The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-02-18
A Case of Annsthesia.


conflict had been laid keneath the mold,
and while the wounded had been broue chit
10 the church buildings, or placed in the
spacious apartments of the wealthy dis
| loyalists of Bolivar Among the number
of unfortunates was William c. Newton.
Sergeant in Company q, of the Sd Iowa
Infantry. His leg had been so badly
shattered and torn by a musket shot as
to render an amputation unavoidable -
He was informed of such necessity, but
nnf mnrntmr or word of complaint es-
capped his lips, nor did the intelligence
cast over his face the least Ierceptible
shade of seriousness The table was pre-
pared, the instruments were placed con
veniently and everything placed in read
mess for the operation. He was brought
out upon the verandah aud placed upon
the table-hls poor. shattered, torn. and
half feshless leg dangling around, as if
only an extraneous and stnseless appen-
dage. There was no 81 Ching, no finch
ing, no drawing back or holding in
There was not simple feeling of dumb
resignation; nor yet Of brute indifference;
but sotdteriy submisslon-a heroic sub
mission. without a question or sigh
He indnlged freely in conversation re
spectiug the operati"n, until the chloro-
form was applied. FROM the waking aud
rational state he glideu into the anesthet-
ic without the convulsive motion of sim
Gle muscle, and without the ut,erance of
Il single incoherent sentence but gllded
into it as the innocent and weary child
ghdes into the sweet embrace of health
full and restoring sleep. The operation
was performed. The arteries all ligated /;
the stump cleansed, and the last suture
just in that instant applied. During the
entire operation he had scarcely moved a
muscle. just at this tine the large body
of prisoners taken in that engagement,
were marched up the street, aud were
nearing the house where the maimed and
bleeding soldier lay. The streets were
througed with soldiery; and hundreds of
item rushed to get nearer sight Of the
vanquishcd, willie they rent the heavens
with their loud huzzas. A full regiment
preceded the column of prisoners and
when just opposite, the band struck up
In full force, the inspiring martial air of
Hail Columbia" ln a moment, upon
the very instant. the color mounted to his
face. He opened lis eyes, half wonder
inglv. and raised his head from the pill
low with Il >tea1lness and dignity of god
The scene Of tine confict cane back to
him; and lie thought his noble Regiment
was again breastlug toward the enemy,
through a shower of shot and shell His
brave comrades he deemed, were falling one
by Que around him, just as they had done
in that dreadful houi of fratriclde and car
mage The spri, Of the time came over
hin. his featu e, assumed an air of bold
tt .rce, fiery, uDyielding determination; aud
he burst forth INTO eXclamalions the most
terrible aud appalling | had ever listened
10 in all my lite.
"Louder with the music louder loud.
er Burst the heavens with your strains!
oweetcr! softer sweeter! charm the
blessed angels from the very Courts of
Heaven. 3. Victory victory. Onward !,
inward No tagging! no tiinching nu
faltering Fill up step up! press for,
ward your comrades graves the fresh
graves of your slain Remember the
graves of your comrades Blue Mills !.
Blue Mills SheIbna Shelbina Hu.
ger Wood Shiloh Shiloh For God
sake onward Onward, in Heavens
name !! onward! onward See the dey
lis waver! Sec them run See see them
dy fly"
During this outburst of passion, his
countenanee kinded and grew purple,
Till his look seemed like that of diabul
lsm Such fury marked his lineaments
that instinctivcly drew back. But there
was "method IN his madness" HI only
erred in mistaking time. aud in misplac
ing his position; facts which the martial
music aud the "pomp and the circum-
stance of war" in the public streets would
have natural tendency toward produc-
ing. In the very middle of his fury, he
seemed suddenly to comprehend his mis-
take, He ceased abruptly. his whole
frame in lremOr of emotion. He looked
around upon the faces present, and with
out word, qlietly laid down his head.
ii grew medtarive as he seemed to re-
aIlze lull sense of his unhappy situation
At length his eyes gradually filled with
tears, AID his lips grew tremulous. He
quietly remarked, "Well, boys, good bye,
goodbye; should do but sorry fighting
on wooden leg" He again relapsed
into silence, and was shortly afterwards
carried to his room.
Is recruit supposed to be raw until
he has been exposed to FIRE