Letter from James Madison Bowler to his wife, Elizabeth, telling about the river and a train wreck – November 30, 1864
Sunday, November 30th, 2014Letter from James Madison Bowler, stationed in Little Rock, Arkansas, to his wife, Elizabeth, telling about recent movement on the river, and a train wreck on the DuValls Bluff Railroad.
A partial transcription of the letter:
Little Rock, Ark.
Nov. 30th, 1864
Dear Lizzie:
A fleet of transports arrived here last week, up the Arkansas river – the first boats that have come up this river since last winter. It looks quite pleasant to see them at the levee. My [S…ler] arrived with a stack of goods. […] A sad accident occurred on the DuValls Bluf RR a few nights ago. Her train was thrown from the track, some five miles from here, and three persons were killed and twenty wounded. A Lieut. and 20 men of the 112” were on the train as guarts. The Lieut. and one man were pretty well bruised. One woman had the flesh completely torn from a leg from the thigh to her foot. She cannot survive long in that condition. Her husband was killed; and her two children escaped unhurt. […]
Truly your loving hubbie,
Madison
See whole letter here: 1864-11-30_Bowler_combined
Citation: November 30, 1864, Letter from James Madison Bowler to Lizzie, Correspondence, undated, 1829-1865. Bowler, James Madison and Family, Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1330]