The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-01-05
HORRORS OF MODERN WARFARE

a short tine since had an able article, in
which il was slated that aiwar between
civilized scientific, mechanical nations,
turns out 10, be the same uncouih, disagree.
able, savage, inl,umap thing that it ever
has been since the beginning Of history.
"lt is still reckless, malicious, wanton, and
absolutely snvious OF happiness and peace;
II still produces the most miserable scenes,
The widest adventures, the most perilous
situations, the mos, .horrid calamiies, and
those large masses Of misery that men had
thought loo vast and too -hideous for-ihese
snug and quie, lines" In times like, the
present, we learn 10 set new value upon
The blessings Of peace, and the war in the
Eas, has its lessons for us upon the West
ern Continent. % p. Iia. T.,
The Boston Transcript subioins the fol.
lowing iSom correspondent Of that pa
per: .F .''r sr. g.
When a, city is taken by storm, in mill.
iary phrase, and in accordance with the
usages OF war, it is "GIvEN UP TO TIE
soLDIERY." What this means will be ar.
parent from the frighlful picture Of Badajos,
as II appeared OIL The night alter il had
been carried by the Allies, under Weling.
ton, April g., 1912. Says an English officer,
who participated in the assault: '.I '
''lt was nearly dusk, and the few hours
while | slept had made fearful change in
the condition and temper Of The soldiery.
10 The morning they were obedient 10 the
officers, and preserved the semblance ol
subordinalion now they were in state ol
furious in,oxicalion discipline was for.
gotten, and the splendid troops ofyeslerday
had become fierce aud sanguinary ra5ble,
dead 10 every touch Of human feeling, and
filled with every demoniac passion iha, can
bruialize The man. The city was in terrible
confusion, and on every side horrible tokens
OF military license met'ihe eye.
One street, as ! approached the castle
was almost choked up with broken furni
ture; for tho houses had been eu,,ed from
the cellar 10 The garrei, the partitions torn
down, and even The beds ripped" up and
scattered 10 the winds in the hope that gold
might be found concealed. A convent a
the end Of The strata of ST. John was in
flames, and saw more than one wreiched
nun in The arms Of adrunken soldier.
Further on the confusion seemed greater
Brandy and wine casks wero rolled out be-
fore The siores-somc were full, some hal
drunk out, but more STAYED in, in mere
wanlonness, and The liquors running through
the kennel. Many narrowing scream
saluied the ear of the passer.by; many q
female supplicalion was heard asking in
vain for mercy. How could il be otherwise
when il is remembered that twenty ihous.
and furious and liceniious nadmen were
loosed upon an immense population, among
which many OF the loveliest women upon
earth might be foundl All within iha, de-
voted city was at the disposal OF an infuri
aied army, over whom, fol the time, con
troll was lost aided by an infamous colec
lion OF camp.followers, who were, il pos
sible, more sanguinary and piiiless even
than those who bad survived The storm
II is useless 10 dwell upon scene rom
which the heart revolts. Few females in
this beautiful town were saved that night
from insult. The noblest and the beggaI
the nun, and The wife and daughter o
the ailisan-youlh and age, all were in,
yolvsd in general rum. None were rc.
spec,ed and consequently few escaped
The madness OF those desperate brigands
was variously exhibited; some fred through
doors and windows; others al church bells,
many at the wseiched inhabitants rs they
fed into the streets 10 escape the bayoneis
OF the savages, who were demolishing their
property within doors; while some wretch
es, as IL blood had not flowed in sufficient
torrents already, SHOT FROM THE WINDOWS
THEIR OWN COMPANIONS as they staggered
on below. What chances had the misera'
BILE inhabitants of escaping death, when
mora than one officer perished by the bul.
let's and bayonets OF the very men whom
a few hours before he had led 10 tho rs.
sauli!" ...... ....
This city contained about 10000 inhabi.
lanls, and had twice before within the
space OF thirteen months, been subjected 10
the horrors Of siege, BY the "Liberaiors
Of the Peninsula" l af .n