New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-02

Prisoner kSsC4ptA kfokA HSoEUSsas Su"e'
ton.
From Ous Special Correspondent
WAsHINGroE, July 3d. 1861.
Perhaps no one sight gives a SO impressive an
Idea Of the simple horror, the uumitigated nhumahiy
Of war, as visit TO wounded and dying men, lying
pSe and patient, in tie hospitals. l have been to-day
70 visit our wounded men in the Hospital at George
town it is sight that few men, not previously Faheu
20 that especial experience, can endure Two sii""e
xen, who went into the ward with me, turned talht
and sick, and had TO be led to other rooms, where
restoratives and time might give them fesa hearF'
And one Of these men is captain in one OF ne ofa'es'
and stauncEest regiments at Bull Run-a man WHO,
with his own single hand slew three keoes' suu
captured fye-wbo In hs own arms carried t'l Ii0s
o wounded man of Lis own company unni be i'a,'u
HIN in place Of saIety-a man WHO U"e,'
sisbelieyrg tie order 20 retreat, and ~ho' WIN i'
ren stood in tie rear guard that pro'eeed Tue
Of cur men, till for the third tine the oroef '|i"0
fsu back. when, with tears in his eyes he reluctantly
Brought off his company in its appropriate piao' :"
regiment. OF course such staDcb men are always oil
az Ai,aoss the bu,yest are the tendeIest-and this
CANAAN from good cid Connecticut, having that day
h.a,a the whereabouts of one of his missing, instantly
left his camp and posted to the hospital journey Of
.sde. And vet this man sooner beatbed the hospi-
TAI airno sooner caught sight of the men lying patient
on their bed.-no sooner caught the first glimpse Of
Che fret es;e ing wound than he TUNED faint and SICK
and had to re led away. In due time he recovered his
sqnanimy aud 60 far mastered his feelings as 70 re.
snrn and assist in making comfortable the he
20 See and remained for hour more to give him
NJ the comfort possible. This effort cost him, he as
serts exeion aud courage he never felt tie need of
when he was dered Tor the first time into the thick
Of the eDemys FIRE.
mention this circumstance TO show that the truest
horrors of The battle not the field; it is only
when the fierce excitement is over. when the eager
craving for svengng blood is assuaged passed away
and when the man is brought face to face with his
fegows, core, stricken, and wounded lying on narrow
hospital beds, away from home and all home comforts
and Influences attended only by strangers and worst
OF ALL seeing only strange faces that he truly realizes
che dreadful trade 10 which he has put bis hand
In the Georgetown Hospital are now about $50
patients, of al regiments of all States that were cut
up in the fight-amopg them many Of our New-YoIk
zist, 18th, 3D. 9Th, and other regiments. They are
receiving the beat of care from competent surgeons
and iom careful nurses. The hospital itself is estab.
Hshed in an old hotel, and the building is Of such
construction that the best ventilation and all the most
desirable conyenences for hospital service are fully
assured
An interesting incident may, perhaps, as well find
place here as elsewhere. most energetic and ex-
ceediDgly intelligent young man, named X. III. Gray
came into the hospital on Monday hayng escaped from
Manassas Junction. He is young man from Sears
port. Maine, and lie member of Company l. 18th Maine
Regiment of Volunteers.
In the battle of Bull Run Gray was shot through the
lcfl wrist and breast. He was not able to get away
from the field, and taken prisoner, and held at
Manassas. Three several times was he examined by
the surgeons Of the Rebel army to ascertain If be
sufficiently well to travel. All our wounded able
20 endure the journey have been forwarded TO CHI
naond thence to be distributed TO Montgomery,
Raleigh, and other interior towns. Gray not able
70 be moved, and was, on every occasion,
passed by the examining officers. lie was
no sick from his wounds that he was
lsft comparatively mguarded, and, observing this
fct and resolved to take advantage of it, be carefully
secreted small quantity Of the peculiar salye that
ased to dress his wounds an extra bandage for his
arm and two or three hard biscuit. With this scanty
provision, be started at dawn on Sunday morning.
easily evadng the guard, took to the thicket, and
started for our lines. He had in his pocket cheap
paper map of the seat of war the Potomac and this
bis only guide. After running ipDumerabe risks
Of bis life by the rebel pickes, manyoi whom he heard
talking 30 near was he to tbem after lying out all
might in peng rain, and having by dint Of unprece-
dented crossed the Potomac by wadng partly
scsoss and swimming the rest Of the way with bis
wounded arm he finally, after Thirty hours wander
ings found himself in the camp Of one Of the Maine
regiments. There he received the kndest attention.
and was soon able to find the hospital where bow he
Is. Not one man In thousand would have had the
pluck and endurance ana intelligence to thus work
his way an unknown country, with no other aid
than mere newspspermsp.