The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-11-01

ed passages, in letter written from Mex
leo by an Army Surgeon. after the battle
of Chepultepec. win afford the reader
vivid idea Of the horrors Of wari
"Hesps Of dead aud wounded present.
ed themselves to my vision OH every hand
as approached the castle. The wound
ed Americans were carried in as fast as
possiblej the Mexicaus, though there was
every disposition To give them the atten-
tiou humanity required. had to bide Iheir
time. Our losses had been heavy, but
Iheirs greater incomparably lynotwithstand'
ing the shelter they had enjoyed to the
last moment from their detences. lhe'r
lead bodies lay in masses Oftens, twentles
or more, wherever there had been con
centration; some there were gasPing III
the last ag0nies, with their dark faces up
turnedto the sun. like fish thrown on shore
by the angler. writhing and struggling !"
death; others lay molionless, but an occa'
sional gasp. an urheoving OF me chest
lone gave evidence that the vital spark
had M, entirely fed. Upon entering the
castle was arrested by some Mexican
officers. who besOughi me to see person.
apparently a general officer, to whom they
were attending.-On moment sufiiced.
A ball bad BASED through his neck, a.
nMher through his head; ire was speech
less aud mot ouless, the blond was pass
ing in 10 his wiudpipe, but his dying eyes
srrmed tn say he knew his condition. as
believe he did AS his case was hope
less, passed Immediately on, only paus
ing moment To gaze on the fearful mutt.
laliuns vi the human bodies lyiug around.
There were crushed heads, mangled
limbs, aud n.up bndies; brair $. hearts,
lungs. and bowels released from their nat
ural cmfinesj eyes hanging out from their
suckrts. and all the aceratiOns and con
tnsiuns that follow the use of fle-arms.
the sabre, nr the bayonet.- Brave officers,
who had just participated actively in the
fearful scene told me they had had enough
Of the horrors of war, aud hoped never a.
gain to witness them. ! soon was ear
nestly engaged in my occupation, lnp'
ping off crushed limbs aud dressing
wounds, suatchng occasional moments tu
glance ut the movements Of the troops Os
they moved along The cause way. by the
aqneducts, to the city. . was
tagged with labor. hungry aud sleepy; bu
there was no rest 10 be had there. | pass
ed the night operating and assisting the
operations Of others. At times | threw
my weary person down on one of the
benches for little sleep. TO enable me Il
continue my labols. but sleep had fled ia
from me, and the groans and cries of the
sufferers. the heavy tread Of soldier
bringing in wounded, the flashing light
of the surgeons aud attendants, dspeIIet
the hope Of a mument's repUse. Abou
midnight consideralo person boiled I
little coffee for those who stood in nee,
Of il, or rather for such as saw il, for al
were nearly famished; and found half
tin cupful, without milk or sugar. but ac
compauied by little dry bread. refresh
lug and renovatng. Although there wal
immense suffering among the wounded
they bore it generally with remarkable
stoicism; men in their senses seemed II
scorn to complain, but lay patiently a
waiting tho operations. or The change
that was to decide the prospects of life ~
death. lu 0e instance. while taking of
the forearm of rifleman, sturdy sou u
the Emerald Isle. with shattered wrist
he conversed calmly during the operation
ultering nut n grnan; aud the arterie
were scarcely tied before he was smok
ing pipe borrowed from comrade
Men seemed to feel cut of from human
sympalhies, aud certainly were not uu
nerved. az is SO common in civil life. hy
the kind and gentle attention Of friends.
-KmckebOckey.