The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-09-29
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
PATHETIC CASE OF AN ILLINOIS
UNION SOLDIER.
Reported Killed In battle. and Mourncd
as Dead for Twenty -nlne Years. He Now
Turns Up and Claims u Pension.

Reported Killed In Battle, and Mourn.a
as Dead for Twenty mine Years, He Noxv
Turns Up and Claims u Pension.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.--Oae of the
most remarkable and pathetic cases that
has ever been brought to the Bureau of
Pensions, is that OF William Newby, a
private OF Company d. Fourth Rog,-
ment, Illinois Volunteers. THIS rcyl.
ment was commanded Nv the heroic Col.
Stephen G.. Hicks, OF Illinois, and was
conspicuous for its gallantry at the
battle OF Shiloh. Newby was In this
battle, on the 9th Of April, 1862, and
was reported killed in action. Itseems,
however, that instead Of being killed.
he received severe wound on the
head and was captured aud sont TO tho
rear by tho Confederate forces, was i'm.
prisoncd at Belle Isle and was afterwards
transferred to Andersonville. 1t seems
that Newly was released in course of
time and was In poorhouses in various
parts Of the South.
lie was finally taken to Key West,
Eta, by a gentleman who recognized
Newby as a kinsman. Here he renamed
unit! some time i'll 1869, when his uncle
died. Newly wandered from place to
ace, and finally turned up at Shreve-
port, La, and while there the colored
people made up II purse and he was
gwen passage on steamboat TO Cincin-
natl. On the way up the river the
steambort lnn,led at ShawnceLown, III.
NeWby, hearing this name called out,
seemed TO recognize something that was
familiar aud got oil the boat. From
here he wandered to kankakee, III.
where he was i'll the poorhouse for a
time. Leaving this place, he struck out
Southward, and at last reached Mel cans.
borough, In Hamilton County, Ill.,, and
WAS sent to the poorhousc.
During these years he was in Il de-
mentcd state, bordering upon insanity.
as the supposed result of the wound in
the head. In wandering about he finally
went over INTO White county, and when
he got near his old home was seen and
recognized by two of his comrades who
had served in the regiment with him.
Ills wife was sent for, and she identified
him, as did his relatives and many of
his friends and comrades.
Alter Newly was reported as killed IN
action, his wife applied for pension,
and 1t was granted, and she has been
drawing Widows pension from the
date of his reported death TO the pres
cnt time. This soldier has filed CLAIM
Tor pension, and it Is now receiving
the consideration of the Office, the claim
OF The widow being suspended in the
meantime. No discharge has ever been
granted to the soldier. and the consdera-
ton OF the pension clam is bein. post
poncd until such time rs the Secretary
OF War shall grant the man a discharge.
This soldier has been separated from
his family for period Of twcnty.nine
years, they believing all the while that
he was dead, and now he turns up a for
lorn. dcmcntcd old man.
His case has attracted great attention
i'll the southern part of Illinois, aud has
excited the universal sympathy OF all
who have become acquainted with it.
lie recently attended large reunion OF
old veterans OF his county, where the
subject was universally discussed. The
pension will no doubt soon be granted,
aud he Will receive a sufficient sum TO
| smooth his Way to the end Of his life