Pike-Lamar County GaArchives News.....Train Wreck In 1864 July 23 1891
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net December 3, 2002, 6:02 am

The Barnesville Gazette, Barnesville, Ga.

About The Wreck In 1864

The following letter dated Blakely, Ga., May 28, 1891, and addressed to the 
Gazette will explain itself and prove interesting to all our readers:

Dear Sir - My friend, Judge H.C. Fryer informed me that he saw an article in 
your paper of recent date from an ex-federal soldier, who was in the terrible 
railroad wreck near Barnesville on September 2, 1864. It was my ill fate to be 
one of the number on the down train. I was severely wounded on the day before at

Jonesboro. My leg was broken by a minnie ball. I received seven injuries in the 
collision and was taken from the wreck more dead than alive, and would have died

in the old open field in the broiling sun, if it had not been for that good old 
mother in Israel, Aunt Ann Barnes, who I learn has long since passed over the 
River. There were other ladies whose names I never learned, who administered to 
our wants in the hot sun, as soon as they could get on the ground after the 
accident happened, and they no doubt saved several lives.

I could write much more on the subject, but simply wish to get a copy of your 
paper with the article from the ex-federal soldier.

I shall never forget the calamity. I shall ever remember the good people of 
Barnesville, many thrilling incidents, my great suffering, with eight others 
left to die in the old store house, with eight coffins in the rear end of the 
building. When the hospitals were moved to Corinth, Miss out of the eight men, 
five had filled their coffins. [Note: the last sentence in this article is 
unreadable due to the deterioration of the newsprint, and so was the name of the

author.] 

(Transcribed 12/2/02 Lynn Cunningham)

Note:
Unfortunately the only newspapers of the Barnesville Gazette available for 
microfilming were in terrible condition due to the deterioration of the paper on

which they were printed. The above mentioned letter from the ex-federal soldier 
was almost all gone. I could read that he was writing from Missouri and that he 
was riding on the top of the train involved in the wreck.
File size: 2.5 Kb