683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1)

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Washington as Proto-Vaxxer: The Smallpox Inoculation Campaign

At 40:06 · chapter starts 38:10

Even as disease ravages the camp, Washington organises what may have been the most consequential decision of the entire Valley Forge episode: a mass inoculation programme against smallpox. The procedure involves scratching the skin and introducing a mild dose of the virus, which most recipients survive — a primitive but effective precursor to vaccination. Tom Holland notes this was also a cause championed by Benjamin Franklin, who had lost a son to unvaccinated smallpox. Without Washington's programme, Dominic argues, the death toll would have been far higher. This moment also illustrates something key about Washington's generalship: he is not, as Dominic freely admits, a brilliant battlefield tactician — he loses most of his battles. His genius is in managing men, maintaining morale, and holding the army together through crises that would have broken a lesser commander.