Page "Henry Ware Lawton" Paragraph 24

Lawton suffered from a fever, possibly malaria, on and off between July and October.

This fact was detected by only a few correspondents.

For his part, Lawton did not make light of the illness except to a few close friends with whom he corresponded.

His real condition may have been ' recurring ' malarial fever since he had been diagnosed with the illness, as well as dysentery in 1876.

According to National Archive records, the army surgeon who diagnosed his condition at that time recommended a six-months leave in a different climate from the one in which he was stationed.

His illness forced him to take a medical leave of absence on October 6, 1898.

He returned to the States on October 13 and shortly thereafter, began his preparation for the assignment that would take him to the Philippines.