NORFOLK NAVY YARD
Section 1: Birth of the Gosport Yard & into the 19th Century
LETTERSGosport and the Navy Yard in a Time of Cholera
Introduction: Cholera was one of the greatest killers of the nineteenth century. The disease first reached North America at Quebec Canada in May 1832 on an immigrant ship and then quickly swept through the Eastern seaboard cities; reaching Gosport Virginia in summer of 1832. The disease was unfamiliar with no cure and consequently terrifying. Medical professionals were unable to identify a cause much less a cure; and doctors were powerless to stop the advancing death toll that claimed thousands of lives around the world. By the time cholera had spread Virginia, the epidemic had already killed 2,200 of the 2,800 permanent residents of Quebec and decimated the populations of Detroit and New York City (1). In the 1832 Norfolk cholera epidemic there were 453 confirmed cases. The disease killed large numbers, for Norfolk the disease had 26% mortality among whites and 74% among blacks (1). The higher black mortality was ascribed by white physicians in 1832 to blacks eating more vegetables and fruit, today modern scholars point to the fact the city’s black population mostly enslaved, was confined to the worst part of the city often forced to make do with contaminated water and with little access to health care. Unknown to everyone, the disease was spread by polluted rivers and struck hardest where city water quality was at its worst. At Gosport panic and fear quickly spread throughout the population. The following letter by Lieutenant French Forrest (1796 – December 22, 1866) then stationed in Gosport who had seen combat during the War of 1812, was sufficiently alarmed to request permission from Commodore Lewis Warrington to evacuate his wife Emily Douglas Sims to Washington DC. His letter some provides some idea how dread of this new disease quickly spread to the whole community (4). Lt. Forest does not mention cholera by name, but simply states “in case of sickness” Lt. Forrest’s request was granted and both he and Emily survived the epidemic.
John G. Sharp, 10 February 2019
Transcription: This transcription was made from digital images of letters and documents received by the Secretary of the Navy, NARA, M125 “Captains Letters” National Archives and Records. In transcribing all passages from the letters and memorandum, I have striven to adhere as closely as possible to the original in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and abbreviation, superscripts, etc., including the retention of dashes and underlining found in the original. Words and passages that were crossed out in the letters are transcribed either as overstrikes or in notes. Words which are unreadable or illegible are so noted in square brackets. When a spelling is so unusual as to be misleading or confusing, the correct spelling immediately follows in square brackets and italicized type or is discussed in a foot note.
United States Navy Yard
Gosport 7th August 1832
Sir,
Inconsequence of the written application of Lieutenant Forrest (a copy of which I enclose) I have given him permission to accompany his lady to Washington, and return immediately –
I have acceded to his request very unwillingly, as every officer is wanted at this time, as none of us know how soon we may be attacked, and all being liable to it –
I am very respectfully
Your obedient Servant
L. Warrington
The Honorable
Secretary of the Navy
Washington[Sec Nav’s note on obverse] Order another Lt. to report to Comm W. for such duty as he may find the public interest prompted by.
10 August 1832 order Lt. A.L. Slaughter, bringing him to W (3).
Enclosure
U.S. Navy Yard
Gosport Va
5th August 1832
Sir,
I am absolutely compelled to call upon you for permission to convey my wife to Washington, where she will be among her relations and friends, and in case of sickness she can be better attended to than at a boarding house - Nothing but her very delicate situation and anxiety of mind would induce me at a moment of such general panic to ask such indulgence, were I attached to a vessel it would be unfair and unpardonable to make the request under any circumstances. The great diminution of mechanics & others in the Yard, in some degree reconciles me in making this application, and I do so under a full conviction that you can appreciate, and fully enter into the feeling, that governs me. I have postponed the application for three days under the impression that her mind would become more composed, it is in vain, and I see as others do that her nervous system is so much effected, that it is making inroads upon her health - Will you be good enough to question Dr Chandler as to her precarious state & if it is possible to allow leave of absence for a week to grant it – (2)
I am Sir,
Very Respectfully &c F. ForestTo Lewis Warrington Esq. Commg U
Endnotes:
Names, ranks, dates of naval and marine officers, listed below are unless otherwise specified, from Naval History and Heritage Command Officers Continental and US Navy and Marine Corps 1775 -1900
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/o/officers-continental-usnavy-mc-1775-1900.html
Harry Kollatz, Jr., Life in the Time of Cholera when the disease struck Richmond, little was known about "The Summer Complaint" Richmond Magazine, August 18, 2015.
https://richmondmagazine.com/news/richmond-history/life-in-the-time-of-cholera/ Accessed 10 February 2019(1) Todd Lee Savit Medicine and Slavery Diseases and Health Care Among Blacks in Antebellum Virginia (University of Illinois : Chicago 1981), 230
(2) French Forrest, entered as a Midshipman, 9 June, 1811. Lieutenant, 5 March, 1817. Master Commandant, 9 February, 1837. Captain, 30 March, 1844. He was dismissed 19 April, 1861, and joined the Confederate States Navy. He saw combat in the War of 1812 and the Mexican American War.
(3) Albert G. Slaughter, entered as a Midshipman, 3 November, 1819. Lieutenant, 3 March, 1827. Commander, 16 May, 1848. He died 8 September, 1853.
(4) John R. Chandler, Surgeon USN, Surgeon's Mate, 14 November, 1824. Surgeon, 4 December, 1828, Dr. Chandler died 28 July, 1841.
Norfolk Navy Yard Table of Contents
Battle of the Hampton Roads Ironclads
The Norfolk Navy Yard into the 20th Century