The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-06-20
A Remarkable Case OF Recovery
Ir1asa wounds.

A Nashville correspondent of the Gin
cipnali Gacste says:
! lie most extraordinary case Of sur
yiving apparently mortal wounds that
has ever come under my observation is
that of John w. Vance, Company b,
I'D regimen of Indiana Mounted lnlan-
try, commanded by Colonel Miller
Early in April 1 made brief report
of the case, in a leter from Murfraes-
boro', bu at that time | had no idea of
the wounds. The demonical malignty
that could have induced any one bearing
the human form to have inflicted such
wounds under the circumstances, seems
almost beyond conception
While the regiment to which young
Vance belonged was scouting near Tay-
louisville, Tennessee, he and companion
were taken prisoners. During the next
twenty-four hours their captors treated
them kindly. They neither saw nor
heard anything to lead them to suspect
that any different treatment was in store
for them till they came within mile or
two Of Lebanon. Here the Rebels
wished to be free from the care of their
prisoners. They, therefore, tied them
to tree. A Captain French, of the
Rebel army. objec:ed to the plan of leav-
ing them thus pinioned, and at once
coolly aud cam!y drew his revolver and
fired three shots through the head of
each as they were pinioued to the trees.
His companion was at once despatched ;
but as Vance was unfastened, he fell
forward on his face, and another of the
Rebel band, named Cartright, fired the
fourth shot through the victims head
Vance assures me that he did not at
any time lose his Consciousness. lie
heard all they said and knew all they
did. Here he lay twenty. six hours,
during the 4th and 9th Of April, when
he was discovered by some of our troops
and brough into camp, and his wounds
were dressed by u surgeon Of one Of the
Ohio regiments. Nothing was done for
him till thir y-two hours after he wa,
wounded These are facts. Now for
the nature Of the wounds
They were inflicted BY n large revolver
used by our cavalry. aud the cold blood
ed mu+derers fired within yard of the
prisoned victims head.
The first shot took effect about an inch
back and below the right cheek bone,
aud came out on the opposite side about
the same distance from the left cheek
| bone.
The second ball entered about an incl
and Il half below, and little nearer he
ear than the first, and passing through
in the sane line Of the first, breaking
the jaws and looaenins the teeth.
l he third entered the neck just be-
low and in u line vertical TO the lower
tip of the ear. This lod gcd IN he OPP
posite side of the neck, from whence
the surgeon removed it.
The fourth-,he one thai had been
infic ed by Car;right, after he had been
thrown on his face-entcred back Of hi,
ear, about the center Of coMbalivencss
and escaped through his left eye, com
pletcy destroying it.
And yet John w. Vance lives and
looks we'll aud hearty. lie is an intel,
ligent, fine looking young man, just ar
rived at his majority. sat half au
hour on the adjoining cot, and conversed
with him and examined his wounds while
he was eating his dinner and he a
with Il relish Of man who loves life and
desires to prolong it.
The loss of his left eye will be his
only real Disagreement.