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

A correspondent Of the Tribune argues
that the murder of the wounded at Bulls
Run battle was by order of officers high
iu command, aud was general all over the
battle field. He explains that an ambu-
lance is spring carriage OF peculiar shape,
and cannot be mistaken for any other car
riage. That surgeon in auy civilized
army is dressed in green, and hangs up a
green flag at the spot where he is attend
lug the wounded. Ihe rules Of war re-
quire that these should be respected by
Ill parties, aid care taken that none but a
chance shot could molest them. He gives
the following instances Of the violation OF
this rule, and who can read them and say
that the chivalry are not all we have ever
painted them-cowardly savages?
Lieutenant s. R. Elliot of the 10Th
Regiment N. Y. S. NJ. (Highlanders) was
standing near Col. Cameron of his regl-
ment, when the latter was struck by a
shot and fell mortally wounded. The
Lieut.. and others Instantly rushed to the
fallen officer. Lieutenant Elliott, with
twelve men OF the 5th aud lUth Compa-
MES Of his Regiment, raised the Colonel,
and started to bear hlm ott the field. NJ
sooner was this group Of men discerned by
the field telescopes Of the enemy, than
they were made target tor an entire bate
ry of ritled cannon, aud number Ut in-
tantry. The shots struck on every side Ut
them, being aimed with great precision.
aud they were soon covered with dust
thrown over them by the flying balls. III
nally, shell, thrown by their rlhed cannon
battery, struck iu the centre OF the grVur,
exploded, and killed i've men 1t those
who were bearing the dying Colonel. 1he
battery continued to play on them until
they were out OF range. out they escaped
without further serious casualties.
Lieutenant Elliot says that the shots
which struck near them were not the
chance shots Of a general engagement, but
wc1e aimed ut them specially-they were
discovered by the teld-g glasses OF :hc kep-
els, and then the guns were aimed direct.
ly at them, aud played on them till they
were out OF rangs-and with what murder
GUS effect has been stated.
There was no possibility of mistaking
the nature Of this group, Or their humane
errand. The Rebels saw a number OF
men bearing from the field wounded OF:
6cer, and instead Of withholding their fire.
invariably the practice OF civilized toe,
they scientifically took the exact range OF
the retreating group, and brought whole
battery to bear on them, killing nearly
halt of them before they had succeeded III
placing their dying Colonel iu place Of
safety.
Colonel Wood, Of the l4th New York
Regiment (Brooklyn), being wounded
was placed III al ambulance, and Was be-
ing carried of the field. The ambulance
was fired at persistently by battery ot RI
fed cannon. A pryectlle from one o1
these guns at last took OFT the top Of the
ambulance, passed on aud killed three mel
Of the Rhode Island Battery, and dismoun
ted their gun. The fire was kept up ~
uuremittingly, that the men in charge q
the ambulance were forced to leave it. IL
this case also the ambulance was made
special target, aud was fired at until it Wa.
probably destroyed.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Cham
bers, now commanding the New Yorl
9th Volunteers, the Colonel being woun
ded and in the in6rmary, tells the follow
ing story:
Lieut.. Col. Chambers, IN the thick o
tho fight, and while he himself was has
tening tor reinforcements, saw near th'
brook Dull Run) a Rebel deliberatel!
bayonet one Of our wounded men, VIII
was lying near the bank Of tho stream =
Even in the exigeucy Of the moment
Col. Chambers wheeled his horse, rode nj
! a tho rahal and shot him dead,