Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-10-30
THE HORRORS OF WAR.

The subjoined passages, in letter wIi''et iio
Mexico by an Army Surgeon after the oat.ie OF Cne'
putepec will afford the reader ylyid luea Oh 'ht
horrors of war:
"Heaps ordead and wounded presented themselves
to my vision on every hand as approached lhe cas-
tle The wounded Americans were carried III a.
fast as possible; the Mexcans, though there was ev'
cry disposition to give them the attention humanity
required, had TO bde their time. Our losses nae
been heavy. but theirs greater imconparably, not
whstanding the shelter they had enjoyed to the ias
moment from their defences. The dead bodies lay
in masses of tens, twenes or more, wherever there
had been concentration; some there were gasplng IN
the last agonies with their dark faces upturned TO the
sun, like fish thrown shore by the angler, with
ing and struggling in death others lay motlonless
but an occasional gasp, an upheaving OF The chest
alone gave evidence that the vital spark had not en-
tirely fled. Upon entering the castle was arrested
by some Mexican officers, who besought me 10 see
person, apparently general officer, TO whom they
were attending One moment snfficed. ball had
passed through his neck, another through his head;
he was speechless and molionless, the blood was
passing into his windppe but his dying eyes SEEM
ed to say he knew his condition, as | believe
he did. As his case was hopeless, passed imnled-
a,ely on only pausng moment TO gaze on the fear
ful muliIations of the human bodies lying around
There were crushed heads, maDgled limbs, and torn
up bodies brains, hearts, lungs, and bowels releas-
ed from their natural confines eyes hanging on! from
their sockets, and all the laceratiops and conlusons
that follow the use of firearms, the sabre; or the
bavonet. Brave officers, who had just participated
actively in the fearful scene, told me they had had
enough of The horrors of war, and hoped never again
to witness them. soon was earnestly engaged IN
my occupations, looping off crushed limbs and dres-
sing wounds, snatchng moments TO glance at the
movements of the troops as they moved along the
causeways, by the aqueducts to the city.
was tagged with labor, hungry and sleepy; but there
was no rest TO be had there passed the night oP-
Grating and assisting the operations of others. AT
times threw my weary person down on one oil the
benches for little Sleep 10 enable me 10 continue
nv labors but sleep had fled from me, and the groans
and cries of the sufferers, the heavy tread OF soldiers
bringing in wounded, the flashing lights OF the sur
geons and attendants, dispelled the hope OF mo-
ment's Iepose. About midnight consderate per-
son boiled little coffee for those who stood in need
of il, or rather for such as saw il; for all were nearly
lamished; and found half a lin cuplu, without milk
or sugar. but accompanied by little dry bread, re-
fresbng and renovatng. Although there was nl-
mense suffering among the wounded, they bore it
generally with remarkable s!oicism; men in their
senses seemed to scorn to complain but lay patient
" awaiting the operation; or the change 'ta. was to
decide the prospect offe OF death: In one instance,
while taking off The forearm of riaeman, sturdy
son of the Emerald Isle, with shattered wrist; he
conversed calmly during the operation utterng not
groan; and the arteries were scarcely tied before
he was smoking pipe borrowed from comrade
Men seemed to feel GU! of from human sympaihles,
and certainly were not unnerved, as is SO common
in civil life, by the kind and gentle attention OF
(riends.n Knickerbocker.