By May 1776, the invasion of Canada that had begun with high hopes in September 1775 was nearing a disappointing end. After a long siege of Quebec City marked by the death of General Richard Montgomery at the Battle of Quebec, the Americans began a retreat in early May once fresh British troops arrived. Efforts to persuade Canadians to join the fight had largely failed, and the army had too few men and supplies to achieve their goals. They also faced another foe, more lethal than the British: disease.
The biggest threat to American troops in Canada was smallpox, which began spreading in December and devastated the army that spring. Smallpox was contagious and deadly, killing up to 30% of those who caught it. While people could be inoculated against the disease, the practice was banned in the army. Soldiers were often sick and unable to serve for weeks post-inoculation, and they could spread smallpox to others. Other diseases, like fevers and dysentery, also plagued the army camps.
The end was in sight for the American occupation of Canada, but soldiers still needed medical care during their retreat. 250 years ago today—May 21, 1776—Brigadier General William Thompson established a hospital at Sorel, between Quebec and Montreal, saying that “The Great number of sick amongst the Soldiery here, render[s] it absolutely necessary that a Hospital be erected for their reception and cure.” He appointed Dr. Samuel Mackenzie director of the new hospital and Alexander Stewart and John Marshall assistant surgeons.
The Sorel hospital was short-lived. After the American defeat at the Battle of Trois-Rivieres, where both General Thompson and Dr. Mackenzie were captured, a council of war chose to retreat from Canada on June 13. The army, sick and well alike, straggled south, arriving at Fort Ticonderoga by July 9. Medical officers had no shortage of work, as disease continued to be a problem for the army in the Northern Department. Dr. Alexander Stewart finished out the year as a surgeon in the hospital at Fort George.
Learn more about this order (object ID MS.1978) on the Ticonderoga Online Collections database: https://fortticonderoga.catalogaccess.com/archives/29831