St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-08-15
o.

Surgeon Barnes, of the NJ Y. 27th
Volunteers, was in the fight all through,
and came out of it in his shirt sleeves,
having lost coat, sash, watch and all his
surgical instruments, having been charged
on by the Black Horse Cavalry and COM
PEELED to leave the field, being driven from
under tree where he had established his
temporary quarters, aud where he was at
tending to the wounds Of about twenty
FIVE injured men, part Of whom were Sc
cessionists.
Surgeon Barnes went up to the battle
field in the rear of the attacking column,
and, as soon as our men began to fall, he
took position with his Assistants under
a tree, in little ravine. The wounded
men were brought to him, and he took off
his green sash and hung it on the tree to
signify that the place was under the charge
of a surgeon. The injured men were
brought in rapidly, and in Is minutes he
had under his charge nearly 80. AS fast
Us possible he attended to their hurts, and
in a short time had been compelled to per-
form number Of capital operations: He
amputated four legs, three arms, a hand,
and foot, and attended to number Of
minor injuries. by this time the enemy
had discovered the place, and the nature
of the business of the men in charge,
and began to pour in musket balls. and
projectiles from riaed cannon. The place
became unsafe for the wounded men, and
it was seen to be necessary to remove them.
The Surgeons Assistants and servant had
become separated from him, and he had
no one to send for ambulances, aud was
obliged to leave the wounded men and 20
himself.
1t was no easy matter to procure ambu-
lances enough, and it was probably thirty
minutes before the Surgeon returned with
the necessary assistance. When he re-
turned lie found shat every one of those
wou"de:i men had been bayoneted, or so-
tered, and ras dead. They we're liter
ally cut to pieces.
Sum up these facts. There we're so
men all dangerously hurt-they had all
been cared tor by the Surgcon-they
were lying on the grass in the agonies
pain and thirst, with their bandaged
stumps of limbs, resting on the little ham
mocks-with their severed legs and arms
scattered about-and, If more could be
needed to show the nature of the place,
the Surgeons green sash Was flying as a
Aag in the tree, and the Surgeons instru-
ments were lying in sight, and yet, these
thirty helpless men were there aud then
deliberately butchered.
The Surgeon gathered up his instru-
ments aud started to retire to the rear,
again to resume his duties lie Was dis
covered by the enemy, and, although tire
boxes Of instruments under his arms des-
iynated beyond dispute his rank and otiice
the intantry and full battery Of riAed
cannon played on him till he was out Of
their reach-he Was compelled 10 drop his
instruments and retreat as best he could
Col. Slocum, Of the New York 18th
Regiment, was wounded by a grape sho,
through the thigh. The Surgeon went
to his assistance, found him, aud attempt.
ed to dress his wound but the rided can.
non commenced playing on them, and
drove them from the field. Teey retreat
ed, four men bearing the Colonel. In a
short time halt was made, and again the
riaed cannon Of the enemy played on
them and drove them away. All this
time the Co.onel was bleeding his life
away. From six several positions Was
Colonel Slocum removed before his wound
could be properly dressed, although q
tourniquet had at first been applied. Al
last they took shelter in the Stoue Church
(Sudley Church) J, which had been oce upied
as a hospital. This church was soon
shelled by the enemy. Col. Slocum was
by order Of the surgeon, removed to the
outside Of the church behind, for sup
posed greater safety. It was soon found
that the continual bursting Of shells made
it more dangerous outside than within
and the Colonel was again taken Inside
the walls. His wounds were dressed, ano
he was, as soou as possible, removed tron
the church to Fairfax, and thence to Wash
ington, where he is now rapidly recovering
1hc shelllng, aud ultimate burning u
this church, is asserted by cloud OF wit
nesses.
Lieut.. Col. Elliot, Of the 10th (High
landers,) New York, saw the rebels shcl
ling the building while the hospital flag
were flying. lie states that the hospita
was made q special target for the rldee
cannon Of the Rebels, who could not tai
to know its character, and that the attclnp
by them to destroy it, and slaughter ou
wounded meu, was deliberate, and was fol
lowed up with the most persistent perse
verance.
The surgeon Of the list New Yorl
Regiment Militia was in the hospital, an@