The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-14

thereafter prevented them from enduring
even slight eXertion, or any mental eX-
element, so that l can easily suppose that
an ahnOrmally nervous man, hearing the
first shot. and knowing that his company
was soon to be engaged. might be seized
with palpitation, and IN the rush to the
front drop with heart disease-frightened
10 death. His dread of being killed would
set his heart to beating rapidly, and the
exertion TO keep up with the command
would cause death. / cannot think that
man in perfectly sound health, both mem
tally, and physically, could be frightened
to death, but with an individual having the
heart disease it is possible perfectly posi-
BILE"
Can't. Purman, at present an examiner in
the United States patent office, who com
manded a company in Wisconsin regi-
ment at the battle of Shiloh, relates that
a man of his command named Pease was
so frightened in the Hornets Nest that
he was seized with Mysteries or conVul-
sions and being taken 10 hospital died
two DAYS afterward He had no disease
and no wounds, but the attending physi-
clan reported ii to be a case of nervous
prostration produced by fear.
Il don't think ] ever knew case where
a man was scared to DEATH said Gen.
Schofield II am quite sure l never did.
l have seen men DaralyZed so as 10 De aD-
solutely unconscious OF what they were
doing and yet not show any disposition 70
run away. They were daZed ana would
load their guns and fire them into the ar,
but u man with any trouble OF the heaIt
/
ly by fear or any other intense excite
Assistant Adjutant General ncent, of
Gen. Schofield's staff, said; Il ne 81 knew
a soldier to be scared to death. l never
heard of such a case, but can reallze
that one might occur. l know from e&-
perience that men and women also, u t.io'sI
great excitement or under the conditions
of fear frequently are affected with palpl-
tations which when thrown upon ms
eased heart might result fatally;
II
readily believe such thing TO be posi-
bic. although / cannot say that ever
knew of such case. l nave seen men
az frightened that they were irresponsi-
ble and lost all their senses, being utter,
" paralyZed, as you might say, when II
would have required but very niue Iur-
Their strain to kill them, but such cases
would not naturally come under the obser-
walton of the commander OF large pouies
of men. Captains of companies or prlVate
soldiers would be better posted on tnls
subiect than commanders of regiments
brigades or divisions, and 1t so happened
that in my military experience aIWays
had large bodies of men under my com
mand and did not come IN contact WIN
the private soldier to any great extent.
Cen Joseph wheeler the famous con-
federate cavalry comnander, Sald: i nave
never known a man to be frightened 70
death but very frequently have seen sol
diers totally DaralyZed by rear, SO inuch
so that they were incapable OF using tnef
muscles or uttering conerent sentence
These were case of what l should call tenn
porarv paralysis. do not know whether
the effects were permanent, as uid not
see the men afterward, but l would not
he at all surprised # some of them re-
suited in permanent disability or even IA
tally I remember one case IN particular
where a soldier being exposed 70 uneA-
pected danger was so paralyzed that ne
stood motionless with a blank expression
upon his face, while his comraues re.
treated in disorder This man was shot
Standing like a statue with his gun in his
hand, as fixed as # he had been frozen.
I have known other cases in when men
have been so affected by fear that they
lost the power of speech, although they
were able to use their muscles.
Gen. Wade Hampton said he never knew
q man to be scared to death in battle,
although there were a great many cases
of death which might be attributed TO TINS
cause. Men were repeatedly tound dead
upon the field without wounds upon them
He does recollect however, a case OF
man whose death was caused by being
drafted into the confederate army , re n iall
an intense horror Of being forced INTO the
service and Immediately after he learned
that he had been conscripted was taken
i'll. The provost marshal beneVed tnat ne
was feigning and attempted to PUNISH
him. but the man kept growing worse
and finally died from no disease but the
dread of going into the army =. :. .,u
Gen. Hawley SAYS: II think II is entlre-
" possible TO scare man to death, al
though l must say that have no knowl-
edge of any particular case. a man OF
strong imagination and susceptible TO
external influences might be easily trignt-
ened into commissions. or his mind might
be so worked upon as 10 drive him in
sane ] have known several men to die OF
inconsistencies, or nostalgia, whlcn IS
distinct disease, and one of the most ter
ribIe that person can be afflicted with
Gen Charles +. Henderson said; Il
have known men to be dreadfuliy scared
and l have heard of cases where they
were frightened to death, but never saw
one / have known men to die OF inSig-
nifcant wounds. when ] was sure that
the cause of their death was only fright
anxiety or homesickness, which. as all