Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry Pestilence; Crops & Drought

SHEPHERDSTOWN, VA. SEPT. 12– We understand by a gentleman directly from Harper’s Ferry, that the disease which has been so malignant at that place, continues to rage with unabating violence. Never was it known to have been half so fatal. Scarcely any of the inhabitants have entirely escaped its pestilential influence.

The ague and fever has been very prevalent in this town and neighborhood, for the last few weeks. Some cases have occurred of a bilious remittent fever; but none of a very malignant character.

We are apprehensive that the present fall will be one of no ordinary character. The call for physicians in parts of this county, is ominous of disease and pestilence.

The crops of corn in this neighborhood, have been much injured by the recent drought; however, they will yield a tolerably handsome reward to the tillers of the earth. The potatoes have also been much injured. Buckwheat will but poorly compensate the farmer for his labor; and turnips fall far short of a common crop.

The Potomac river [in the neighborhood of Shepherdstown] continues extremely low, and the putrification of the grass which had become very luxuriant, from the copious rain which fell the preceding part of the season, has become very injurious to the health of those who live near its course.