Can anyone help me find information on a soldier who survived a spear or bayonet through his head?

Question

I saw this on the History Channel (or one of those) a long time ago. I can't remember the details and I can't find info on it anywhere. A soldier in (perhaps) the Civil War was impaled through the head with a spike, spear, bayonet or perhaps a pice of debris or something (It was rather large, I remember and pierced his brain). Amazingly he survived the incident, but his personality was changed so dramatically that he became estranged from his friends and family.

Has anyone heard this story? What was his name, when did it happen, are there any similar cases like this?

This information is rather important to a philosophical/theological debate I've been having with someone, and I don't want to submit information if I'm unsure of it.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You may be talking about Phineas Gage. He was injured in an industrial accident but otherwise it sounds like much of what you say could be attributed to him. I'm sure if you give him a google you'll find the info you need.

Edit:

Below is a good link for info on Phineas Gage: