The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-02-18
From the Cincinnati ComereiaL
An Hour ON the Battie.Field Of Somerset.

| from tne OlncinnhQ OOmcfclaL
An fiourou the Bstiie.F,e,d Of Somerset.
rsups*s y oh was about tan CLOCK A. M.
when the route Of the rebels took place, ant
not more than fifteen or twenty minutes late
when we reacbsd The scene Of blood. In tn,
wild sweep OF the artillery, as they started il
parent a mule had fallen in an opening Of q
rail fence, when the whole train bad appsr
emily passed over him, as the marks Of wheel
were plain on various parts Of his body. He
was completely imbedded in mud, his legs and
,ibs broken, yet still breathing.
In my last gave some particulars as ia
the position and appearance of the dead and
woundecfon the field. Though spent but
liple over an hour amoug the sal scenes,
believe could recount hundred cases, each
one of which presented come striking peculi
stity. Among the dead rebels were men ol
all ages, iom IL to 20 years The bodie, lay
in almost every conceivable position, from
that of quiet co,nposure in sleep to tGst which
would be likely to follow the most heart rem
ding suffering. With arms and legs extended
some on their backs and some on their faces
one with one hand clutched 10 his collar, the
other claspng tuft Of grass; another with
one hasd among the clotted blood and brains
mingled with his hair, the death agony still
on his face.
These scenes are stiIl vivid before me, but
/ have no heart to describe them. L now
think understand why our patriot fathers
were 80 adverse to describing the scenes OF
the battlefield. 1t is perhaps well that so
many of the partcipators are apparently
unmoved by them. | talked with several
of the officers and menwho took part in
the "Old Field tragedy" on that day, any
one of whom could give a vivid rpicture
o. s,iDe deed Of daring, but not one of them
could rccolect an actual scene Of DEATH
One officer told me he bad walked over at
least fifty dead bodies, and yet had not seen
dead man during the day, to n tice them
any moro than he did the logs and fallen tim
her over which he was directing the charge
upon the enemy. The most Of the elderly
men among the wounded rebels looked stern
and sulen, while in was quite the reverse
among the younger portion Of them. With
both hands clasped upon their wounded legs,
or pressed upne the wounded breast or head,
they would give a long searching, and most
imploring look at every stranger who passed /,
and, if they read pity or compassion in the
countenance, most earnestly would they beg,
to he ,aken and cared for. One of our sol
diers said to one of these, "Shall We cure you
so that you can 60 and fight against your
country! To which he replied, 81 havr no
right to expect you TO believe me, but | tell
you 'efore God that have bee wlcSediy de
ceived bv the Confederates, and if ever re-
cover will join the Union army"
The rebels scented tolcrably well clad, ex-
cept in the articles of boots, shoes and over.
coats Of the latter saw none, while the
boots aud shoes were OF poor quaity, and for
the most part badly worn. Their clo'hing
was of all kinds aud colors the butternet jeans
predomipatibg.
The scenes at the hospital in the old log
blacksmith shop, and also the old log house
beyond the corn-feld, were fearful. The
straw, as well Ms The blankets spread upon it,
was covered with blood, while around the en-
trance several amputated arms, fingers and
legs were already laid.
There is one scsne more, upnn which Won
will allow me to moraliZe. TO tack with me
to little elevated spot beside the road in the
firs' firld we entered, and looked upon the
calm faces Of the heroes OF Webb's Cross.
Roads. Thr,y.eight of hem lay side by side.
Come, ye great men of Washington, who
hold in your nds tue des,lnies "f the nation
during this fearful cricis. Fonake for mo
mcnt your balls anl leave, your government
and Congressional speech making, to gaze
upon the faces Of the honoreJ dead before
their last solemn dirge is sung. They saw
the storm arising which threatend to desolate
4. 4
mine we're sundered while they nerved their
right arm aud barred their bosoms to the COM
ing tempest. They fought and conquered
let the thousand bleeding hca'ts at home tell,
in tears Of bitter anguish, the cost Of victory.
II such scenes as these do MT call off your at
tenton from trifling festivities, thriving spec
ulations, aud noisy gasconade, and inspire
te -rible earnestncss in putting down this un-
holy rebellion, l must forever despair for my
bleeding country.