Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
October 24, 1864

Grafton Hospital, Nov. 2, 1864.

Editor's Intelligencer:

Gents: -- Permit me through the columns of your paper to give a correct statement of that sad accident which took place on the B. & O. R. R., a few miles west of Mannington, on the morning of the 24th of October last, at between the hours of two and three o'clock, a.m. Our train, bound west, was full of passengers. The car which I was in was next the tender, and nearly every seat had two men in it. We waited at Mannington for the eastward bound train to pass. When the eastward bound passenger train arrived, I heard some one say there was another train, and it was at Glover's Gap. In a few minutes our train was in motion. I was talking with some of the men, when suddenly there came a crash. I found myself lying prostrate, with a heavy pressure on me. - I was bleeding freely about the neck, and my right leg was under the stove, which was burning me severely. At this time I could not move, but something gave way which released me so I was enabled to get my right leg out. I then pulled the left leg out of my boot, reached in and pulled my boot out, crawled out from under the wreck and tried to put my boot on, but found my leg was broken. I sat down and viewed the scene down a small embankment. Several men were lying with broken limbs and the cries of those under the wreck were truly heart-rending. Apprehending that the wreck would take fire, the wounded were removed to a place of safety. I was carried to a farm house close by, where I received all the attention in their power to bestow. In the morning I was informed the casualties were as follows:

Killed - Joseph Fulton, engineer; Mr. Griffith, fireman; Wm. W. Beaty, soldier. This was the man that was reported in the papers as Howard.

Wounded - Capt. Wm Hall, Co. F, 6th West Va. Infantry, left leg broken, a severe burn on right knee and some slight bruises; Serg't H. H. Wheeler, Co. F, 6th West Va. Infantry, fracture of left clavicle and contusion of spine; Corp'l L. M. Trowbridge, Co. F, 6th West Va. Inf., leg cut off; Private Philip Lynch, same company, both legs broken, has since died; Private M. Cassidy, same company, leg and arm broken; Corp'l David Grim, same company, leg broken and other slight injuries; Private E. Plum, same company, one leg broken; Private John E. R. Watkins, same company, shoulder dislocated; Corp'l Henry Felton, same company, three ribs fractured; Private Jacob Ellet, same company, leg broken; Dennis Campbell, fireman, badly injured, and has since died.

Capt. Hall was en route for Wheeling with 20 of his men, for the purpose of being paid, the men having been mustered out of service. Of the twenty-one only one escaped without injury of some kind. Several citizens were injured but to what extent I did not learn. Major Sherman, Surgeon in charge of the U. S. Hospital was dispatched for. He came promptly, arriving at 10 o'clock a.m., with one of his efficient aids, and immediately commenced to alleviate the pain of the sufferers. He appeared like a ministering angel going about doing good to his fellow man. We were soon placed on the cars and started to Grafton. While we stopped at Mannington the ladies, God Bless them, brought nourishing food, distributing it among the sufferers until all were satisfied. Some of them accompanied us to Grafton, and many a prayer was offered to the throne of grace in behalf of these friends of suffering humanity. We were then conveyed to the hospital where we received the best of medical treatment. Here I will say that the skill and kindness of Dr. Sherman, will long be remembered by the wounded, who are mending rapidly under his care. He is certainly the right man in the right place.

As to the cause of this accident I have nothing to say, time will unravel the mystery. There certainly was a screw loose somewhere, and I can conscientiously say that nothing short of the goodness of God saved our lives. While there are railroads there will be accidents, but there is no excuse for a collision.

In conclusion, I will say that I feel grateful that my life was spared and that I was so lucky as to fall in the hands of Dr. Sherman, who has spared no pains to make us comfortable. I sincerely hope a similar occurrence will never occur.

A. Sufferer.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: October 1864