Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-09-05
WEDNESDAY, MORNING. SEPT. 8, 1855.
The Soldier to his wife on the eve Of
Battle

1ne 5OIOleE 10 us WIG OA S+AS wv ~
Battle.
We accustom ourselves to consider the horrors
Of war IN groups, in masses. "Five thousand
killed and ten thousand wounded; it was glori-
Gus victoryo' We read the announcement, we
watch the advance and retreat, we See the pomp
of opIoriouS war; we hear The shouts of victory
and forget those who fall crashed and mangled,
and listen not TO the united grOans Of those who
stew the field. Let Imagination run over the his
tory Of each one OF ttuse weak and bleeding ten
thousand men, who at their couuIry's call have
marched forth to slaughter; let it go TO the weary
couch where no hand is present TO wipe the clam
my brow or administer comfort and relief by its
touch; let il follow the surgeon through terrible
duties; let it behold the manly form shunk to the
bone aud hndlled into the eartn; let it go 10 the
unhappy Preside OF the widow and fatherleSS i'll
once ''Alerry England or sunny France, and note
il il, can. the bitter drops that gush from their
lonely aud boken hearts, aud its material will be
at hand for making upa just view of the "gores
Of war" It is by merging the individual identity
OF the thousands that form the ''fery ma s Of
living vaIor' into one common totality OF humans
ty aud thus considering it, that we forget indvid-
ual suffering and, forgetting those flat nobly die
OF suffer more than death, shout with the vctors
and crown the conquernr with wreath of glory.
Let us bring the matter home. When dear friend
led by the hand OF disease, is descending the road
humanity must travel, with what assiduity does
affection which around the pillow Of suffeTing!--
How huShed the chamber of distress, how soft the
trend, how gentle the voice, how kindly the SYM
patty! How love delights 10 visit the grave when
all is over, and plant upon 1t the flowers Of re-
.membrance But in that great field Of death-red
since Abel lay in his bloOd--woTth aud noblcneSS
and beauty go down in multitudes To their last
home, torn and shattered by deadly missiles, their
memories lost in the recollection of the vtctor'S
success, their names forgotten at the fEeSide
Of home. Borne FAINT aud bleeding from thespot
where they fell. some lard couch. tile best at hand
receives them, where through feverish hours they
toss away their little remaining life, and welcome
death Genes TO close the scene. Such is the con-
IruSt,
These reflections, trile but true, (sayS the
Pittsburgh Commercial Journal,) were awakened
hy reading Ielte: Of Col. Shadlorth, of the Eng
lish Amy, written 10 lis wife aud children at 9
o'clock on the evening ofJune the 18th, just pre-
viOus TO the attack upon the defensive works of
Sehastopol. That such men should perish thus,
that such glorious lives should be thrown away
and no good come OF il, is one OF the most repul
sIve features of war. Here is the letter:
"BEF0RE SEuA sToPoL, JUNE lT-9P.M
'AIy OWN HELovED WIFE AND DEARLY BELovED
CHILDREN: AT O'clock Tomorrow morning |
head the 5Ith TO storm the Redan. tits, as lee,
IN awfully perOuS NOME nj 10 MT; but place my
self in the hands OF ouT gracious God, without
whose will sparrow cannot fall 10 the ground.
/ place my whole trust III him. Should fall in
the performance nfmy duty, fully rely in the
precious blood Ut our Saviour, she'd lOr Sinners,
that may be saved through him. Pardon aud
and forgive mt, my beloved ones, for any thing
may have said or done to cause you moments
MnhaPpineS. Unto God commend my body and
soul, which are His; and should it be His will
that fall in the performance of my duty, i'll the
defence OF my Queen and country, most hnmbly
say 'Fhy will be done.' God bless and protect
you, and my last prayer will be that He, OF His
Initiate goodness, may preserve me TO- yOm. God
ever bless You, my beloved Eliza and my DEAREST
chlldEen; and il we meet not agOln in this world,
may we meet in the mansion Of our Heavenly
Father, through Jesus Christ! God bless and pro-
tect you! And ever believe me
your aiFectiOnate husband and loving father,
''rmos. SmADFuRTH."
1t was his last farewell to those he so dearly
loved. Six hours had not passed, his letter was
yet but few miles on its way 10 his family, and
the noble man had passed away from the earth.
--S~----
A wheelingite in Iowa.
The following is letter from our late City Sur
VeYUr TO his uncle in this place:
FoRT DODGE, Webster co.. Iowa,