lelliott19
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"...This sad accident occasioned the death of five men.....Nineteen are wounded and twenty-four bruised. The fortunate circumstance of having my horses in advance of the cars bearing the men, has saved me the pain of reporting a more terrible tragedy...Of my horses, but seventeen remain living, and of these but three are unhurt."
THE ACCIDENT ON THE STATE ROAD
We publish below a letter from Major Capers related to the serious accident on the State road; and add the hope that a thorough investigation of the circumstance will be had. It would be well for the Legislature to enact a law by which engineers and conductors would be held responsible for accidents resulting in loss of life and limb, and held for trail without delay. It might have the effect of lessening number and severity of such accidents:
Ringgold, Ga., July 7th, 1862.
James Gardner, Editor Constitutionalist --
My Dear Sir: Yesterday at 3 1/2 o'clock, P.M., the train of cars bearing my command from Atlanta to Chattanooga, came in collision with a heavy train of empty freight cars near this station. This sad accident occasioned the death of five men, four from Capt. Hanvey's company, 'Newnan Artillery,' and one from Capt. Johnson's company, 'Stephens Battery.' Nineteen are wounded and twenty-four bruised. The fortunate circumstance of having my horses in advance of the cars bearing the men, has saved me the pain of reporting a more terrible tragedy. Of my horses, but seventeen remain living, and of these but three are unhurt.
The cause of the collision is yet to be definitely ascertained, but that gross negligence on the part of some official on the road will be developed, I feel perfectly assured.
We left Atlanta following the passenger train on Sunday morning at 4 o'clock. Upon arriving at a station this side of McDonough, the engine of the passenger train was detached for some reason, and our train backed down and coupled to the passenger cars. This threw us behind time an hour and ten minutes, and, I believe, was the principal cause of our misfortune.
I enclose a list of the killed and wounded, which you will please insert in your paper.
The command is comfortably bivouacked at this place, and will remain until the road is made passable.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't,
H. D. Capers
Major Commanding 12th Georgia Battalion
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED
Capt. Allen's Company - Oglethorpe Artillery Co. A -
Privates C.W. Battey, L.F. Flemming, W.D. Patton, J.C. Pierson, R.F. Thompkins, slightly wounded.
Two negroes killed, and wounded badly.
Company B - Capt. Hanvey's command Newnan Artillery--
Killed--Privates L.A. Bullard, W.R. Lane, W.V. Martin, and Z. Phillips.
Dangerously wounded-- Lieutenant Beedles [William S. Beadles], Corporal J.N. Goodwin, and Dr. M.H. Davis.
Slightly wounded-- Privates J.C. Attaway, Bearden [Reuben H. Bearden or Thomas P. Bearden], W.G. Orr, Ranney [Richard E. Rainey or W.R. Ramey], and P.L. Ward.
Two negroes mortally wounded.
Company C - Capt. Rudisill commanding Rudisill Artillery.
Private Durden [F. Durden or S.M. Durden] slightly wounded.
Company D - Capt. G.W. Johnson commanding Stephens' Battery
Killed - Private Giles [Calvin Giles or Hugh Giles].
Dangerously Wounded - Thomas Johnson and Benj. Smith.
Slightly Wounded - Privates Braswell [G.A. Braswell], Arnold [R.C. Arnold], Ranney [Richard E. Rainey or W.R. Ramey] and Scudder [S.S. Scudder].
Sources:
"Troop Train and depot during the Civil War." The Soldier in our Civil War; a pictorial history of the conflict, 1861-1865, illustrating the valor of the soldier as displayed on the battle-field, from sketches drawn by Forbes, Waud, Taylor, Beard, Becker, Lovie, Schell, Crane and numerous other eye-witnesses to the strife. Vol. 2. New York: Stanley Bradley Publishing Co., 1893, p. 227.
"The Accident on the State Road." Macon Tri-Weekly Telegraph. (Macon, GA.,) July 12, 1862, p. 2, column 6.
@Stiles/Akin I believe this is a railroad accident you were looking for.
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