Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-09-07
Correspondence Savannah Republican
LATEST NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.
Thrilling Scenes Burying the Dead at
Manassas.
RICHMOND, August IL

On Monday our dead we're buried or boxed
up, and sent home for interment, and macy
OF the enemy's wounded were brought 10 and
attended TO. All day 90 Tuesday was devo'
ted to buryiug the dead on the other side,
and yet the work bad not been half flushed
when | arrived on the field Wednesday
morning. So iDtolerabie was the stencil
arising from the dead, and especially from the
horses, that our men had been compelled to
suspend their humane labors. | did hear
that some OF the prisoners we had taken were
subsequently, sent out and ordered to finish
the work, which they did, though reluc.
tsntly.
1t was a sad sight-the battle 6eld that
day. The enemy's dead still lay scattered il
every direction, and the silent vultures bad
begun to circle above them. They were
well clad, and were larger aud stouter men
than ours. Nearly all of them were lying
upon their backs, some of them with their
legs aud arms stretched out 10 the utmost
Many had their feet drawn up somewhat,
while their arms, from the elbows, were
raised, and the hands rather closed, after the
fashion oil boxers. 1T was singular and
yet the prevailing attitude. Most of .hem
bad sandy or red hair, and ! have observed
that this is the predominant color among our
own soldiers. Those who were not killed
Instantly, bad almost invariably torn open
their SHIRT collars, and loosened their cloth.
ing about the waist There was auother
mark in addition to this, by which we could
tell whether their death was sudden or
lingering. 1t was the color of the face If
the body had time to become cool and quiet
before death, the corpse was pale, though
not SO much as those who die from disease
Those who were killed instantly, however,
a IsplNi IL, ksn 4
aud black in the face. In such cases the
blood being in full circulation, there was not
time for 1t 10 return to the heart before the
body had ceased oil its functions. AT least
suppose such is the explanation, and q
physician confirms me 10 it.
Such OF the poor wretches as bad been
buried were placed in long bitches or trench.
"s, some times twenty or thirty 10 the same
trench. VI course 1t was impossible to
procure collins or boxes for them They
were LAID away in the same attitude in which
they were found, and 10 which their bodies
aud limbs bad become stiff and rigid-one
With his arms and legs stretched out, another
bent nearly double, third with bis hands
raised as described above. One poor fellow
had died with his arms clasped around
small tree, and others with their hands clasp
ed tightly about their muskets or such twlgs
or roots as were 10 their reach. One was
found with bis Bible opened upon his breast.
Some had their hands crossed and the whole
body composed after the manner of q corps
few we're found upon whom there was not
the least wound or mark. Whether they
had dieG'from sun.stroke, or from exhaustion,
or simple fright, it was impossible to say,
though probably it was from the first cause.
was glsd to see that most Of our own
dead had been buried upon the battle ground
many OF them where they had fallen. In
some instances those belonging to the same
company or regiment were gathered up and
buried near each other, each little hilock
being marked by board or stoue with the
name OF the hero cut upon it.
Not the least interesting part Of the battle.
field to me was body of thick woods, three
fourths of mile in the rear Of this battery,
and skirtiUg the road by which the enemy
bad approached from Sudys Ford. A large
body of his forces had evidently halted here
long enough to consult their haversacks. 1t
was "hasty plate of soup" however, if one
may Judge from the immense quantities OF
bread aDd other eatables left scattered upon
the ground. Among other things, / found
cast0rs, mustard boxes, pickle jars, pieces
OF fine glass ware, ale and brandy bottles,
several numbers Of the New York Tribune,
various illustrated papers, political and
religious tracts, and several pieces Of flute
music. The officers bad evidently been bay.
iDg good lunch preparatory to The grand
dinner they were to take at Manassas. A
little further on | saw musquito net, which
some boastful warrior. mindful of his rect, was
doubtless taxing along TO be used among
the swamps and lagoons Of the South.
10 the corner Of fence, and covered over
with leaves, | found two splendid Collins
axes, with leather coverings, or holsters. fol
} the blades large number of axes were
: captured-a part perhaps OF the sever
thousand that were sent over from Washing
! ton some weeks ago, by General Scott, Il
hew way TO Richmond for his grand army
? The fences throughout the battle field wer,
: torn down, in order to enable the men ant
!, horses to move with facility The horses o
Z the enemy were large and fine. sDd our sbnr'
shooters were vsfy successful 10 pict ..