The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1891-08-08
Am OLA war Relic.
McLEANsBoRo, III Aug. /, 1891,

MCLEANSBORO, lis aug. i, 1oSl'
Editor Meridional:
DEAR SIR herewith send you a
sketch Of the life Of william Newly a
man whom I became acquainted with
at this place and from whose friends /
obtained this strange story which
give below
WILLIAM NEwBY. >
The subject of this sketch is now GIG
years old although to all appearances
he does not look tobe more than forty
five. He was born in White county,
Illinois, and enlisted in The 10th regi-
ment during the early part of the civil
war, was wounded AT the battle of Shiz
lob, and left upon the field as dead by
six of his comrades, by whom he was
buried. But by the workings of Divine
Providence he was saved from death.
During the aforesaid battle he received
the following wounds Head crushed by
a fragment of shell. He was at this
time supposed to be buried by his COM
rades as above stated who have sworn
that they buried him, and upon whose
testimony his wife has for the past 20
odd years been drawing a pension of So
per month. After being buried, to use
his own language, he arose from his
supposed grave and again entered the
battle and received two more wounds,
having enc leg reduced to fragments by
a shot and the other crushed by the
wheels of an artillery wagon. In this
pitia5le condition he was taken to An
Jacksonville Prison where his wounds
were dressed and his head trepanned.
After leaving the prison he wandered
from State to State in a demented con-
dition caused by the trepanned plate
pressing on his brain, which at times
is clear: and at other times is wander
ing in the regions Of Oblivion"
During the past 29years he has wan
dered from place to place and to use
his own words has been in almost every
poor house east Of the Mississippi.
Twice during his @anderings he came
to within a few miles of his own house
but was not aware Of the fact at the
time. .[-{
~
A remarkable fact is that on the 10Th
anniversary Of the battle in which he
received his wounds he was recognized
by two comrades who were attending a
meeting of the g. A. r. Post at Nc.
Leansboro, Illinois.
He had previous to this been wander
ing about over Wayne and Hamilton
counties. The G.. A. r. Post at this
place made up money to pay expenses
and send him to Carmi, the county seat
of White county, at which place he was
sent to the poor house, his own son fail
to recognize him.. This son how
ever gave a description of Rim, and an
other son and his own brother started
to find him, first going to McLeansboro
and then to Carmi. Learning that he
had been sent to the poor house they
went. there but found he Had gone. By
he was traced to the Wabash
and there overtaken: He was brought
home where a careful examination of
his person revealed wounds which he
lad received the principal one being a
horse. bite on this left arm. &
His wife who was at this time living
II Texas was sent for and in the midst
# his wife, children, neighbprs, and
none surroundings, Newby's memory
and he related the story
which the hard experiences Of twenty
line years taught him.
he is now enjoying good health and
lids fair to live several years longer.
Nothing pleases him better than to at
end reunions and joke with tile "boys"
y whom he is well received. Il. s.
ABBEvtLLE, La, August l, 1891.
70 the President and MamhdIa of tho