Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-08-19
A REMARKABLE sTRoKE or l1aHrNINa

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Capt William Hemsreet, of the 18th Missour
Infantry, records in the Chattanooga Gazette th
effect in the Camp Fuller Brigade, near Ross
vile, (Geo.) on the 18th of July, of remark
able stroke of lightning, which killed and wound
ed ab,ut fifteen soldiers, and killed and shocked
severely several teams. The description he
gives Of it is prepared by Mr.. Pollock, regimen
tnl quartermaster, scientific gentleman, who
observed the beginning Of the storm closely
The narrative is as follows:
At about six o'clock T. NJ the heavy clouds
gathering in the west divided, one part passing
southwark and the other passing northward,
both emitting lightning and rain, and finally
coming together again right over the Sixteenth
Army Corps, camped on the high hills on the
south bank Of the Chattahootcbie, at Rossyille
bridge At the moment Of the union Of tho two
clouds, the most vivid and incessant flashes of
| lightning were emitted, followed by thunder
peals almost equalling our own cannon, with
deafeniug, stunning, almost appalling effect
The discharge that did the principal damage in
the 18th regiment Missouri infantry descended
from the cloud at very low altitude, and shot
across the road, lurid, horizontal volume of
flame, about the thickness of a mans body. 1t
struck tall oak about ninety feet high and
thirty inches thick, on high point Of ground
and descended, splitting it from the heart, but
throwing no splinters. AT the base OF the tree,
where large number Of soldiers had biyouacked
the fluid seemed to leave the tree and its roots
and dart out in every direction in great num-
Der Of lurid jets, similar to those of large mass
Of pig iron ut a white heat under the trip ham
mer, except, instead Of flying in sparks, they
we're in continuous streams. All this was only
the work of an Instant Nearly the whole regi-
ment was stunned and blinded. Many lay
shocked to insensibility. A whole six mule
team, at the distance Of twenty yards. were
thrown down. Just ut this juncture, the dis
charge Of the cloud seemed to strike in rapid
succession at other places in the brigade have
since learned, killing and wounding men and
animals.
Nov for description Of freaks. Those little
jets running from the trunk Of the column of the
electric fluid, something like the roots and fine
roOllets OF large tree, penetrated every thing
they came in contact with, more penetrating
than bullet and some Of them were no longer
than knitting needle. In their punctures they
made no indentatlon like n bullet, but burst
their way Every thing they touched-blankets,
clothing, hair, skin, paper, &c.,-hsd the ap-
peBrance Of vitriol Bpringled over them Tie
appearance Of the vicinity generally was that of
large quantity of vitriol having burst and
springed in fine jets around examined one
soldiers knapsack and contents One little let.
about the size of buckshot, had entered Il
penetrated twenty BIZ f0lds OF his blanket, pene-
trated through his portfolio, through letters,
envelopes, quires Of paper, daguerreotypes, and
the brass clasp Of the portfolio. Several men
were burned, and the appearance of the skin is
like that of scalding water having run from the
head to the heels, singing hair, aud burning the
skin to blister, and in some instances deep
into the 6esh.
Eight guns standing by the tree were dis
charged without injury to the guns. Corporal
John Taylor, company !, and private John Hem
sell cpmpany ], were killed. Eightmembers OF
the same company were severely burned Those
near the tree received currents OF fluid, which
ran along their bodies Those at distance
bore the appearance on their skins of having
stood in the spatters and curruscations of molten
iron from a trip.hammer. Three men of the
Second United States battery were killed.
four mule team, with driver and negro man, on
the opposite side of the river, were killed.
Examining the topography of the country l
am OF the opinion that the vast number Of arms,
muskets, and steel cannon, drew those clouds
together over that spot, as it was no higher than
many other hills in their course in the vicinity
The clouds passed low in their whole route for
miles, but did not unite nor discharge until ar
rlving over the Sixteenth Corps, which was
camped close together