Washington, being wary of diseases entering his camp, commanded that all army personnel and any belonging in the camp become inoculated against smallpox. That includes even his own wife. Before entering camp, you must undergo this procedure also. Inoculation, only recently invented, involved making a small incision under the skin with a mild version of the smallpox virus. This helped prevent disastrous outbreaks of the disease in camp. Luckily, you underwent inoculation a few months previous, at your husband's request, before he left on his most current campaign.
You grimace as you remember the infection and pain that followed your inoculation. In a silent prayer, you are thankful that you only have to do it once in your life to be safe from the disease. |
You arrive at your Winter home...But this house is no chateau. Already living here is Washington's entire military family, which includes many men, their servants, your servants, and often others. All of these people are squashed in two stories. It's possible that later on your husband will build additions onto the house, or build small dwelling places nearby. You will be here for the next few months, don't forget.
Despite the circumstance of the crowd your new task for the upcoming months is to keep your husband company, and to make sure that the household is properly up-kept. Many servants are here however, to help you with the task. Remember: as a woman, you are the only one who can bring the domestic sphere of life to the war front. |