Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-18

f@413 S~4 PfQus Of ootns 70 whom SOu-
krees h asked to give pension, was the
ngFstns hack to life Of . soldier boy,
Vho now Is Z prominent businessman
3 Maine city. well-known politically
end socially throughout the State, and 9
-1bgss)>s esesywhsrss This gentleman
has had an experience through which
isw men have passed. He literally has
attended his own funeral. He told me
a. following remarkable story upon the
tondition that | would withhold his
name:
"Whcn the war broke out, !" said he,
was Z puny boy Of seventeen years,
one Of the sickly kind not worth their
Red. ] lived IN waterville, and enlist
Cd with the famous wateryille-Collcgc
company. was 10 inferior fellow
physically that they set out not to take
me, but | was bound to 60, and eleven
Others said they would go II | went,
and would stay al home il did not go.
So I went to the front with the Third
Maine regiment Of infantry. and No
vembcr, 1861, found me in Camp How
ard, Alexandra, Va. The camp was
named for General o. o. Howard, who
commanded the regiment.
You csn judge Of what kind OF
youngster was from the fact that at
the first battle Of Bull Run the first
lieutenant Of my company loaded my
gun for me-.
swell, one day while we were in
camp II Alexandra we were ordered
out to Fairfax Courthouse on short
expedition, and 1 took cold. l aggra-
waited it by lying on the damp ground
afscr my return, and the next thing /
was stricken with diphtheria. Some Of
my chums had me removed to the hos
pital-tcnt, and told the officers that /
must have all done for me that care and
money could do.
"They were very good to me, but ]
grew worse. A great sac formed on
my throat, II grew SO large that
could see it as lay in my cot, and 1t
protruded from under my chin. l be-
came speeches.. and remained in sort
Of stupor. I could hear, and was dimly
cognizant Of what was going on around
me. Ny face at last swelled so that
could not use my eyes, and was prac-
sically blind. The surgeons, DIR.
Mcclure, of Bangor, and DR.. Hill
dreth, Of Gardiner, told me i
must die. took a ring off my finger
and told my comrades to send il home
to my mother. sent dying message
TO her, and awaited death. was re-
conciled, and in my semi-unconscious
state quite comfortable. | suffered no
pain. My limbs grew cold and sank
deeper into the stupor. | heard them
say was dying. had fingered along
until it was now in January, 1862. DIR.
McCrure took hold Of my wrist one
day, threw it down after trying to feel
my pulse, and heard him say; The
boy is dead /; his pulse has stopped.
Take him out
II could not make sign or noise.
but | had sense enough remaining to
think of my jack-kniie. thought they
would wrap me up in my blanket and
bury me, and it popped into my head
that might dig my way out with my
iack-knife. although how | was TO do it,
not being able 10 move a muscle, | can't
tell you.
MY friends gathered around me. and
heard their expressions of grief. The
time was set for my funeral. The COM
pahy was drawn up, and the chaplain,
the Rev. Mr.. Leonard, who preached
in Bangor before and after the war,
PRAYED and made brief remarks. The
ceremony was not enjoyed by me, but
nv mind was so much dulled that | did
not fully realize the danger of my stu
alton.
"They took me into the dead-house
and laid me down. Soon the doctors
came around and took out their knives.
] knew what that meant. They were
going TO dissect me before ! was buried
in order to find out something about
that enormous sac on my throat. | had
to silently face the prospect OF being
carved alive.
"'Doctor, ] guess you had better
operate. said Surgeon Hildreth to Sur
geon Mcclure.
"Dr. McCrure bent over me, lancet
in hand. | made desperate effort to
move, to speak, to let them know by
some sign that | was yet alive, but all
my horror and despair could not even
make nerve twitch. DR.. McCrure
thrust his lancet into the sac at my
throat. A stream Of foul matter rushed
out. The skin on my face relaxed, and
as he bent over me he saw my eyes open
and saw me wink. The thought that |
was alive thrilled him to the marrow.
saw his face grow pale and heard him
confer with the other doctor. They
carried me back to the hospital tent.
! met DIR. McCrure many times after
ward, and he told me that he never in
his life received such start as he did
when my eyes opened that time.
"Mrs. Sampson was the wife of the
Northumberland of eur regiment.
She took kind interest i'll me, and her
nursing saved my life. She watched
over me and fused with me like
mother. was only one of her charges.
The other inyalids. as well as |, re-
.eeiyed her attention. and ! tell you she
seemed like an angel TO all of us.
II was long time rallying. Weeks
passed before could speak. They took
me out on the field to see brigade
drill one day. The movements excited
me so that felt something give way in
my throat. and | yelled. II startled
those about me. 1t seemed like avoice
from the tombs, they said. | could
make only one sound, and | kept that
agoing Till II made the others in the hos
pital almost crazy was so tickled to
think could speak, you see. had to
begin anew aud learn to talk over again.
was weak for year, but made a
complete recovery. II did me good.
j have been more robust and health
Yer every way. have not had
any kind Of humor since. | have
cutliyed nearly all the boys who were
my chums and took such good care Of
me. Major Small, Of Oakland, and Mrs.