Revolutionary incidents: Exploiting naturally occurring outbreaks of disease for military gain

Title : Revolutionary incidents: Exploiting naturally occurring outbreaks of disease for military gain

Abstract:

Military leaders and planners acknowledge the risks to military operations posed by deliberate attacks with biological weapons. However, the potential for adversaries to exploit naturally occurring disease outbreaks remains underappreciated. This paper examines two historical instances where natural diseases were leveraged for strategic advantage: the smallpox epidemics during the American Revolution and seasonal yellow fever during the Haitian Revolution. By analyzing letters, journal entries, and military orders, it highlights how the British used the Colonials' fear of smallpox to deter George Washington from attacking Boston and to force poorly timed assaults by Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery on Quebec. It also explores Washington's counterstrategy of troop inoculation. Similarly, it discusses how Haitian rebels exploited yellow fever's seasonal patterns to decimate Napoleon’s forces by keeping them in country until infection reduced their numbers and their combat effectiveness. These cases underscore the critical need for military planners and decision-makers to consider the operational impacts of natural disease outbreaks and identify opportunities to use them for strategic advantage in large-scale combat.

Biography:

Dr. Alexia Gordon joined the US Army Nuclear and CWMD Agency, where she serves as the Human Survivability Lead, in 2022. She is a licensed, Board-certified Family Physician with more than twenty years of experience practicing clinical medicine at the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, Veterans’ Administration Community-Based Outpatient clinics, and Moncrief Army Community Hospital. She earned an M.D. from Drexel University College of Medicine, an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, an M.A. in History from Southern New Hampshire University, and a B.A. in psychology from Vassar College.