The National tribune., 1889-02-07
HUGH THOMPSON.
His Wounds Deprive Him Of Memory for Ye


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In The Ma
T1oNAL TRIBUNE of Nov. 10 COmrade VIM. z.
Iliff, 18th H., speaks about demented man
by name of Hugh Thompson" who has been
travelling about for 90 years as tramp, and
would like something of his history. will
endeavor to throw some light on the subject as
far as / can. Hugh Thompson was private IN
Co: II, 18th Ohio, Capt L. S. Gilleland's COM
pany, and received gunshot wound IN the
head at the battle of Chickamauga, Ga. lie
was left for dead on the field, and so reported
on the company rolls. About the year 1870 or
1871 he found himself travelling about in lii
nois as tramp. This is as early as he has
any distinct recollection. he then worked
from place to place. Subsequently he married,
and has wife aud four children living and
two children dead. Settled near Joash Kan,
on homestead of 100 acres of land. For some
years past he has been making efforts to find II
he had not served in an Ohio regiment. he re-
members seeing the figures 18th Ohio on caps.
Information was asked in regard to his case by
the Department Encampment which met at
Springfield, o., in June, 1857, which finally led
to ms Identification, although he signed ms
name Hugh Thomson (leaving out the " p y
He was requested to come to Van Vert o.
When he came his father, who is living and
blind, recognized his voice, and his sister, VINO
is also living, recognized him; but the Captain
with whom he served did not recognize hlm,
but others of the company did. lie is OF me-
dunn build and rather below the average hight,
and is getting pretty gray. He had in his pos
session some keepsakes from his sister, among
other things a Testament. Writes the same
hand he did when boy, when he entered the
service, and In every way answers to the de-
scription of the long-lost son and brother. He
attended our regimental Reunion held at Mans
field, o., Sept. 8 and 8, 1887, where two COM
rades, not of his own company, recognized
him.
While at Mansfield he related to me, in addi-
ton to the above that he could remember hav-
ing been led across the fields to a neighbours
house at the time of his mothers DEATH and of
crying and wanting to go back to her. The
father claims this was when Hugh was but
nine years old His life is almost entirely
blank. He has faint recollection of strug-
gle with some one for his gun, and also of
high StOckade; but has no remembrance of be-
ing prisoner or of being exchanged. Has no
recollection of all this missing link of time,
but as almost daily something comes to his
mind, he may possibly some time have more
light He had, at the time ] saw him, made
application for pension. His wound was
fracture of the skull, on top of head. When
in the hot sun, or by much exertion, it brings
on apoplexy or falling fits. He is very re-
firing in his dispositions very much dislikes
to talk about his past life. His case is strong
plea for the arrearage act.
AS ComrRde Thompson is a reader of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, he may at some time give
its readers more interesting account of his
wonderful experience."-JoHN ~ EWING,
Co. d, 10Th Ohio, Secretary of Reunion Asso-
citation, Upper Sandusky, o.