Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-08-02


and the dead and mangled were lain on the
grass in every direction. And what a scene
it was Here poor fellow with shattered
arm, imploring the early attention of the sur
geons; there pale youth exposing his frac-
tured head to the pity Of his fellows; then a
dying man bathing the green sod with his
life's blood and scores lying about in strange
confusion, all more or less injured, and shock
ing spectaces to behold. 1t was sight the
memory of which no lapse OF time gan remove,
and such as language must ever fail to de-
scribe. 1t was not so mournful ard impress
sivc, however, as the field of battle where
were strewn in wild confusion the dead and
the dying, and for long distance every foot
of the soil was drenched with human blood
Mr.. Arnold and myself dismounted, and
co-operated with the surgeons, rs far as lay
in our power, in alleviating the distress of the
poor fellows, but many received no attention
whatever, and died without an audible MUIR
MUIR The shell wounds and those caused by
the rilled cannon shot were most frightful. -
Legs, arms, heads, and entire bodies were
fearfully manglcd. The musket wounds were
less repulsive but in all the dreadful sight
there was nothing to disguise the untold hor-
rors of war.
Letter from Washington.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON July rs, 1861.
One Of the New York Fire Zouaves, who
was wounded at the battle of Manassas on
Sunday last, a stalwart, hardy fellow, of CON
siderable intelligence, passed through this
city yesterday, en- route homeward, remaining
here several hours waiting for the cars. He,
of course, has the privilege, like all others, Of
telling his own tale, without experimenting,
for the present at least successful contradic-
ton. From him ! obtained a thrilling mar
ratiye of a rencounter between his regiment
and n regiment Of Mississppians
After the battle had been raging for some
hours, according to the account of this Zoua-
Wan hero, he saw an immense body of Mis-
sssippians, accompanied by some (beieved to
beg 3altimoreans, rush furously over the
Confederate ramparts. They at once saw the
conspicuous uniform of the Iouaves, and made
at them. The Mississppians, after approach
ing near enough, sent q terrible voliey FROM
their rifles TITO the Zouave ranks This done
they threw their guns aside and charged on
ward until each contending enemy met face to
face and hand to hand, in terrible combat
The Mississippians, having discarded their ri
fles after the first fire. fell back upon their
bowie-knives. These were of huge dimen-
sions, eighteen to twenty inches long heavy
in proportion and sharp, or two-edged at the
| point. Attached to the handle was lasso,
securely wound round the wrist
My informant says when these terrific war
riors approached to within reach of their las
so, not waiting to come in bayonet range,
| they threw forward their bowie knives at the
.Zouaves after the fashion of experienced har-
| pOoners striking at whale. Frequently they
| plunged in, and penetrated through soldier S
body, and were jerked ont, ready to strike
again whilst the first victim sunk into death
On several occasions the terrible bowie lSnive
was transfXed in Zouave, and the Zouave' 3
bnyonet in a Mississippian, both impaled and
falling together So skilfully was this deadly
instrument handled by the Mississppian that
he could project it to the full lasso length, kill
his victim, withdraw it again with a sudden
impulse and catch the handle unerringly.
! If by any mschance the bowie knife missed
its aim, broke the cord fastening it to the arm
or fell to the earth, revolvcrs were next resort
ed to and used with similar deXterity. The
hand TO hand closing in with both pistol and
bowie knife, cutting, slashing carving, and
shooting almost in the same moment, was
awful beyond description. Blood gushed
| from hundreds Of wounds until, amid death,
pitiful grOans and appalling sights, it staunch-
ed the very earth. My Iouaye champion say S
himself and comrades did hard fighting, stood
up maufully to the murd erous conflict bu
never before knew what undaunted bravery
and courage meant. He felt no further am
bition to engage in such rencounters HAY.
ing been shot through the wrist by revolver
after escaping the fearful Mississippi weapons
and disabled front further active participation
in the struggle he willingly retired to rear
the glory won, convinced that to fiqhtagainst
Mississippians with bowie knives and pistols,
after receiving volley Of their sharp-cracll-
| ing rifles, is no ordinary fun.
~.