The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-08-02
Our Wounded at Manassas Systematically
and Deliberately Murdered.

more responsible eye-witnesses. He gives
numerous instances, where the proofs are O.
overwhelming and incontrovertible, that our
wounded men were Systematically murdered
that our surgeons were Systematically shot
dorm that our ambuanceS were SyStemati-
ccliy blonn up wtM shells: and that at the
last, our hospital, a church building, was
charged on by cavalry, who rode up and fired
their revolvers through the windows at the
wounded men as they lay on the floors, and
at the surgeons, who were attending to their
wants, and that the enemy eventually set fire
to the building and burned it, and in it scores
Of wounded and dying men.
The correspondent says he gives not one
word Of hearsay evidence, but every instance
i. well authenticated. Out of three or four
columns of these heart-rending, blood-boiling
atrocities, We copy the following:
Lieutenant S. K. Elliott of the 18th regi-
ment n. Y. S. NJ. (Highlanders) was stand
ing near Col Cameron OF his regiment, when
tie latter was struck by shot and fell NOR
tally wounded. The lieutenant and others
instantly rushed to tie fallen officer. Lieut.
Elliot, with twelve men c: the 9TH and 10th
companies of his regiment. raised the colonel
and started to bear him off the field. No
sooner was this group of men discerned by
the field telescopes of the enemy, than they
,aG., for hot. ~
rfled cannon, and number Of infantry. The
shots struck on every side of them, being
aimed with great precision. and they were
soon covered with dust thrown over them bv
the flying balls. Finally, shel, thrown BY
the riHed cannon battery struck in the center
of the group, exploded, and killed FIVE men
of those who were bearing the diving colonel.
Tn. battery continued TO play upon them un-
I'll they were out Of range, but they escaped
without further serious casualties
Surgeon Barnes of The New York 18th
volunteers. was in the fight all through, and
came out Of it in his shir, sleeves, having los,
coat. sash. watch and al his surgical instru-
meats. having been charged or by the Black
Horse Cavalry and compelled TO leave the
field, being driven from under tree where
he had established his temporary quarters.
and where he was attending 10 the wounds
Of about twenty-five injured men, part Of
whom were secessonists
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 Il DO
sition with his assistants under a tree. in a
little ravine. The wounded men were brought
10 him, and he took off his green sash and
hung 1t on the tree TO signify that the place
was under the charge Of surgeon The in
jHred men were brought in rapidly, and in
fifteen minutes he had under his charge near
" 30. As fast as possible he attended to
their hurts, and III short time had been
compelled 10 performs a number of capital o,-
.rations. He ampu.ated four legs, three
arms. a hand and foot, and attended 10 a
number OF minor injuries. By this time the
enemy had discovered the place, and the ma
ture of the business of the men in charge.
and began TO pour III muskc; balls, and pro
jrc.ilos from rticd cannon. The place be
came unsafe for the wounded men, and !: was
seen 70 be necessary to remove them. The
surgeons assistants and servant had becon,.
separated trom him, and he haG no one 10
send for ambu!ances, and was obliged to leave
the wounded m,n and 90 himself
II was no easy matter to procure nmbulan-
c,s enough. and II was probably ,hiri, MN
utes before the surgeon returned with the
necessary assistance. Wien b, returned he
found that tveiy one OF those uolu.lsd nte,.
had t,en hayono'oi, or sajereI, aj.I ras
ds"". They We're literally cut to pieces.
sum UP these facts. There were 80 men
all tanserousl ' hurt-.hoy had all beer CT, d
for by the surseon-thcy were Wing on the
grass IN agonles Of pain and thirst. with their
DandaScd stump> OF limbs. resting on the lit
re ianmocks-with the. severed legs and
arms scattered about-and. i; more could be
needed TO show the nature Of ,hc place, the
surgeon green SASH was tiving ~ fac in
the tree, and the surgeons instruments were
lying IN sight, and Vet these 50 helpless men
were there and then deliberately butchered.
y surgeon always wears grt.a sash, no;
only in our own service. but in every army Of
every civilized nation. The trimmings of his
uniform are green. and therein they differ
from every other officer. 1t is no more pos
>:b.c to mistake surgeon for IN officer Of
h"s;llties than to mistake drummer-bov for
Il Encouragement.
When man IS wounded. he is. in most ca
ses, picked up by two or four men. and borne
to the nearest surgeon. The business of such
:. group OF men cannot possibly be mistaken.
for under no other circumstances whatever
do men ever form III such squads.
Generally, there are certain soldiers de-
tanned from each company of each regiment
10 attend to those who may be Wounded
These detained men are aitcayS Unarmed ::
and IN any event, the men who bear off a
hurt comrade are by all civilized ~ foes con-
sldered, for the time out of the battle. They
are, for the time, incapable of hostili.;es. and
are, by all civilized foes invariably respected.
Surgeons are non-comhatants, and with
chaplains are, by all civilized foes invariably
respected.
The green flag of the surgeon sanc.iies for
the time the place over which it floats. and is.
by all civilized foes invariably respected An
ambulance filled with wounded and diving
men, hnrrying to the surgeon and chaplain TO
have flowing hearts blood stanched. and
wounds of the body bound up. and troubles
OF the departing soul made lighter, is vehi-
Gle sacred for the time, and is, by all civilized
foes, invariably respected.
A hospital. filled with wounded men and
protected by the yellow flag of the
ho'plta! and by the green scarf of the SUI
seon' is sacred editcc, and by civilized foes
is Invariably respected
From the Sd Rapiman4