Article from the “Franklin Repository” newspaper, dated July 5,1865, page 2, Column 7
Found online at:
http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/civ...

In Illinois Regiment Struck by Lighting ---- One
Man Killed and Thirty-two Wounded.
Headq’rs 152nd ILL. INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
Tullahoma, Tenn., June 19, 1865.
Editors Chicago Tribune: -- Our Regiment
was yesterday the scene of one most terri-
ble calamities which has ever been my lot to
witness. About 2 o’clock, P.M., a violent thun-
der storm visited us. It being Sabbath, the
“guard mounting” was deferred until two o’clock,
on account of the morning being occupied in
a grand review. While the old guard was being
turned out to receive the new guard, a blinding
flash of lightning was seen, accompanied instantly
by a terrific peal of thunder. The whole of the
old guard, together with part of the new guard,
were thrown violently to the earth. The shock
was so severe and sudden that in most cases the
rear rank men were thrown across the front rank
men. One man, Jeremiah Cooley, of Captain
Hunter’s company C, was instantly killed, and
thirty-two others were more or less severely
burned by the electric fluid.

The men were mostly injured in the region of
the shoulders, arms and hips, the men having
been standing at shouldered arms, in which case
the “barrel of the musket would rest in the hol-
low of the right arm and shoulder, the butt of the
piece resting against the hip.” One man who
was on guard in front of the hospital tent had his
musket thrown from his hands and the bayonet
struck into the ground. The man himself was
shocked pretty severely, but not thrown down.
One man who had been to the rear and was re-
turning, was struck down and severely injured in
the eyes. In some instances the men’s boots and
shoes were torn from their feet and torn to pie-
ces, and strange as it may appear, the men were
injured but little in the feet.

At first I thought that Lieutenant Rea, of Com-
pany E, would not live, but he is reviving slowly.
In all the cases, the burns appear as if they had
been caused by scalding hot water, in many in-
stances the skin being shriveled and torn off. --
The men all seem to be doing well, and a part of
them will soon be able to resume their duties in a
few days.

The man who was killed was buried to-day, the
whole regiment, together with Gen. Dudley, and
most of his staff, accompanying the remains to
the cemetery. The occasion was a very impress-
sive one, the remarks made by the regimental
Chaplain, Rev. John M. Preshaw, being very ap-
propriate.

Much praise is due our gallant Major, Colo-
nel John H. Nale of Vicksburg fame who ren-
dered all the assistance in his power to alleviate
the conditions of the sufferers.

My Assistant Surgeon, Edward P. Catlin, and
Hospital Steward, John W. M’Fadden, also ren-
dered valuable assistance in dressing the wounds.
H. S. Plumer,
Surgeon 152d Reg. Ill. Vols.

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