River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-15
MY LUNACY.

| The Confederate force of General Early
had gained the mastery in the Shenan-
doah valley. and our demoralized battal-
ions were falling back precipitately
through Winchester.
Sheridan dashed upon the scene, and
his presence, like spell, checked the re-
treat. and infused new courage into the
| disorlered mass Our battery reached a
knoll to the left of the pike, and unlim-
bered IN front of the timbered slope, on
| the brow of which the Confederates had
posted heavy battery. The infantry line
on our front was advancing splendidly,
and | saw the cleaning crest of
| bavonets fall when the order
came for charge ON the double quick.
Bright sunshine was streaming through
the open curtain, and seemed to
Lhave awakened me from my
prolonged slumbcr. Slowly my scattered
senses gathered from dim unconscious
ness, and as thought assumed definite
form the scene of the battlefield again
| flashed before me.
sWhat Of the Charge" l inquired
anxiousIy, making desperate effort to
rise.
The sharp unnatural tone of my own
voice startled me, and my strength was
unequal to rustic even the covering of my
couch.
.'Do not try to walk now, Charley; you
will be strong very soon 1t was the
voice of my wife. In moment realized
that | was home ON the shore Of the
northern lake I glanced through the
window, and the waving branches associ-
ated with my thoughts of the battle scene
were not there, but the snow lay heavily
ON the ground glistening IN the sunshine.
Many months had passed away--a blank
period in my existence.
As recovered my strength and com
prehension | learned the critical ordeal |
| had passed in surviving severe wound
! that caused fracture of the skull, and
nccessitated the operation of trepanning.
Still many more months elapsed before
! | was again abroad. The war was ended,
and the people were rejoicing in the
restoration of peace | was rendered and
accepted the old position | had resigned
in respons, to the call of arms-teacher OF
mathematics in the academy of my native
| town.
The routine of the position was famil
| lar enough, but close attention to its duties
shortly developed the fact that my nervous
system had not recovered from the severe
shock il had sustained, and my mental
powers were impaired.
As nearly as could define the effect
| produced, the injury seemed to have inter
| rupted the harmonious action of the brain,
and the right and left lobes apparel "a
operate independently, and take separate
and distinct cogniZance of emotions and
sensations conveyed by the medium of the
senses Every thought seemed to have
| its duplicate. necessary to complete inn
preston. When ] studied a single prob
| lem, and the solution occurred immedi-
ately would follow the solution again, as
if emanating from second mind acting
in conjunction, and always little slower
in its perceptions. This arrangement
vexatious and confusing at first, continued
1 to increase as | devoted myself to mental
labor, until finally | was compelled t.
abandon my position in the academy.
The necessity was indeed q hardship
! as ii left me without the means of sus-
tenance. Nv brave and devoted wife bore
up noblv under the affection, and insisted
that | should indulge in the rcpose that
my critical position demanded. Mean
time she turned the fine musical faculties
acquired in better days 10 good account
and We continued 10 i've comfortably fol
a time ON the proceeds of her labor
Comfortably, did | say No, it grieved
me constantly TO see her toll $. arduous
! IL, with the double responsibility o.
household cares And knew that hei
assumed cheerfuIness was the cover 81
j painful soiicitude she experienced on my
behalf.
/ This anxiety did not fayorably etfect