River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-05
ACrRIOCs WAR STORY.
A Singular Case of An@sthesia--The W
Thirst of An Iowa Soldier.

A Singular Case of Anesthesia-The W
Thirst of An Iowa Soldier.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
A few weeks ago the Commercial gave
letter from w. G.. Newton, Of Winterset,
Iowa, late sergeant of c., Sd Iowa Infantry,
inouirinq for the author of a letter printed
"a this neper in October, 1862, giving an
account after the battle of the Hstchis OF
"A Singular Case of An@sthesia, which
was wildly copied under the title OF The
War Spirit of an Iowa Soldier" The artl-
Gle was signed w. M. b., 18th Ohio. AS
the name Of the author was not known at
tbis office. the inquiry was referred to
Colonel A. w. Mccormick, who IS well
informed in military matters, with re-
quest that he aid the soldier, who was the
subject OF The sketch. IN finding theauthor.
Il was soon found that the author was
Major w. NJ. Beach, of London, o., who
was assistant surgeon of the 1Sth IN 1901
and assisted in amputatinP MIR. NeWtons
leo. The following extract from the sketch
win be read with interest, especially
by soldiers who have participated
in such scenes, and by the medl-
cal profession He INDUCED freely III con.
versation respecting the operation unui
the chloroform was applied. From the
wakefu! and natural state he ellded INTO
the anastnetic without the eonvnislve mo-
lion of single muscle, and without the
utteranca OF a single incoherent sentence
but plided into il as the innocent and weary
child glides into the sweet embrace OF
healthful aRd restoring sleep. The opera
ton was performed, the arteries all ligated,
the stump cleansed and the hast suture
lust in that instant applied. During the
entire operation he had scarcely moved
muscle. Dust at this time a large body OF
prisoners. taken in the engagement were
marched up the street, and were nearing
the house where the rnaimod and bleed
INC soldier lay. The streets were all
thropoed bysoldiery, and hundreds Of them
rnshod to get 81 near sight of the van
ouished tprisonersl, while they rent the
heavens with their loud hu2zas. A fun
| reoiment preceded the column of prisoners,
! and when Just opposite the band struck up
the inspiring air of Han, Columbia.
| In moment the color mountei 10
his face. He opened his eyes half Won
| deringly, and raised his head from the
pillow with the steadiness and dignity OF
| diving god. The scene of the conflict came
| back TO him, and he thought his noble reg
| iment was again breastiug towards the
| eoemy through q shower of shot and
shells. His brave comrades, he claimed,
we're falling one by one around MN, Just
/ az they had done in that dreadful hour OF
| fratncide and carnage. The spirit OF me
| battle came over him, and his features
| assumed au air OF bold, fierce and fiery un-
| Welding determination. de broke forth
! info exclamations the most terrible and
/ appalling have ever listened to IN all my
| life.
"I.ouder with the music Louder, louder,
| Iouderi Burst the heavens with your
strains! Sweeter, softer, sweeter! Charm
! the blessed angels from the very courts OF
heavenl Victory. victoryl Onward, on
| ward! No tagging, no tlinehng. no fall
| teringl Fill up the vacanciesi Close upl
/ rn up! Step forward Press fowardl
| Your comrades grayesl The fresh graves
| of your slain' Remember the graves OF
| vour commdesl Blue Millsi Blue AIillsl
! sbelbina! Shelbinal Hagarwoodl Shilohl
| Shiloh! Shllohl For Gods sake onwardl
| Onward. in heavens name onward onwardl
| onward See the devils wayer See them
| runl See, See See them llYl hyi fly"
During this outburst Of passion his
| couptensncc kindled and grew purple tln
| his look seemed that of diabolsm. Such
| n fury marked HE lineaments that I in
| stinctively hew back. Bat there was meth
| cd in his madness. He only erred IN mis-
! taking fine, and in misplacing himself
1 and his Dosition which the martial music
| ana the pcmp ana circumstance OF war IN
| the public streets would have natural ten
| dencv towards producing. In the very
middle Of his fury he seemed suddenly to
| omprehend his mistake. He ceased alb
| rnptly, his whole frame i'll tremor of emo
ton He looked around on the faces
presef,t. and without word laid down his
head. lie grew meditatiye as he seemed
to realize a fun sense Of his unhappy sit
uation. At length his eyes gradually filed
with tears, and his lips grew slightly tremus
l9us. He quietly remarked: Well boy,
goodbye; should do but sorry fighting
on a wooden leg. He again relapsea into
silence, aud was shortly carried away to
his own room.
The author, who had remained unknown
tc-him for ninteen years, when found by
the soldier, assured him "it IS just the
truth-a faithful contribution TO war
! history y