Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-25
From the New York Herald.
THE EsATTLE-EIELD.


THE SCENES ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
The scenes, on the battlefield, beggar de-
scription. The ground was strewn with the
dead, the dying and the wounded. Here lay
one man with his leg shot off, there another
with wound in the head, IL third with an arm
shot off, and hundreds wounded in nearly all
the various portions of the body. The shrieks
of agony OF the suffering soldiers, were suff-
cient to goad our gallant troops 10 despera-
ton, and with maddening impetuosity they
advanced upon the enemy. The barbarity
practced by the rebels towards wounded men
in this encounter, throws to the winds the
boosted chvary OF the SOUTH and their as
sumption OF Samaritan tenderness. They
tranpled the wounded and dying victims of
their powder and lead to the ground fired upon
nurses engaged in carrying away tie MORALLY
wouuded-threw hot shot into buildings used
as hospitals, setting fire to them. The rebels
engaged with our lore at Bulls run, commit
ted all those diabocal deeds, which have, as
yet only heen equallcd By the East India
SepOys aud the Iarars OF old. They com.
menced on thursday this side OF Bulls run,
on the wounded of the First Massachusetts
and Twelfth New York volunteer regiments,
and continued it on Sunday.
CHARGE OF REBEL CAVALRY.
About half past four o'clock in the afternoon
u leIIlDlG udSu Ol CdNuiIy anu Il lleTte
OF artillery was made at our exhausted troops.
This charge done the most devastating dam
age, moving down everything in It's furious
career. The agonized shrieks OF the wounded,
the terrible roar Of artillery, snortng of fright
ened animals, tended to strike terror into the
hearts of the soldiers. In this charge Grittin's,
Ricketts,, and the Rhode Island batteries were
taken. Those in citizens dress became alarm
ed and took to their heels, taking whatever
conveyance they could lay their hands upon.
From them the Transfers some five hundred,
who had driven their wagons further in adj
vance than was any necessity for, took fright.
The road being very narrow, in fact Il gorge,
the ponderOus vehicles could NOT he turned,
and III many cases the cowardly drivers cut
the traces, mounted their steeds, and rode off.
leaving the valuables which were entrusted to
their care Ivy the government, to take care of
itself. Thus thousands of dollars worth of
provisions were left behind. The army wag-
ons dashing down the road, spread the panic
among the citizens, who made all possible
haste 10 leave SO hot a neighborhood.
SOME OF THE INCIDENTS.
During the battle great many interesting
scenes occurred Colonel Cowin, OF the first
! Massachusetts regiment, was leaning his back
against tree in a very exposed position, when
a friend expostuated with him for his rcck-
| lessness. The Colonel said the bullet was not
moulded that would shoot him that day. Ina
! few seconds after another personal friend came
| up, and reaching out his hand to the Colonel,
| the latter stopped a little - grasp it, when a
conical cannon ball struck on the spot where
an instant before was the head of Col. Cow
din, SCATTERING the tree into spiinters. The
Colonel turned about calmly and remarked
chat he was certain that the ball that would
kill him was not yet cas-" and proceeded 10
| issue his commands.
Col. Cameron seemed to have PRESENT.
ment OF his death. In Il conversation with
him, at his tent, on the evening prior to
the battle, he said that he had accepted the
command of the gallant Highanders because
he admired them and inaSmuch as he had on
| ly Il short time to live, he might as well devote
it to his country. lie asked your correspond
ent whether he was going To the battle field.
Receiving an affirmative answer lie said,
Good bye God bless you. We may meet
again, bat am afraid not in this world y
Some sixteen hours afterwards the gallant
Colonel was shot from his horse and killed.
Your correspondent was leading his horse
over numerous dead bodies, when his atten
ton was attracted by deep means. Turning
about he saw Virginia cavalry officer, with
both legs shot off. He pointed to the canteen.
A deep draught of water seemed to revive
him, when, N answer to questions, he said
that he was an officer OF the Fairfax cavalry
and his horse being shot under hin-the bal
taking off both his icgs-he crcpt a few yards
to lie down to die. lie said the rebels had up
wards of one hundred and twenty thousand
men at Manassas Gap, aud that, according tc
his Judgment, they could not have less Than
Wounded in this battle. THIS q..lEil killed am
after expired.
Proceeding few steps further an officer
whose uniform was trimmed with gold lace,
was seen, and having on his breastpate "Mis.
sissppi Rifles" The wounded man raised
slowly to his elbow, and endeavored to bring
a Shapes rifle to bear upon your correspond
ent, when, acting on the maxim that selfpres
ervation is the first law Of nature" your cor
respondent put bullet through his head.