Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-07-22

AMERICANS AT SOLFKRINo.-M Mr.. henry
j. Raymond, editor of the New York Time
and now on visit to Europe, in company
with s'Malakoff," the Crimean correspondent
Of that payer, enjoyed the distinguished
privilege of witnessing the great battle
along the Mincio from the same eminenc,
occupied by the Emperor Napoleon during
aportion Of the day. His description of thu
scenes connected with the engagement ar,
thrilling in the extreme. Under cover of g
cloud of dust made by park of artillery
moving that way, the Americans entered
Oastiglione, and the following is Mr.. Ray.
mond's account of some of the terrible seen es
witnessed there during the progress of the
battle and after night had separated the com
batants:
We pushed our way without hinderance,
directly past the house marked as the Qua--
,ier Generate, or headquarters of the EN-
peror, and were thus without the camp. We
had gone but short distance when we came
to where the great procession of the wound
ed were turning down cross street to q
church which had been taken for hospital.
1t was certainly the most dreadful sight l
ever saw. Every conceivable kind of wound
which G IN be inflicted upon men was here
exhibited. All who were able to do so,
were obliged to walk-the wagons and ami
mails at command being all required for
tAose who could not otherwise be moved.
Some walked along, their faces completely
covered wi blood from sabre cuts upon
their heads. Many had their arms shattered
hundreds had their hands tied up and
s'me carried most CHASTITY wounds upon their
faces. Some had tied up their wounds and
others had stripped away the clothing which
chafed and made them worse. l saw one
man waking along with firm step and
resolute air-naked to the waist, and having
a bullet wound upon his side, an ugly cash
along his cheek, and deep bayonet thrust
received from behind, in his shoulder. Most
of those who were walking wore a serious
ook-conversing but little with one another
though they walked two and two and few
of them carried upon their faces any consid
cradle expression of pain.
Those who were more severely injured
rode upon donkeys or in carts, and few
were carried upon mattresses and mems
shoulders. But those were mostly officers,
and nearly all saw carried in that way
we're so badly wounded that their recovery
is scarcely possible. One had both his legs
crushed BY cannon ball. Another had re-
lived ballin his thigh, and was evidently
suffering the most intense agony. Many of
those whose wounds were in their legs were
ted in chairs swung across donkey-one
being upon each side. Several who were
thus carried, and were supported by soldiers
walking by their sides, were apparently un-
conscious. and seemed dying. Then would
come carts, large and small, carrying three,
five, and some Of them ten or fifteen each.
A steady stream of the CHASTITY victims of
the battle of the day poured through the
town. | stood in the crowd by the side of
them as the sad procession passed along,
and watched it ut this point for over an
hour. 1t was not interrupted for moment,
now and then by q crowd of pris-
oners, land it continued thus from about
10 in the morning, when 1t began to flow,
until left thestreet, long after dark Every
church, every large hall, every private house
of the wounded. Those whose injuries are
slight, after having them dressed, pass at
once into the ranks and mingle with their
comrades. looked into the church a.
passed by. All the seats, railiDgs, &c., had
been removed mattresses Of hay had been
spread upon the floor, and were COMP tey
filed with the wounded men in every stage
of suffering and of peril, lying side by side.
The surgeons were dressing their wounds
oisters Of Charity and other women were
giving them vine and otherwise administer
ing to their comfort; but morning. am
sure, will dawn upon a large portion Of them
relieved forever from their pain. If any
thing can be more horrible than q soldiers
life, it certainly is soldiers death