A letter from Clinton, 14 October 1853, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
File prepared and submitted by Claude B. Slaton

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Transcribed from photocopy of original, prepared and submitted by
Claude B. Slaton, Baker, La.
09/12/98

Clinton, La. Oct. 14th, 1853
[To:] W. W. Cook

Dear Sir,

As I have a little time to spare to day I have concluded to drop
you a few lines. We have at this time a fearful Epidemic of the
Yellow Fever a raging in our town at this time. Tho our town is
quite deserted our population heretofore was between 1500 and 2000.
There is now only about 250 left. They have fled to the country or
are dead. We have lost many of our oldest citizens. We have 45 cases
under treatment at this time and some of them must certainly die.
We have had 4 new cases in the last 24 hours, But none for the last
12 hours. None of my family has been sick yet, But I do not know
how soon they may. Some families has been nearly all cut off. Those
that has suffered the most was those that fled to the country and
could not get medical aid. The preachers and the religious part of
our community has entirely left. We have not a praying man or woman
left. But our Masonic Brethren and odd fellows are doing all they
can. Business has entirely ceased in our town. We have a physician
and three nurses from New Orleans sent by the Howards. Also a Doctor
from Woodville in your State, Who are doing all they can. The
epidemic has many cases in Woodville, Batton Rouge, and at Bayou
Sarah and Port Hudson and I hope and pray that it will not last
many more days in this place. We have had rain this morning and
the air is much cooler. Oh, that there would come frost.

Since I commenced this, I hear of Two new cases and one death.
There is one feature now in the disease--that it takes mostly
the German population. But there is know telling when or where
it mite Stop. Time can only tell. Mr. Ally has your deed ready
for you, But from your Silence upon the subject you do not want
it as I have written to you several times concerning it. I would
like much to hear from you. I would have left the place but I
came in the conclusion that was more safety in remaining than
in leaving. Amongst those that is in town there is less alarm
now than when it first Broke out for most all the alarmists had
left. Frances was a good bit alarmed at first but she has got
quite over it and we are all well and in fine Spirits, tho it
is hard for us to get enough to eat as the country people will
not come or send to Town. I got some chickens the other day by
sending a boy to the country. They caught the chickens and bought
out into woods and laid them down and the boy waited until they
left and get them the country people are completely panick stricken.
They will not let a person from Town come near them. Frances and
the children Send their love to all. Give my respects to Morris L.
Lane and all the rest. I must go and attend to the sick.

Yours Truly,
B. W. Hatch

Headstone in the Clinton Cemetery, East Feliciana Parish, La.:

B. W. Hatch
Born Davidson County, Tenn.
July 2, 1803
Died of Yellow Fever in Clinton, La.
Oct. 26, 1853 (Masonic stone)

Household of B. W. Hatch in 1850 (from census):

#471
B. W. Hatch, Tailor, 48, M, Tenn.
Frances A. Hatch, 39, F, N.C.
Mary Hatch, 14, F, Miss.
Emily Hatch, 7, F, La.
F. W. Ward, Tailor, 32, M, N.Y.
Catherine Ward, 26, F, Germany
Frances Ward, 2, F, La.
John W. Alley, 49, M, Va.