Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-18
COMMUNICATED
Extract from Letter on the Battle -Field.l


This battle (Antietam) has been the most san
culinary of the war, and the only one fought
with design and upon military principles. The
arrangement Of our corps-the overlooking
position of the commanding General-the send
ing into action the right and the left-the closing
up Of the center, and final success-excites
bewildering admiration, and carries the mind
to the great fields of Austerlitz and Wagaam,
fought by Napoleon. OF all this have spoken.
The heart history Of such a conflict, purchased
by the life and blood of twenty thousand men,
must be found in the hospitals. War has its
glOries-but it has its ten thousand demons in
these human tOrtures, 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 ealmness-while the dis
severed limbs and maniac brain of others give
rise TO sounds God grant may not again wit
ness. -. .. 1r.... .-... .-.... ..
But ye mothers who now srel; a son-or wife
ahusband-or sister abrother-or sons afather-
know and be consoled that even the hand of
mercy is waichful, and better care is bestowed
upon your loved one than might at 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.-Is6O-X." Anything
alleyiatng the suferings and saving the lives
of our soldiers is q national blessing. i wit
messed some astonishing results from this
article
1t is we'll 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 u 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 remostnpmerous here-this di v ision
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 4 most incompTe-
hensible manner, superior to brandy, and with
eut subsequent supplying reaction. 1t origin
ated in the West Indies, containing calisaye
bark, winter green, lavender, anise, Glove buds
orange, snake root, DC. preserved III 81. CrOix
Rum-the 5. T.-1sGO-X being a secret ingr,.-
dent, not yet revealed TO the public. II is
principally recommended for want of appetite,
disordered liver, intermittent fevers, siomachic
difficulties, sc. understand it was somewhat
known in the Southern Stairs previous 10 the
war, and il appears an agent OF Jefferson Davis
recently applied 10 the ppoprietOrs for the
privilege 10 make it for hospital purposes
during the war, 10 which they made the fol-
lowing reply:
New YORK. Jan. 1G, 1862.
Mr.. --, Agent Of, etc:
Dear Sir: In reply TO your communication,
Offering US Fifty thousand dollars for the
cipe and right 70 make the Plantation Bitters for
hospital purposes during the war;, we beg 20
say your price is a liberal one, 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 10 our Govern
ment and our ideas of consistency would not
allow TO entertain X, although ii mi -,t please
us to assuage the sufferings of your misguided
followers.
We remain, very respectfully yours,
Il. il. DRAKE Il 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, i'll the
Washington hospitals, informedme 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 10 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
pitals. As a lay member, can bear witness it
is "good 10 take, ," and affords more energy and
life than anything ever tried. Success 10 the
Plantation Bitters.
But i have digressed. In my next shall
speak Of gathering in the wounded, burying the
dead, &c. ise 25-eolm) B.