Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-28
IN TWO WARS.
A Terrible Woand and Most He
markabie Recovery.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch


In your bits OF history and reminis-
cences Of war times | do not see any
thing concerning Colonel Robert David
son Gardner, OF the Fourth Virginia.
Stonewall Brigade. This grand old vete-
ran Of two wars is now quietly living out
strlkingly peaceful life in the bosom
OF his family at Newbern, Va, this
county. As a soldier In defence of his
country's cause his career has not been
uneventful, and IS one OF which any
soldier, brave and true may well be justly
proud. Though brief, his was rare ex-
perience In the war with Mexico. He
fought In Mexico while not yet II years
OF age. This overgrown boy ran Off
from his home, in Montgomery county,
and volunteered 10 fight Mexico. The en-
listing age was IS to IS. but the recruiting
officer mustered him IN as IS years old.
When the wgr roster at Washington
showed him 10 be 62 years Of age, Colonel
Gardner was urged TO apply for Mexi-
can pension, but this he refused to do. as
in point Of fact ne was l6 months younger
than his mastering age" But 1t IS OF
this old veterans wonderful wound and
his more remarkable recovery that
would particularly speak. While on
horseback, leading his regiment into bat
tie IN the fighting around Fredericksburg,
smell struck sapling In front or him
There was an explosion; son ething struck
Colonel Gardner I'm the left jaw; he fell
unconscious to the ground; was carried
10 the rear on n litter, and thence 10 the
notwithstanding Foundry. at Fredc-
ricksburg-where he lay in an unconscious
state for a week or more. Physicians
probed for what they supposed TO be a
mimic ball, but. failing TO find II, con-
cluded that when the Colonel fell from his
horse the ball fell out On rcgaining
consciousness he had only an indistinct
recollection OF just how he was wounded.
At the same time he insisted that he was
struck by a piece of shell. and that II
had passed through hts jaw into the neck,
thence down by the carotid artery, and
lmbedded itself somewhere In the left
shoulder. The physicians doubted whe-
Their he could have survived such a wound
or whether such a slug could pass that
artery without severing II.
For years Colonel Gardner suffered I'M
told misery For nights he was unable
TO rest. Nearly all the small bones (and
some large ones) from time TO time
worked out Of HIS LEFT jaw. 4 full beard.
however, covers his face and the dis
hgurement Is not noticeable 10 IN
casual observer.
About six years after the war Colonel
Gardner began 10 realize that his first
impressions OF the nature Of his wound
were correct. The piece Of shell or slug
had worked its way down his body, anc
came 10 the surface at the small Of the
back where It lodged Colonel Gardner
was advised by his physicians 10 have II
taken out. He determined to undergo the
operation.
While he was lying upon his couch.
with no narcotic other than the forttude
OF a soldier and patriot, there was cut
from his back a piece of shell or wrought
iron weighing nearly three ounces, and
as rough and rugged on three sides as
broken piece OF pig-iron, and which had
been circumnavigating his mortal frame
for fully six years. Immediately follow
ing this operation, Colonel Gardner was
Frustrated. and his life despaired Of for
months, but being man of fine physical
frame and strong, robust constitution, he
finally recovered and to-day, aside from
asthma and kindred complaints. is appa-
rently hale and hearty. | have related the
circumstances Of this remarkable re-
covery from what would seem TO be
death wound 10 strangers. who naturally
doubted Il: but the truth Of It will be
abundantly attested by DR.. W. III. Bram-
bin, Of this place. and Drs Sayars and
Moore, OF NNkneNlllt, va WIN cut lis
slug out. as above; also by Captain
Charles H. Finney-he who has never
worn other than the gray, and who will
be at the reunion In full gray-and
numerous others here and Throughout
this section.
Though suffering intensely at all times
from his wounds. Colonel Gardner con-
tinued to transact business. and COM
planned little. During reconstruction days
he practiced law in partnership with the
Late General William Ferry. who met
death by drowning two years ago, but
owing 10 the condition o. his lacerated
Jaw. was unable TO articulate freely and
clearly. Under Nrginia's new Constitu-
ton Colonel Gardner was. by Judge W. II.
Boiling. OF Wytheville, appointed Clerk
Of Pulaski County and Circuit Courts, 10
which Office he has been elected at every
election since, until 1894 when he posi-
lively declined reelection.
Yours truly, AL. w WILLIAMS.
OF Company c. Fourth Virginia, Stonewall
Brigade.
Pulaski City. Va, June % 1896.