William J. Weldon

Crisp County News

Thursday, July 15, 1937

Misplaced Heart Saved Life Of Crisp Confederate Solider

William J. Weldon Reported Dead Fifty Two Years Before Actual Death

It was in the battle of Fisher’s hill on October 19, 1864, that William J. Weldon, of Dooly (now Crisp) county was shot through the left side of his body as he stopped to pick up his blankets to join his comrades in retreat.

He was picked up by Yankees soldiers and placed on a cot, along side many others of his wounder [sic] comrades.

The army doctor passed by, pulled back the blanket which covered the wounded Confederate and saw the gaping hole.

"There’s no use doing anything for him," he said. "He’ll be dead in a few minutes. He’s shot through the heart."

Bill Weldon looked into the doctor’s face.

"You never saw a dead Rebel in your life," he spat at the physician.

Never was a man more surprised than to hear a supposedly dying solider speak thus.

"Bring towels and water," he commanded the orderly. "By heaven, we’re going to do something for this man."

Through the wound the physician drew a clean silk handkerchief. Over the man he suspended a bucket of cold water, and allowed the water to drip, drop by drop, through the wound. And examination showed that Weldon’s heart was not where it was supposed to be, on the left side, but on the right side of his chest. This alone saved him from instant death when the bullet plowed through the left side of his body.

It was a slow process, healing a wound of such proportions, and Weldon lay day after day, not knowing whether he would live or die.

In the meanwhile, comrades of the fallen man gathered together his personal items¾ watch, a few trinkets¾ and sent them home to his supposed widow.

In the family bible, which recorded the birth of Weldon’s grandfather, Samuel Weldon, on August 12, 1752, and his father, Samuel Peter Weldon, on November 23, 1791, and his own birth, on April 3, 1836, Mrs. Weldon sadly recorded his supposed death¾ October 19, 1864.

Some twenty months passed. Word was received from Captain Williams by his family, who lived near the Weldons, that William Weldon was living, and was a prisoner of the Yankees.

A short while after this, William J. Weldon, whose death was recorded in the family bible, came home. After he lived until September 17, 1916, to die at the ripe of age of 80 years in his own home.

The family bible was passed down, and is now in the hands of Tom C. Bush, Jr., of Cordele, great grandson of the man whose misplaced heart saved his life.