The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-21
DETROIT CELEBRITIES.
Con. John Pulford, U. s. a, and
Capt. Francis Martin, Q. 8. N.
The Former L. tho Most Desperately
Wounded MINI In America and tho
Latter Attended, Nnpoleons
Funeral at ST. Helena.

It's the general in?'
Yes no was in a neat housclnaid
ushered me into the library and thcro 1
found Gen. Pulford enjoying tetc-a-
tete with his charming young wife,
while their noble boy-the child Of his
old agc-prattled on the rug at their
feet. The veteran extended his usual
genial welcome, and rose TO shake hands
with us much alacrity as If be did not
carry lot OF rebel lead hidden IN his
bones.
His friend and comradc, Gen. O. M.
Poe, says of Gen Pulford:
"A more gallant man than Gen. Pull
ford never walked tho face OF the earth
and the records show 1t. was IN the
same brigade with him, although not
in the saIno regiment, but his courage
and gallantry was confined by 10 regi-
mental limits. Il wee known and
recognized through tho cntiro army"
Gen. Pulford served through the ct,-
tire war and II Is believed that no Is the
only man who ever survived being
At Malvern Hill no was lying on his
face with others Of his regiment, the
Fifth Michigan volunteer infantry,
W llCA n SOtnl StlOO lEOttl u EGDSl CxAlllOn
half n mile away rebounded IN tho cir
so feet in front, and fell ON him, strils-
ing him on tho left side OF tho head.
The shock threw him up three Soet in
the air, split his skull, and pulverizod
his collar bone, His comra<iee picked
him up, leaned hun against tree, md
left him there to die
a day or two after ne disappeared
and they telcgraphed homo to his WIFI,
that he was dead and his body missing
Two weeks afterwards he was dhscor-
cred in Libby prison where no had been
tendcrly cared for by his fellow prison
ers, but he WIS dcliriors with pain and
attacked everybody who approached
him.
The prison authorities took the first
opportunity Of exchanging the poor fell
low and no was sent TO baltimore
where he lay for two months IN the
hospital, never speaking Is word Sud-
denly one day he opened his eyes and
took up life where it had left HIM on the
battlefield
The mnnaclcs and chains which had
restrained him while violent wcre re
moved and the soldier of iron constitu-
ton recovered went back to his rcgi-
mcnt and lived to have his back broken
and both arms partially disabled in tho
battle of the Wilderness, besides being
wounded in the knee at I}oyito>vn
plank road.
Gen. Pulfortl did some harder fighting
after the war, when he fought the For
ty-fourth congress for the maintenance
Of his rank in the army and pension
commensurate with his shattered CON
dition. lie finally won His victory
was established upon this clause IN the
report:
1T Is considered that he has riskcd his per
son, officer. In double rs many cngngc-
nents AID actually commanded o regiment in
more battles than the oldest regiment in the
Cnited States orny has participated In since
its original organization in 100"
1t does not often happen thet man
lives to- read his own obituary even
once, but Gen. Pulford has had this ex-
pericnce twice in the course OF his va
ried life. The first was when he was
reported dead on the battle field of NAL
vern Hill, the other when he was
stricken down with stroke OF pnxaly-
sis, the result of his wounds, some four
years ago. When he recovered il was
not deemed best TO let him know hoS