Smallpox.

This is coolbert:

From the time of the American Revolutionary War an instance of biological warfare as waged by the British against the rebellious colonists and the Continental army?

Never heard of this before!!

"The New World of the western hemisphere was devastated by the 1775–1782 North American smallpox epidemic."

"The epidemic occurred during the years of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1782). At the time limited medicinal options existed to help stop the transmission, and therefore the fatalities from the smallpox epidemic were as common as those from the battles of the Revolutionary War.

"It is not known where the outbreak began, but the epidemic was not limited to the colonies on the Eastern seaboard, nor to the areas ravaged by hostilities. The outbreak spread throughout the North American continent. In 1775 it was already raging through British-occupied Boston and among the Continental Army's invasion of Canada. During Washington's siege of Boston the disease broke out among both Continental and British camps."

Comments:

* Was this pestilence deliberate or accidental?

* Washington was of the opinion it was deliberate?

* The British too suffered from the malady?

* The Continental army did invade Canada!

* Never a good idea to release bio-warfare agents unless you possess an antidote!

coolbert.