Sandra..... I went through the documents plus what you sent me previously and when I matched them up to Blunt's records they do duplicate what I have.

I did check more closely into the medical definition of paresis (Softening of the brain) which is fatal in prognosis. The medical diagnosis of causality, syphilis, is not conclusive, even given supporting documentation that Blunt was a "womanizer". Crawford's document supports the possibility that Blunt may have suffered sunstroke, an equally possible causal factor for paresis. Sunstroke is equally supported by Crawford's statement, along with anecdotal information that other soldiers suffered sunstroke on the same march.

Crawford states that on an expedition in 1863 with General Blunt from Fort Smith to the Indian Territory "the said Gen. Blunt and his troops were subjected to many and great hardships and privations; that the heat was intense, the water scarce and unwholesome and the provisions limited at times to rations of fresh beef; that the march through the countries round was continuous almost day and night in pursuit of the enemy until Perryville in the Choctaw nation was reached, and the same is substantially true of the march from Perryville to Fort Smith; that on or about Aug 27th and while on the march General Blunt was stricken down by sickness and carried to Fort Smith in an ambulance where he was placed in a private house for treatment; that Dr. J. P. Root, Surgeon of the Second Kansas Cavalry Vols was one of the Surgeons who attended Gen. Blunt during his sickness; that from Dr. Root, who is now dead and with whom affiant frequently conversed and from personal knowledge and observation at the time, being frequently in conference and contact with Gen. Blunt both while on the march and while he was confined to a sick bed in Fort Smith, affiant was led to believe and does now believe that he, the said Blunt was overcome and stricken down by the heat and exposure during the march from Fort Gibson to Perryville and that the shock was so severe that it effected him mentally as well as physically; that he was at times during his illness delirous and unconcious; that during a skirmish with the enemy at or near Skullyville, he the said Blunt was helped out of his ambulance and assisted in mounting his horse but being too sick to remain in the saddle, he was immediately assisted back to his ambulance and remained there until placed in a private house in Fort Smith as above stated, where he lay for weeks the subject of greate solicitude as it was thought and believed by many of his friends that his illness would be fatal; that he never fully recovered from the sickness mentioned affiant verily believes and that the said sickness was brought on by the heat, and exposure incident to the expedition mentioned. Affiant also firmly believes, that afterwards affiant frequently met and was often with General Blunt and for a number of months occupied rooms in the same house with him, that at times he acted strangely, was absent minded and often gave unmistakeable evidence to my mind of mental trouble; that he suffered intense pain in the head and often arose from his during the night to apply remedies; that affiant noticed and spoke of the mental trouble of Gen. Blunt at least one year before it became necessary to place him in the asylum. . . . .

There is more, but Samuel Crawford's testimony leads me to believe that sunstroke was a definite contributing factor.

Since I owe you for your efforts, if there is any way I can be of assistance please let me know.

Thanks,
Howard Mann