The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-04-29
Pittsburg Landing Cor of the World.
HORRORsOF THE BATTLE FIELD.

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Notwithstanding the exertions of our sur
geens, the mortality was alarming. The cen
fusion into which the army was thrown, and
the rains which have recently fallen, have
rendered the work Of gathering in the woun
ded work Of great labor. The pursuit and
guard against fresh demonstration from the
enemy, necessarily occupied tho first attention
of the commander. The ambuaaces had
early been put into requisitiou, and the hos.
pital tents filled TO repletion. Men laid stiff
fened in the mud 10 long rows lined the bank
Boats appropriated TO the use Of the wound
ed were speedily loaded up and passed on
their way down. Several days will elapse be-
fore all tho sufferers are brought in, as they
are scattered over the woods for space OF
five miles square. Here, too, ARE presented
the most awful spectacles of human suffering
which even the horrors of battle field can ex
hibt. The leaves in the woods being dry on
tho first day, they had caught fire in places
from the camp fires, shells aud waddipg, and
had burned 10 death such Of the men as had
fallen, unable to crawl away. 1be pitoous
sight Of men, of both sides, with their charrcd
garments still clinging to their blackencd
forms, the hair and beard singed to the head,
the hands uplifted as if shielding themselves
from the sitting flames, could Toe seen in sew
eral places. The rain of Sunday night, Mon.
day and Tuesday bad fallen upon tho wrth
ing victims and beat out the remnant of fleet
ing life. The feat, res of he men, blackened
with powder and dirt washed into pallid
whiten ess, their heads reclining on the dream
less pillow Of mud, the excruciating groans of
the wounded, laid as they were in groups; the
moans Of those in the deepest agonies of pain,
and the glaring, staring eyes of the dying,
formed, indeed, oue of the most touching, but
terrible pictures imaginable.
Thousands upon thousands left upon the
ground in all the attitudes Of pain, of grief, OF
repose, and Of fury; some with their guns
cartridges, and ramrods still in hand, strck.
en- by the leaden bolt, and dropped in help
less death, dark pool Of blood bctraying how
suddenly life's current had stopped. Shat
tered heads and pierced bodies formed bv lar
the greater portion OF the Killed on both sides
The rebels appear to have had in part old
muskets and common rifles and shot guns; our
wounds are consequently numerous, but light
er than those inflicted by the gasbing Mimic
ball
The greater portion of tho fighting was by
the men in line-infantry princpally-and
tho great bulk Of the wounds arc 10y muskets
Here ADD there on tue upper portion of the
field, occupied in the beginning by the divis
ions Of Hurlbut and Prentss, might be seen
clusters of shattered and mangled bodies, the
effect of our shells and grap"shot. Piles o
them ior ten feet square could bc seen where
it would seem a shell or charge Of canister
hal literally shorn them down like grain. TIE
rebels occupied these camps during the night
Of Sunday, and, regardless of the orders o
their men, remained in crowds 20 plumber our
camps. Considerable quantities Of whiskey
and cordisls were found, and this made them
inscnsible Of danger. 1t was here that the
Tyler threw in shells occasionally during the
afternoon and night, and the horrid carnage
tells how fearfuly effective had been his fire.
Torn, mangleC, and disigured in dozens, with
their bloody wounds gaping fresh hy the
moisture. Cavalry had been there, as could
be seen from the horses interninged all over
the camp for miles,
Rider and horse in one red burial blent."