Mosquito Soldiers: Malaria, Yellow Fever, and the Course of the American Civil War

by Andrew McIlwaine Bell

Of the 620,000 soldiers who perished during the American Civil War, the overwhelming majority died not from gunshot wounds or saber cuts, but from disease. And of the various maladies that plagued both armies, few were more pervasive than malaria -- a mosquito-borne illness that afflicted over 1.1 million soldiers serving in the Union army alone. Yellow fever, another disease transmitted by mosquitos, struck fear into the hearts of military planners who knew that "yellow jack" could wipe out an entire army in a matter of weeks. In this ground-breaking medical history, Andrew McIlwaine Bell explores the impact of these two terrifying mosquito-borne maladies on the major political and military events of the 1860s, revealing how deadly microorganisms carried by a tiny insect helped shape the course of the Civil War.
Soldiers on both sides frequently complained about the annoying pests that fed on their blood, buzzed in their ears, invaded their tents, and generally contributed to the misery of army life. Little did they suspect that the South's large mosquito population operated as a sort of mercenary force, a third army, one that could work for or against either side depending on the circumstances. Malaria and yellow fever not only sickened thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers but also affected the timing and success of certain key military operations. Some commanders took seriously the threat posed by the southern disease environment and planned accordingly; others reacted only after large numbers of their men had already fallen ill. African American soldiers were ordered into areas deemed unhealthy for whites, and Confederate quartermasters watched helplessly as yellow fever plagued important port cities, disrupting critical supply chains and creating public panics.
Bell also chronicles the effects of disease on the civilian population, describing how shortages of malarial medicine helped erode traditional gender roles by turning genteel southern women into smugglers. Southern urbanites learned the value of sanitation during the Union occupation only to endure the horror of new yellow fever outbreaks once it ended, and federal soldiers reintroduced malaria into non-immune northern areas after the war. Throughout his lively narrative, Bell reinterprets familiar Civil War battles and events from an epidemiological standpoint, providing a fascinating medical perspective on the war.
By focusing on two specific diseases rather than a broad array of Civil War medical topics, Bell offers a clear understanding of how environmental factors serve as agents of change in history. Indeed, with Mosquito Soldiers, he proves that the course of the Civil War would have been far different had mosquito-borne illness not been part of the South's landscape in the 1860s.

Genres: History

216 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Gregory]

This is a compact and focused monograph on the role of mosquito-borne illnesses in the Civil War. No doubt malaria and yellow fever weakened and killed many soldiers (both sides) and civilians, as he argues. It is not so clear that this changed the course of the war itself, although it might have impacted several campaigns and actions, as Bell suggests. However, the tricky part is how much weight to give this one factor in determining outcome of events. Mosquito Soldiers is one more example of the important role that the environment played during the Civil War; one more instance that chips away at the agency of the commanders and policy makers.

[Maryann]

Started out very interesting then became boring. Ok, so disease killed more soldiers than combat. I get it and no doubt. After this is stated the author continually proves this construct by presenting case after case, battle after battle, to reinforce this. Not my interest. Others may want to read endless details, but I found them tedious

[Rachel]

An interesting military history about the effects of mosquito born diseases. The first two chapters were definitely the most interesting, with the subsequent chapters being a little too focused on specific people and battles for my taste.

[Adam]

This book was short, only 120 pages. I enjoyed parts of it, but there is only so much to be said regarding soldiers catching malaria and yellow fever. The book bogs down in anecdotes but holds value in adding context to the experience on the ground that soldiers faced.

[Leah]

I liked it but wished it had more info on a specific case I am writing about.