Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-09-27
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Extract from Letter on the Battle Field

Extract from Letter on the Battle Field
4 So ~
This battle (Antietam) has been the most san
culinary of the war, and the only ons fought
with design and upon military principles. The
arrangement Of our corps-the oyefaooking
position OF the commanding General-the send
ing into action the eight and the left-the closing
up of the center, and final success-excites
bewilderinx admiration, and carries the mind
to the great fields Of Austerlitz aud Wasaam,
fought by Napoleon. or all this have spoken.
The heart history Of such conflict purchased
by the life and blood Of twenty thousand men,
must be found in the hospitals. War has its
giories-butiit has it's ten thousand demons in
these human fortunes, that make the eye-balls
ache-the heart bleed-the lips palsy, and the
brain reel. The sight is At first positively unen.
durable. The life blood Of some is still trick
ling away in silent calmness-while the dis.
severed limbs and maniac brain Of others give
rise to sounds God grant may not again wit
ness. l-....'. ID. ''--.t
But ye mothers who now seek son--or wife
ahnsband-or Sister abrother-o sons father
know and be consOlcd that even the hand of
mercy is watchful, and better care is bestowed
upon your loved one than might at first seem
possible. It was in the hospital where rested
the gallant Hooker, that learned the history
"a
little understood, "S. T.-is60LX" Anything
alternating the sufferings and saving the lives
of orr soldiers is a national blessing. wit.
messed some astonishing results from this
article.
1t is well known the effect OF burnt gunpow.
der and excitement is thirst, which, added to
the loss OF blood in the wounded creates the
necessity of reviving stimulant. In this par
ticular hospital, the physicians Were allowing
their patients to drink Plantation Bitters, other
wise called S. T.-1s60-X, and although the
wounded are most numerous here-this division
having opened the fight at 5 nrthe morning
the men We're mostly composed, and there was
but very little fainting. The article acts upon
the stomach and nerves in Il most incompre-
hensible manner, superior to brandy, and with.
out subsequent supplying reaction. 1t origin
ated in the West Indies, containing calisaye
bark, winter green, lavender, anise, Glove buds
orange, snake root, &c. preserved in ST. Croix
Rum-the S. T.-lS60-X being a secret ingre-
dent, not yet revealed to the public 1t is
principally recommended for want of appetite,
disordered liver, intermittent fevers, stomachic
difficulties, &c. understand it was somewhat
known in the Southern States pre- vous to the
war, and it appears an agent Of Jefferson Ipa Wis
recently applied 10 the propretors for the.
privilege TO make it for hospital purposes
during the war, to which they made the fol-
lowing reply:
New YORK, Jan. 16, 1862.
Mr.. - Agent Of, ETC.:
Dear Sir: In reply to your communication
Offering us Fifty thousand dollars for the re-
cipe and right to make the Plantation Btters for
hospital purposes during the war;" we beg to
say your price is a liberal one, considering it
would cost us nothing TO comply, and that other
wise we can derive no revenue from the South
ern States; but, sir, our duties to our Govern
ment and our ideas of consistency would not
allow us to entertain ii, although it might please
us 10 assuage the sufferings of your misguided
followers
We remain, very respectfully yours,
+. n. DRAKE IL Co.
These gentlemen give the history of certain
mgreaients of their article for over two hun
dred years-showing that through all changes
Of the medical profession and its practitioners,
strength, compOsure and cheerfulness have been
derived from these sources. DIR. Woods in the
Washington hospitals, informed me that he had
been unable to procure an hours sleep in one
patient for nearly two weeks, and he was fast
sinking and crazy, until the Plantation Bitters
came to his knowledge, when one days trial
gave him nights rest, and he was now fast
recovering. / am surprised our Government
has not equalled Jefferson Davis in energy, and
adopted this invaluable article in all our hos
pitfalls. AS a lay member, can bear witness it
is "good to take" and affords more energy and
life than any thing ever tried. Success to the
Plantation Bitters. ~. .. eel. ,..
But have depressed. In my next shall
speak of gathering in the wounded, burying the
dead, &c. Use 25-eoIm) H.