The Yellow Death: Wilmington & The Epidemic of 1862
Dram Tree Books' Young Reader's Series of North Carolina History consists of short (32-64 pages on average), very visual and colorful books about the history of North Carolina, aimed at youths between ages 8-18. The idea is to introduce youngsters to the four centuries of great stories we have in North Carolina in a way that is fun, entertaining, and true. As an added bonus, as many adults enjoy the books as kids because they are a great way to learn about our history without having to commit to a thick "regular" history book!
Before the coming of modern medicine, people living near the swampy coastal areas of North Carolina were frequently plagued by diseases that left many sick and dead. One of the worst of these was yellow fever. Carried by mosquitoes, the disease was a mystery to doctors until 1898. That was 36 years too late to save the hundreds of Wilmington residents who perished in the deadly outbreak of 1862. While the Civil War raged throughout the country, and Union warships stood offshore to stop the blockade runners making for the Confederate port at Wilmington, the city was full of soldiers and speculators, sailors, slaves and citizens. Before the yellow fever epidemic ended in November, a full third of Wilmington’s population would be dead. This is the story of a baffling illness that killed more often than not, and of the people who came together to weather the storm of death it brought.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...Jack E. Fryar, Jr. has authored or edited more than thirty volumes of North Carolina and Cape Fear history. His historical specialty is colonial North Carolina, particularly during the seventeenth century. Jack has served as a United States Marine, worked as a broadcaster, freelance magazine writer, sports announcer, and book designer. He holds a Masters degree in History and another Masters in Teaching, and taught history in Wilmington, N.C.