Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-21

as member of Company c. seth
Indiana Infantry. He was IS wears
old when he enlisted, and at the close
of the war he returned to Hartford
City. His discharge papers show that
he engaged in 16 different battles.
On one march his company "hoofed
it" 40 miles, making an average of 81
miles day. as shown by the coloners
diary. This was in November of 1864,
and on $50 miles of the distance MANY
of the soldiers tramped in their bare
feet Mr.. Casscll was one of them.
The snow was ankle deep and his feet
were froZcn
He carries the scars of many battles
He was shot i'll the left shoulder and
in 4 hand to-hand conflict with TN.
enemy he was almost hacked to pieces
Two sword cuts in his right knee felIen
him on the battlefield and he wae
taken prisoner by the rebels and sen,
to Nashville. soon after an cxchanc,
of prisoners between the armies WIZ
made. but because of his Injuries h,
was left with the enemy until he re-
covered. He, with other prisoners
was later released. They started to
tramp it to the Union lines. After n
day out they We're rccapturcd Nv ::
scouting party and were going tn he
shot, but they effected an escape and
after walking 200 miles reached the
Union forces.
While facing fire in another battle
the stock Of his gun was shattered nv
u bullet and he was seriously injured
The middle finger of his right hand
Il
and splintcrs from the gun stock were
buried in his skull. leaving two deep
dcprcssirns. one ut the back of the
head and the other OLA top.
In 1867 he was taken sick while in
camp at indianapolis and was carried
To- he dead room in the hospital. where
for two days ana two nights ne was
left with five other corpSeS When
they came to bury him it was discov-
cred that life was not extinct and he
was taken back to the hospital where,
AFTER Il time, he recovered.
He was mustered out of service at
indianapolis and went back to Black
ford County. In 1854, while living here,
he had another serious illness. Again
he was pronounced dead and arrange
ments were made for his funeral.
w. III. Gable. at that time the only
undertaken, but now Il retired citizen
WAS called to take charge Of the body.
After visiting the Casscll home, Mr.
Gable returned to his shop for his
para phcrnalia, but before he got back
the SUPPOSED dead man came to life
and the funeral arrangements had to
be postponed.
Mr. asset says he fully realized
what was going on about him, but
could not by Il move make it known
that he was not dead. The feeling he
cNpcrio need. however, he Describes as
4 pleasant one He says he plainly
heard his wife and daughter talking at
his bedside is he dead?" he heard
his daughter ask Of her mother, and in
q sobling voice his wife replied: I'm
afraid So" Alter he recovered he de-
scril'"d to them their positions around
his bed and repeated their conversa-
tionS, bat further than that he could
remember nothing, except. he says.
that hc heard heavenly music and saw
host of angels lowering over his bed.
1T was Il happy half hour l spent in
the other world" said Mr.. Casscll,
and have often regretted that I was
returned IL fight lies battles
Twenty five years ago this appar-
emily immortal old man had another
miraculous escape from death. While
cutting logs on his farm north of the
Guy TIC Was caught under II falling
tree. Tho tree was Il large one and in
tn" very top. where three heavy limbs
formed q fork. the trunk was dead.
" hen thr tree was cut il began to fail
the wrong Way and there was Il scat
tcrmcnt among the WOrkmcn to escape
hciug crushed. The dead fork broke
off and tel in just tho opposite direc-
ti"n from the tree. The prougs of the
fork were several feet IN length and
Nr. "lsScll VINO thought he was on
the safe siac. WA caught under it.
After i'll danger had passed the other
Wrr',n"n rushed u his assistance. cX-
r"rtii" to find him dead. but instead
II" YVES Only h"l! Il prisoner. The
prnngs Of the fork hod ~ natratcd tho
EARTH to 4 depth Of several inches. and
Mr., caSS,ll htI Been IiniOncd inside of
them.
bcsi,it" his many narrowing exrcri-
cnccs Nr. CaS-'ll. at tn" age of CT. is
halo. hearty and happy. Through
honesty and hard work he has
aHlI%%cd enough Of the worlds goods
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