Several thoughts come to mind: perhaps he had a stroke; became
  alcoholic, dementia, any number of things could have happened, but I
  know that people were considered insane back then for things that we =
now wouldn't think much of.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Those many who contracted dysentary during the Civil War and who never got
over it often suffered from a prolonged mineral imbalance which made them appear
to be mad and they were treated accordingly.  I have read this in Civil War
pension claim files. Today, it would be a simple case of replacing lost
electolytes.

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