Washington's smallpox inoculation credited with aiding Revolutionary War victory

In 1777 George Washington ordered mass variolation inoculation for Continental Army soldiers to prevent smallpox outbreaks. Smallpox had killed more American soldiers than battlefield combat early in the Revolution, and the inoculation program sharply reduced epidemic losses among regiments. By preserving manpower, Washington's inoculation policy kept the Continental Army operational for later campaigns and helped sustain the revolutionary effort.