​
Yonder Carolina tells local and regional stories through photography, art and digital media.
Biological warfare is a historical tactic used to gain an advantage against an enemy. The following highlights a correspondence between high ranking members of the military tasked with ridding the country of its "Indian problem"... by any means necessary.
July 7, 1763
"Could it not be contrived to send the smallpox among those disaffected tribes of Indians? We must, on this occassion, use every stratagem in our power to reduce them."
General Jeffrey Amherst
Image Source: "Sir Jeffrey Amherst, General of the British Forces." From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog
July 16, 1763
"You will do well to try to Inoculate the Indians by means of Blankets, as well as to Try Every other Method that can serve to Extirpate this Execrable Race..."
General Jeffrey Amherst
Image Source: "Sir Jeffrey Amherst, General of the British Forces." From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog
July 13, 1763
"I will try to inoculate the ____ with Some Blankets that may fall in their Hands, and take care not to get the disease myself. As it is a pity to expose good men against them I wish we would make use of the Spanish Method to hunt them with English Dogs, supported by Rangers and Some Light Horse, who would I effectually extirpate or remove that vermin"
Colonel Henry Bouquet
July 19, 1763
"All your Directions will be observed."
Colonel Henry Bouquet
Historical Snapshot Video
Invoice of a purchase made from a smallpox hospital for smallpox infested materials. The original can be found in Henry Bouquet’s Papers, held by the British Library, © British Library Board Add MS 21654 folio 168.
Below: From The Papers of Henry Bouquet. Microfilm copies of correspondences discussing the Indians.
