| From the Augusta Constitutionalist |
| |
| September 7, 1864 |
| |
| The Collision |
| The Macon Confederate contains
the following account of the collision at Barnesville: |
| The railroad collision at
Barnesville was a far more serious affair than at first supposed. We
learn that thirty-one dead bodies were taken from the wreck killed
instantly, and that forty wounded soldiers were again wounded -- many
mortally. One lady was killed. Two engines and six cars were crushed
to pieces. |
| The citizens of the
neighborhood came en masse to the scene of the disaster and rendered
every assistance they could. There were eighteen Yankee prisoners on
the down train, none of whom were hurt. As soon as the accident
occurred they went to work and did everything in their power to rescue
the dead bodies and the wounded caught under the mass of rubbish. This
should be remembered and the men rewarded by being placed first on the
list for exchange. |
| All accounts agree that the
passenger train was a few minutes out of time, and that it was
designed for the other to meet at Barnesville. The collision occurred
in a cut and a curve two miles on the other side of that place, the
trains coming together without any one on board either having the
slightest warning until within a few yards of each other. |