The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-10
THE HORRORS OF BULL RUN.
FEELING AT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

Written for the Montreal Witness by an Oh. Montreal
editor, who has spent several years In the Southern
States in the same vocation.
The battle Of Manassas Bull run, it is somewhat
pointedy styled by the Northerners, victory
the people OF Richmond. In proportion there many
citizeus Of Richmond present the battle field
than Of any other city Of the SOUTH and the loss of the
Southern army was very much greater than was sup.
posed at the North have heard Beanregard declare his
belief that three four Southerners fell to every North
ern solder BE this as it may Richmond after the battle
was veplcd in mourning. II seemed il there was
scarcely family that had not lost friend relative;
many had lost their head and every male member of
their loving domestic circle Manassas was hardly
gained victory. though its moral effects were great;
but II was victory that spread mourning and desoa
ton over the land for hundreds Of the most beloved
and cherished amongst the youth OF the South fell on
that fatal day They had gone forth the flush and con
hdcnce Of youthful hope and mistaken PATRIOTISM aud
can We wonder that sounds Of rejoicing heard
such rs are usual after victory, however
or hardly won, though the wall Of tho widow tho
mother the orphan child mnges with the hoar e bray
OF The trumpet and the shouts OF tho vicors. No song
Of triumph was sung in Richmond, Tie Surrounding
villages and now, for the first time, the people appea ed
TO realize the horrors OF the they had entered uon
without seeming To have calculated its Those who
bad cherished hopes, raised by the reports III So
they loved not dead, but only wounded we're alas
doomed TO suffer bitter anguish than that of their
fellow citizens who wep the OF tho slain No
pen can adequately describe the horror 81 the scenes
Witnessed by anXlons crowds, day by day
the wo nded wee brought in and carried 10
the houses Of their friends to the ST. Charles
Hotel, which had been fitted up hospital. |
quetion indeed, whether many Of the battle els Of
Europe have been the Of sgch horrible individual
q
Moscow whore the French soldiers persisted by tens II
thousands, IN every conceivable agony that nIcr
comparison in this respect. II may seem absurd to
speak of Moscow and Bull run in the same breath but
10 not refer TO the reative magnitude OF the campaigns
compare tho numbers engaged the duration of the
struggle the loss OF life. My comparison refers ouly
to the peculiar spncrines Of the wounded day after
day they were brought into the city every concey.
able and uncomfortable condition Of mu,ilaon ana with
ing in agony where mo- hcation had already super
vcned where the supor which generally precc les
death by violence had not seized Upon hapess VIZ
tim II this fratr,ei4al strife. In BATH, fields
Of modern times skilful surgeons and attentive
nurses have been in prompt attendance, AMI
the wounded nave received every possible attcn-
bit with the wounded or the Southern army nj lens.
this was not the case. Possibly sufficient number OF
surgeons could net be provided, and know that nIlny
who were present were poorly Supplied with sarccal
instruments, or with medicines OF nature to alleviate
suffering they did the best they could under Inc
| circumstances but brought in who had lain
for foar and twenty hours the field whore tey had
fallen, unatded aud without even drop Of water to
lirions with fever, rayng like madmen and falling to
recognise their near ST and dearest friends were
borne past upon whose vd feature death had already
set his sea'--thc pttfu appealing glance Of the fast
| glazing eye being tho only sign that lie still
fingered The features Of many were distorted by
| pain that they scarcely appeared to be human;
and most horrible Of all witnessed at least dozen
poor creatures brought in who had either
lost limb by ball or had suffer
ed the amputation Of leg or an arm. 1t is
hard to decide which Of these two classes Of victims
had suffered the greater ag ny-hose who had lain I'm.
his kerchief the limb stop the eGasion of blood
and thus preserve The vita spaIkor those who had en-
dured the pain Of ampuation either hur ediy OF
else unskinly performed In several OF the latter
the gaucs had slipped become oosencd the bandgcs
had fallen on, and tho bones proiruded beyond tho
mangied flesh while IN both alike the bones and flesh
black and fostering, and swarinng with maggots
People shndered and sckcnel they turned away from
the horrid spectacle; tainted in the strectsnnd
yet there We're soma brave women-mohcrs wives and
sisterswho dared to dress these rghfu wounds when
men, used TO witness blood and suffering shrun appalled,
fhp frhu Ia Gf,,,.t
acute mental suffering these angels OF mercy fingered TO
the last over the dying husband brother-anl in
bed OF those who were strangers and friend
less-strivmg to impart that comfort to the
departing souls, which, Heaven help them, they
sorc'y needed themselves. 1t u happy thing
for these poor victims tia, Instances they had
ccnsed to feel pain while consciousness generally returned
hour or two before DEATH but il almost NEEDLESS to
add that recovery, those who had se ed in tho
manner we have described, was rare indeed We know
but of instance OF the recovery OF a man who h,d
I Suffered the anpuatou OF limb on the battle Geld
Ho'vtsta beti1'-who, year two ago, would have
dared 70 prophecy that such would be wne sed
IN the heart Q. the model republic in the OF tho
state which Washington believed to be destined TO hold
the brightest rank IN the Unon which be lived TO SEQ
Pogtessins lavoraoy and IN which, in little more than
oufscoe years the last Of his dssceo dants who bore
name and Inherited his cstates shot from his horse
md kiled--a rebel spy
We have heard said that reports have prevailed nt
the North TO the elect that Northern prisoners Of
were badly treated This so far as have and beard
| can rcsoiutey deny. That they suffer under many
nrivations is true, bet do the southerners them
seves IN no place there greater prejudice against
.he :" ankces than N Richmond; yet in very few n
stances have heard them usuted in those
only by nrchins, who sgmatized them "Yankee ped.
ers, ana were always reproyed by their elders while
the SICK and wounded Northerncrs received the like
treatment as the Sufferers among themselves Doubtless
instances o. cruelty have occurred In the excitement of
battle or IN the flush Of victory anger shame OF
defeat but such instances occur and amongst
every people War, for the time being turns men into
demons.
Dark, dark and ssddenng the prospect we can SEQ
no eeaf OF ght through tho soalbro vista The light is
there Even good may from out Of this great evil
but even the most hopeful admit that can Only be
arrived at through years q trouble. Tho country has
been thrown back at least half century More less
cvaod nations must suffer through this mad folly OF
Tie nineteenth century which neither civilization nor
christianity has been able overcomo-so great is the
strength OF man evil passions whom an individual or
4 nation, they obi Ain thu mi etary ,var hin,