortly after the end of the 1867 yellow fever epidemic at Fort Jefferson.
Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, Fla.
December 25th, 1867
Dr. Whitehurst
My Dear Friend,
I received yours of the 13th, but being again detailed in the Carpenter Shop & the speedy going out of the boats, I was unable to reply. It would be absurd in me doctor to attempt to instruct you as to the course of treatment etc. pursued - for the sound of suffering and affrighted humanity was no sooner heard, than the impulses of your own kind and generous nature led you to be one of us - & whose constant watchful attention day and night will be ever gratefully remembered by every resident of the Post during that gloomy period. I will state as near as I can the time I was placed in charge of the Hospital & leave you to report - feeling satisfied whatever remarks you may make in connection with the visitation of the fever here will meet with my earnest approval.
I was detailed in the Hospital about the fifth or sixth of September - not having kept a record, I can’t state with certainty. There were in the hospital at the time about twenty cases - I attended Dr. Smith, his wife and Lt. Roemer until relieved by you. Not being connected with the health department at the commencement of the fatal malady I am not able to state the first case or the manner of its inception.
In regard to the nature of the disease I differ with the authors - I look upon it as eminently a Typhoid affection, & rather the Superlative of the latter - Yellow Fever might be considered to true Typhoid what the malignant or congestive chill is to Bilious Remittent or Intermittent.
Owing to the services rendered by me - the soldiers drew up a petition, which I believed was unanimously signed with a view to my release - anything that you can do to lessen the prejudice caused by an unlawful and slanderous court shall be kindly cherished and reciprocated by myself and distressed family.
Wishing you and your kind family a happy Christmas and New Year, I am very truly
Your friend, Samuel A. Mudd
P. S. Doctor Thomas gave me a short but flattering letter which I forwarded to my friends in Maryland to be made use of as they might deem most proper. The Convention of Physicians of Maryland has memorialized the President in my behalf - a Committee of five was appointed to wait upon the President to make known the sense of the Convention. Please excuse this hasty scrawl - I am sorry it’s not in my power to give you a full report of all the cases - to do which, I would have to refer to the Hospital books not at my command. Hoping to hear from you soon. I am yours -
Samuel A. Mudd
December 25th, 1867
Dr. Whitehurst
My Dear Friend,
I received yours of the 13th, but being again detailed in the Carpenter Shop & the speedy going out of the boats, I was unable to reply. It would be absurd in me doctor to attempt to instruct you as to the course of treatment etc. pursued - for the sound of suffering and affrighted humanity was no sooner heard, than the impulses of your own kind and generous nature led you to be one of us - & whose constant watchful attention day and night will be ever gratefully remembered by every resident of the Post during that gloomy period. I will state as near as I can the time I was placed in charge of the Hospital & leave you to report - feeling satisfied whatever remarks you may make in connection with the visitation of the fever here will meet with my earnest approval.
I was detailed in the Hospital about the fifth or sixth of September - not having kept a record, I can’t state with certainty. There were in the hospital at the time about twenty cases - I attended Dr. Smith, his wife and Lt. Roemer until relieved by you. Not being connected with the health department at the commencement of the fatal malady I am not able to state the first case or the manner of its inception.
In regard to the nature of the disease I differ with the authors - I look upon it as eminently a Typhoid affection, & rather the Superlative of the latter - Yellow Fever might be considered to true Typhoid what the malignant or congestive chill is to Bilious Remittent or Intermittent.
Owing to the services rendered by me - the soldiers drew up a petition, which I believed was unanimously signed with a view to my release - anything that you can do to lessen the prejudice caused by an unlawful and slanderous court shall be kindly cherished and reciprocated by myself and distressed family.
Wishing you and your kind family a happy Christmas and New Year, I am very truly
Your friend, Samuel A. Mudd
P. S. Doctor Thomas gave me a short but flattering letter which I forwarded to my friends in Maryland to be made use of as they might deem most proper. The Convention of Physicians of Maryland has memorialized the President in my behalf - a Committee of five was appointed to wait upon the President to make known the sense of the Convention. Please excuse this hasty scrawl - I am sorry it’s not in my power to give you a full report of all the cases - to do which, I would have to refer to the Hospital books not at my command. Hoping to hear from you soon. I am yours -
Samuel A. Mudd
Copyright © 2012 Robert Summers. All rights reserved.
