Isadore Douglass

 Major Douglas described the impact of the disease in a letter to this mother-in-law, dated August 12, 1867:

   "On Friday the 26 July the cholera broke out in virulent epidemic form at this Post. It came upon us like a clap of thunder. I was the first and only officer seriously ill with it.... I suffered intensely but the kind attentions of friends, medical skill, and above all the constant attention of my darling wife, and a sturdy constitution, I was brought safely through the dangerous stages of the malady, but left me utterly prostrated...On Tuesday evening Issie was taken sick....I was again & again dosed with morphine & other poisons, utterly prostrated, helpless & torpid. I did not know that Issie was dangerously sick until about 1/2 hour before her death. The Drs. deceived me, they said to save my life. They may be right but I thought it very cruel. A soldier whispered into my torpid ear that the surgeons were deceiving me that Mrs. D. was very low....I tried to rise but could not. I called out. It was useless.... I sank back in a state of semi insensibility. I know nothing more. They informed me that she died at 10 minutes past 12 on August 1st.... I lingered on between life & death, utterly reckless which way the scale turned, medical skill and the assiduous care of friends brought me to a state of convalescence, and here I am a wreck of my former self, scarcely able to drag one foot after the other or hold the pen with which I recreate this sad story."