Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-21
tCoNMUNIcATED.)
Extract from Letter on the -Field.]


This battle (Antictam) has been the most san
guinary Of the war, and the only one fought
with design and npon military principles The
arrangement of our corps-the overlooking
position of the commanding General-the send
ing into acton the right and the left-the clos ing
mp Of the center, and final succsss-excitss
bewildering admiration, and carries the mind
TO the great fields OF Austerlitz and Wagaan,
fought by Napoleon. OF all this have SPOKEN.
The4leart history Of such q conflict, purchased
by the life and blood of twenty thousand men,
must be found in the hospitals. War has IFS
gieries-but il has Its ten Thousand demons IN
these human tortures, that make the eve balls
Ache-the heart hlecd--the lips palsy, and thoi
brain reel. Tn" Sights at first positively unen-
durable. The life blood OF some is still trick
Ling away in silent calmness-while the dis
severed1iInbs and maniac brain of others give
rise to sounds Cog grant may not again wit
ness. .. T !-....,5 D.. ........
But We mothers who now seek son-or wife
ahus sband-or sister a brother-or sons father
know and De coIsOlcd that even the hand of
mercy is watelffab and beftercaTe is bestowed
upon your loved one than might az first seem
possible. 1t was in the hospital where rested
the gallant Hooker, that learned the history
Of those mythical words so often seen and so
little understood, as. T.-is60-X." Anything
alleviating the sufferings and saving the lives
OF our soldiers is a national blessing. / wit
messed some astonishing results from his
article
Itis well known The effect OF burnt snnpow-
der and excitement is thirst, which, added to
the loss Of blood in the wounded, GREATS the
necessity Of reviving stimulant. In this par
ticular hospital, the physicians We're allowing
their patients to drink Plantation Bitters, other
wise called s. T.-ls60-X, and although the
wounded are most numerous here-this division
having opened the fight at in the morning
the men were mostly composed, and there was
but very little fainting. The article acts upon
the stomach and nerves in q most incompre-
hensible manner, superior TO brandy, and with
cut subsequent supplying reaction. 1t origin
ated in the West Indies, containing calisaye
bark, winter green, lavender, anise, Glove buds
grange, snake root, &e.. preserved in s.. Croix
Rum-the S. T.-le6U-X being q secret ingre-
dent, not yet revealed to the public. 1t is
principally recommended for want of appetite
disordered liver, intermittent feyers, stOmachic
difhculties, &c. understand it was somewhat
known In the Southern States previous to the
war, and il appears an agent Of Jefferson Davis
recently applied TO the proprierors for the
privilege to make it for hospital purposes
during the war, to which they made the fol.
lowing reply: :"
NEW lOfShY JAIL 10, l>OS
NJ. Azeat of, ETC.: .-.
Dear Sir: In reply to your Communication,
Offering US Fifty thousand dollars for the re.
cipe and right to make the Plantation Bitters for
hospital purposes during the war;" we beg TO
say your price is liberal enc, considering il
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
Dent and our ideas of consistency would not
allow Us TO entertain it. although II mi gh1 please
us to assuage the sufferings Of your misguided
followers.
We remain, very respectfully yours,
y. II. DRAKE Co.
These gentlemen give the history of certain
ingredients of their article for over two hun.
dred years-showing that through all changes
Of The medical profession and its practitioners,
strength, compos ure and cheerfulness have been
derived from these sources. DIR. Woods, in the
Washington hospitals, informed me that he had
been unable 10 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. I 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 anything ever tried. Success TO the
Plantation Bitters.
But i have digressed. In my next shall
speak Of gathering in the wounded, buEying the
dead, &c. Use 25-eo1m) r.
n