| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
| |
| August 27, 1863 |
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| The accident on the Central train |
| A passenger by the {Virginia}
Central train, Tuesday, furnishes us with the following facts
concerning the accident which happened on the road Tuesdaymorning. It
was more serious than at first reported: |
| As the train for Gordonsville arrived at a
point about two miles above Bumpas's, 10 o'clock, Tuesdaymorning, the
axle of the hindmost car broke, throwing
two cars off the track and upsetting one. A soldier, who had papers on
his person identifying him as Robert Carpenter, of the 55th North
Carolina regiment, jumped off the train, the car
falling on him, crushing his head, right arm and leg in a horrible
manner. He was instantly killed. Letters found on his person from his
father and mother, and postmarked Martha's Vineyard, N., C., showed
that he was a convalescent from Winder Hospital, returning to his
regiment. His remains were buried on the farm of Dr. B. M. Buckner,
who took charge of his effects, and who promptly hastened to the
relief of the wounded. The left leg of another North Carolina soldier,
named Tatum, was crushed and amputated above the knee; another, a
youth, named Beckham, had his left leg broken above the ankle, and
adjusted; another, name unknown, received a severe flesh wound in the
right thigh. The wounded were sent to Gordonsville. No case is serious
except that of Tatum. Several other passengers were considerably
bruised, many of the seats being thrown from their places. |
| The accident is believed to be
attributable entirely to the defect in the axle of the car,
and not to any fault in the bed of the road. |
|