Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-02-01
The Horrors War.--Letter by Russian Sister
of Mercy.

|
cy, mInlsterng at Sevastopol:
| "Only few days have passed since last wrote to
you, and now could again fill at least twenty pages
with the events OF the single light between Tues
day and Wednesday. Oh, how much should have
to tell you, but how, or with what words NV God,
what horror is war What unnatural cruelty !, is
| In the night between Monday and Tuesday our men
were ordered to dig fresh trenches and throw up bat
teTies, with strong force to protect the workmen.
w were all night prepared for an attack but it
passed off quietly, and the whole of Tuesday was
calm and still. In the evening all again expec-
tatlon Every preparation was made. Several rows
oil mattresses we're laid the ground small tables
were arranged with lights and writing materials up
on them. The attendants were placing heaps of lint,
bandagcs dressings, short searln candles and medi-
clnes upon table. In one cup stood large Samoan
"a camp kettle) and it two small tables with
small teapols and cups. On the other side WAS ia,
BILE covered with brandy, wine lemonade, tumblers
and wine glasses. The room is nearly dark, and
peculiar stiffness regns round, as in the air before
thunder storm. Fifteen surgeons and more are
seated around Progof in the for operations or
are walking up and down in pairs. The officer and
the smoreI (superlntendent,) who have TO see that
everything is in readiness, are busily moving about
or fetching in medical he and attendance.
AS you stand at the door, or look out through The
lofty windows at both sides of the room, you see
bright, quiet night, for the moon is shining and the
stars are twnking without a cloud Between nine
and ten o'clock, there is fash like that of lightning
at the windows and suddenly it till every pane
of glass rattes. By degrees flash follows flash more
frequent and rapidly; you can no longer distinguish
the shots from each other. The fifth and sixth bas-
tions are lit up with fire but the enemy's bombs do
not reach the city. We sit and listen, ever in the
sort of twilight, and about hour passes over
Then comes litter, another, and anotherit has be-
gan. The candles are lt folks hurriedy back
ward AMI toward, and the large room is soon filled
with men. The floor is covered with the wounded
I-everywhere, where they sit, they who have
crawled in, do sit. How they shrek What din
He'll is let loose around You cannot hear the
thunder of the guns for this wailing and grcanng.-
That screams, but not in words. This one cries.
Save me, brethren, save me! Another sees the
brandy on the table, and entreats Be kind
mother to me, and give me dram In all directions
voices are heard moanngly entreatng the surgeons
who are probing The wounds: Good my lord, do not
rack me- myself walk with great difficulty be-
tween the rows OF stretchers, and cry out: Come
here, my men, and take him to GustscZnsks house;
that is where the hopee>sly wounded are carrie
- take this man to the Nicolaief battery. Place
that man upon this bed. Now the bring in the off
GERS too. The is crowded densely with the
wounded, but operations not to be thought of at
this moment. God give US but time to bind up the
wounds of alive sisters are all busiIy engaged
There they are bringing in officer his face is
delUged with blood; | wash it off, meanwhile he
takes laboriousy out of his snap purse some money
tor the soldiers who brought him to drink his health
hav" seen many do the thing | kneel on
the hoor to light the doctor-the wounded man has
DEeaSt-lO II
night through place my hand under his back and
feel for the wound You may think how he lies
WeIterng IN his gore. But enough. You would
shudher if were to describe to you all the torures
! and agonies witnessed that night. Dawn comes at
last, and the firing ceases. We have little garden
Picture 1T to your mind-welI there are wounded y
ing there also. took brandy and ran down to it,
while The sun rising most gloriouSIy over the
bay amid the twilering of birds in The shade of aca
cias full of white blossoms found thirty or there
| a Tod iho
at the point of death My Maker and my Lord
what contrast to this sweet Spring morning.
begged two of the inhabitants. vino had been helping
most diligently all night to carry the wounded. to
take these Immediately ino the hospital Thank
Heaven, the bringing in of sirelchers is at end
The surgeons who had gone home at break to get
some rest returned when those whose turn ii was to
! be relieved, departed with the close of day
" AT oclok the operations recommence. Al
though it was not my day 10 be duty, resolved
to be again in attendance. The operations last till
two in the morning Becween 5 and O'Clock PRO
gof comes back and they operate till eight then the
work was over, and at nine went home. The can
nonade, however, still continued. and grew fercer
toward the morning; | accordingly got up about six
and at seven announced myself re ldy for duty
Everything was in order; loo wounded were brought
IN this night II is true the amputations lasted
three hours, but by O'Clock the dressing was finish
ed. Thy brought me your reel opened it and
began 10 tear bandages off your linen directly They
are bringing me my dinner. All is quiet. Thank
God, this day then is quiet one The door is
opened, and sretcher after the other is borne
along. What's the meaning of This How is this
When were you wounded, poor men ! We have
Jain out yonder ever since that night There is
truce at this moment. Only think ot This honor -
They have been lying out yonder nearly twenty four
! hours; lew compassionate Frenchmen had given
| them bread and water. We washed their wounds at
| once; we bound them up; gave them something
to eat and 10 drink. OF course they were all wound
! ed in the legs, though few not severely Again
| there were twelve oreratlons and one expect
ed arrival of this out of hours Cr CIebnikof
and myself almost the only persons at the ope-
rating table. The night passed of quietly. Ina
glne my havinaatO lie The arteries for Pigoof's pa
tients on that dreadful night, while he was pulling
them out and holding pincers in his hand
"SISTER b.
In regard TO the dy goods trade, The New York
! Independent says:
! The importers generally are very busy this
amounted to more than The tr nsactions of the
whole OF January last year. Buyers, however, ex,
ceptng those from distance, not vel making
their heaviest purchases The Philadelphia iobbers
later in market this season than usual very few
having yet made their appearance and The same is
Irue in regard 10 Boston and Baltimore. Next week
promises TO be busy
8 Some OF the arg- importing houses affirm that
all their goods coming early this season. while
ders in hand that only few of the5r goods could be
got of IN tine for the early January trade. We
| no reason yet to change the opinion expressed last
week, that the aggregate spring lmportations will be
much larger than usual We hope We may be dis
appointed. A few of the leading commission houses
have made large sales of black silks within few
days Medium and low priced grades say from six
tyrto o1,YIi iu I'd