Presidents and Pandemics: Andrew Jackson Contracts Smallpox
Andrew Jackson was only eight years old when the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775. Jackson's eldest brother, Hugh, who was born in 1763, enlisted and fought at the Battle of Stono Ferry. Though he survived the battle, Hugh died from heat exhaustion after the Battle, on June 20, 1779 at the age of 16.This was the first of many reasons that would cause Jackson to have very strong anti-British resentment that would carry through to his presidency.
Jackson's hatred for the British grew following the brutal Waxhaws Massacre on May 29, 1780, near Lancaster, South Carolina. There a Continental Army force led by Abraham Buford and a mainly Loyalist force led by British officer Banastre Tarleton squared off. As the British got the better of the exchange, Buford refused an initial demand to surrender, but when his men were attacked by Tarleton's cavalry, many threw down their arms to surrender. Buford attempted to surrender, but Tarleton was shot at during the truce, causing his horse to fall and trap him. As a result, the Loyalists and British troops became outraged at the breaking of the truce in this manner, that the attacked the Continentals, who had already surrendered. Of the 400 or so Continentals, 113 were killed with sabers, and 150 were so badly injured they could not be moved. Another 53 prisoners were taken by the British and Loyalists.
Jackson's mother Elizabeth had encouraged him and his elder brother Robert to attend the local militia drills. Too young to fight, they began to help the militia as couriers. They served under Colonel William Richardson Davie at the Battle of Hanging Rock on August 6. Andrew and Robert were captured by the British in of April 1781, while staying at the home of the Crawford family. When 14 year old Andrew Jackson refused to clean the boots of a British officer, the officer slashed at the young man with a sword, leaving him with scars on his left hand and head. This ramped up Jackson's intense hatred for the British even more. His brother Robert also refused to do as commanded and he too was struck with the sword.
The two brothers were held as prisoners, and both contracted smallpox, a common illness which spread among prisoners of war at that time. It did not help that both brothers nearly starved to death while in captivity. The boys remained prisoners of war for several months, but later in 1781, their mother Elizabeth was able to secure the brothers' release after pleading with the British officers. She then began to walk both boys back to their home in the Waxhaws, a distance of about 40 miles. Both of the boys were in very poor health. Smallpox as more advanced in Robert, who was in far worse condition. He rode on the only horse they had, while Andrew walked behind them. In the final two hours of the journey, a torrential downpour began which worsened the effects of the smallpox.
They eventually arrived home, but within two days of getting back home, Robert had died from his smallpox, worsened by his weakened condition. Andrew was in very rough shape, and almost died from the disease as well. His mother nursed Andrew back to health, and when he had recovered well enough, Elizabeth volunteered to nurse American prisoners of war on board two British ships in the Charleston harbor.
The disease which was rampant on the prisoner ships was not smallpox, but rather an outbreak of cholera. In November of 1781, Elizabeth died from the disease. She was buried in an unmarked grave. Orphaned at age 14, Andrew Jackson blamed the British personally for the loss of his brothers and mother, a resentment which he would carry into the War of 1812, when he would get a measure of revenge at the Battle of New Orleans, as well as into his presidency.
Jackson's hatred for the British grew following the brutal Waxhaws Massacre on May 29, 1780, near Lancaster, South Carolina. There a Continental Army force led by Abraham Buford and a mainly Loyalist force led by British officer Banastre Tarleton squared off. As the British got the better of the exchange, Buford refused an initial demand to surrender, but when his men were attacked by Tarleton's cavalry, many threw down their arms to surrender. Buford attempted to surrender, but Tarleton was shot at during the truce, causing his horse to fall and trap him. As a result, the Loyalists and British troops became outraged at the breaking of the truce in this manner, that the attacked the Continentals, who had already surrendered. Of the 400 or so Continentals, 113 were killed with sabers, and 150 were so badly injured they could not be moved. Another 53 prisoners were taken by the British and Loyalists.
Jackson's mother Elizabeth had encouraged him and his elder brother Robert to attend the local militia drills. Too young to fight, they began to help the militia as couriers. They served under Colonel William Richardson Davie at the Battle of Hanging Rock on August 6. Andrew and Robert were captured by the British in of April 1781, while staying at the home of the Crawford family. When 14 year old Andrew Jackson refused to clean the boots of a British officer, the officer slashed at the young man with a sword, leaving him with scars on his left hand and head. This ramped up Jackson's intense hatred for the British even more. His brother Robert also refused to do as commanded and he too was struck with the sword.
The two brothers were held as prisoners, and both contracted smallpox, a common illness which spread among prisoners of war at that time. It did not help that both brothers nearly starved to death while in captivity. The boys remained prisoners of war for several months, but later in 1781, their mother Elizabeth was able to secure the brothers' release after pleading with the British officers. She then began to walk both boys back to their home in the Waxhaws, a distance of about 40 miles. Both of the boys were in very poor health. Smallpox as more advanced in Robert, who was in far worse condition. He rode on the only horse they had, while Andrew walked behind them. In the final two hours of the journey, a torrential downpour began which worsened the effects of the smallpox.
They eventually arrived home, but within two days of getting back home, Robert had died from his smallpox, worsened by his weakened condition. Andrew was in very rough shape, and almost died from the disease as well. His mother nursed Andrew back to health, and when he had recovered well enough, Elizabeth volunteered to nurse American prisoners of war on board two British ships in the Charleston harbor.
The disease which was rampant on the prisoner ships was not smallpox, but rather an outbreak of cholera. In November of 1781, Elizabeth died from the disease. She was buried in an unmarked grave. Orphaned at age 14, Andrew Jackson blamed the British personally for the loss of his brothers and mother, a resentment which he would carry into the War of 1812, when he would get a measure of revenge at the Battle of New Orleans, as well as into his presidency.