The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-02
Letter From Bolivar, Tenn
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial1
A Singular Case of An@sthesia.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial
A Singular Case of An@sthesia.
It was Immediately after the battle of
the Hatchie The dead in that terrible
conflict had been laid beneath the mold,
while the wounded had been brought to
the church- buildings, or placed in the
spacious apartments of the wealthy dis
loyalists Of Bolivar Among the number
of unfortunates was William G. Newton,
Sergeant in Company c. of the Sd Iowa
Infantry. His leg had been so badly
shattered and torn by a musllet shot
as to render an amputation unavoidable.
He was informed of such necessity !;
but not a murmur or word of complaint
escaped his lips; nor did the intelligence
seem 10 cast over his face the least psi
ceptible shade of seriousness. The ta-
BILE was prepared-the instruments were
placed conveniently and every thing put
| in readiness for the operation. He was
| brought out upon the verandah and
placed upon the table-his poor, shat
tered, torn, and half lleshless leg dang
ling around, as if only an eXtraneous and
senseless appendage. There was no
sghing, no flinching, no drawing back or
| holding in. There was not a simple feel
| ing of dumb resignation; nor yet of brute
indifference; but a S0ldierly submission
a heroic submission, without a question
or sigh. He INDUCED freely in cOnver-
sation respecting the operation, until the
chloroform was applied. From the wax
ing and rational state he glided into the
an@sthetic without the convulsive mo-
ton of single muscle, and without the
uttterance of single incoherent sem
tence; but glided into it as the innocent
and weary child glides into the sweet
embraces of a healthful and restoring
sleep The operation was performed
The arteries all ligated; the stump
ceansed and the last suture just in that
instant applied. During the entire Oper-
alton he had scarcely moved a muscle
just at this time the large body Of pris
} oners taken in that engagement were
marched up the street, and were nearing
the house where the manned and bleed
ing soldier lay. The streets were al
thronged by soldiery; and hundreds 0
them rushed to get nearer sight of TIN
vanquished, while they rent the heavens
with their loud huzzas. A full regimen
preceded the column of prisoners ant
when Just opposite, the band struck up
! in full force, the inspiring martial air 0
"Hail Columbia" In a mOment-upOI
the very instant, the color mounted to hi
face He opened his eyes half wonder
p ingly, and raised his head from the pill
, low with the steadineSs and dignity of {
, God The ecpne of the conflict cam
. back TO him; and he thought his noble
regiment was again breasting toward th
enemy, through a shower Of shot an'
she'll His brave comrades, he deemed
Z were falling one by one around HIM, JUS
as they had done in that dreadful hou
of fratrcide and carnage The spirit o
the time came over him. and his feature
, assumed an air Of bold, fierce, fiery. un
= yielding determination and he brok
forth into excamations the most terribl
and appalling have ever listened TO il
all my life.
"Louder with the music lOundei! loud
, err louder! Burst the heavens with you
/ strains Sweeterl softerl sweeter! charm
: the blessed angels from the very Court
e Of Heaven! Victory! victory On
7 ward onward No tagging no finch
} ing No fallering Fill up the yacau
cies close up Fill up fill up! Stcl
| forward press forward Your com
, rades graves The fresh graves Of you
p slain! Remember the graves Of you
comrades! Blue Mllsl Blue Mills. Shel
= bina Shelbina Hager Wood Shilol