samuel ward of rhode island wrote to his daughter, "the monsters inoculated people and sent them out the town and they have since broken out in smallpox." he asks if there is not a crime the monsters are not capable of. the british army left boston for new york in the spring of 1776 leaving smallpox behind. elated the siege was over, the people of massachusetts rushed back into survey the damage, to reunite with loved ones. rumors and fears of smallpox put a damper on celebrations. the massachusetts general court suspected fleeing tories were spreading the disease print the court created a committee to prevent prisoners from infecting the throngs of boston means returning home. because fears inoculation might further spread the disease, it was again banned until the selectmen recorded 20 cases. abigail wrote to john on april 14 that she cannot help but wish smallpox would spread. she was hoping it would spread more, so that she could legally have herself and her children inoculated. she wrote if it should spread, there is not the one thing that would prevent my going down to our own

samuel gridley howe was one of the secret six conspirators helping to fund the raid harpers ferry. his wife, julia wardd invited john brown for coffee. she knew brown and loved the song. samuel gridley howe in 1861 becomes one of the heads of the sanitary commission. julia goes with samuel gridley to washington, d.c. julia ward howe is now remembered only for "the battle hymn of the republic," but she was impeccably educated. she comes from new york city from one of the elite banking families. in the 1850's, she was one of the most accomplished poets in the united states. yesterday, i talked about how women were highly regarded and respected as among the greatest writers. julia ward howe was with harriet beecher stowe and louisa may alcott, although as a poet. "passion flowers" is still a brilliant collection of poetry. nathaniel hawthorne, often no friend of female writers, in part because he was envious of their success, referred to julia ward howe as the poetess of america, and hawthorne was not generous in his praise. this is based on her first two books of poetry. so she goes with her husband to d