The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-07-02

Inc most extraordinary cases of surv iv.
ing, apparently mortal wounds that has
ever come under my observation, is that of
John W. Vance, Company B. rcd Reci.
ment of Indiana Mounted Infantry, com.
msnded by Col. Miller.
Early in April made brief report OF
the case, in letter from Murfreesboro at
that time had no idea of the severity OF
the wounds. The demoniacal malienitv
that could have induced any one bearing
the human form, to have inflicted such
wounds, under the circumstances. seems
almost beyond conception.
If spontaneous malignity of this horrible
rebellion Is ever fully written, it will sur.
pass that Of the darkest ages / savage bar
bsrsm.
Take this one example: While the reg
inent to which young Vance belonged was
scouting near Taylorsville, Tenn, be and
companion were taken prisoners. During
the next twenty-four hours their captors
treated them kindly. They neither heard
nor saw anything to lead them to suspect
that any different treatment was il, store
Tor them until they came within mile or
two OF Lebanon. Here the rebels wished
TO be frse from the care of their prisoners
They, therefore, tied them to a tree. A
Captain French Of the rebel army objected
to the plan ofleaving them thus rinioned
and at once coolly aud calmly drew bis re-
volver, and fred three shots through the
head feach as they were pinionsd to the
trees. His companion was at once dis
patched but as he was unfastened he fell
forward on his face, and another of the re.
bel band named Cartwright. fred the fourth
shot through the victims head
Vance assures me, that he did not at any
time lose his consciousness. He 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 brought into camp
and his wounds were dressed bp Surge on
of one of the Ohio regiments. Nothing was
done for hlm till thirty four hours after he
was wounded. These are the facts. Now
for the nature of the wound:
They were inflicted by the large revol.
vcrs, used by our cavalry; and the cold
blooded murderers fred within q yard of
the prisened victims head.
The first shot took effect about an inch
back and below the right sheek bone, and
came out on the opposite side about the
same distance from the lei, cheek bone.
The second ball entered about an inch
and half below, and little nearer the ear
than the first, and passing through in the
same line of the first-breaking the Jaws
and loosening the teeth.
The third entered the neck lust below
and in line vertical to the lower tip of the
ear. This lodged in the opposite side of
the neck from whence the surgeon removed
it.
The fourth--the one that had been inflict
ed by Cartwright after he had been thrown
on his face-entered back Of his ear, about
the centre of combativeness. and escaped
through his left eye-completely destroying
il.
And yet John w. Vance lives and looks
well and hearty. He is an intelligent, fine
looking young man, just arrived at his ma
jority. sat half an hour, on sd adjoining
cot, and conversed with him and examin-
ed his wounds while he was eating his din
ner and he ate with a relish of man who
loves life and desires to prolong it,
The loss Of his left eye will be hls only
Disagreement.
But how it was possible for four leaden
messengers of death to pass through the
part they did without proving mortal is
marvellous problem. But such are the facts
and they are Of sufficient importance to be
perpetuated in the Gazette.-Cor. Gin Gas