Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-04-18

tie, the equal of which has never been
in this country.
An old surgeon, who has been long in
the service, and who has Just returned
from the field for the first time since the
battle began, said to me, as he sat down
tonight on the river bank; 81 have been
present at both Bull Run and Fort Don
elson, but they were skirmisbes to what
| have seen since yesterday morning.
Such, it seems, is the testimony of all
with whom have conversed in relation
to this great contest
The battle has now been over for at
least ten hours, yet so accustomed have
become, since yesterday, to the rattle
of musketry, that there is constant
crack, y" crack" " crack, " ringing thro'
my ears as | sit down to write.
In my previous letters | have mention
ed that the darrhn had prevailed most
extensively among our troops, none Of
whom were accustomed to the soil, eli
mate or water Of this section of Tennes-
see. This had weakened some Of the
regiments so far as numbers we're con-
cerned, the hospitals having been tolera-
bly, well filled with the sick previous to
the attack.
Though the health Of the men was i'm
proving, yet there were many who had
not vet been discharged as fit for duty
These were on the sick list at the time
the enemy SO suddenly made their appear
ance within the camps on the front lines.
Many Of them left for the river, an order
being issued for the immediate evacua-
ton of the hospitals, and it was a pitiful
sight to see the poor invalids, scarcely
able to drag one foot after another, vend-
ing their way to some place Of safety
The fire Of the enemy was severe from
behind them, but some of them looked
as though they would welcome a friendly
Ou''''' " ~, a. ''"'' ''o0''' - y" =" nm
0"' ,..'5 ,N..c. T,
saw their healthy comrades driven back
amid a shower Of balls, some of which
.:..,.., ,1..,..... ,.h..n,i. ,tor 1,r torn
1..-- j.. a,,,,h ,,..,, ,,o-o l.,i
-, 49,, w.,
=, 49, " ~ -
"o's '''' ~ '~'' - '''''-''''' ca ,1' 'I
"''s''' 0"0''1 " '''''" up'" '"''''. "
so''' case, '''' '''i'''' ''"', "''e ''' ="
-, r.
,...,.-,
r., ...... go,
..,,. ..,, - 49, !, - aa,o,
Ic.-,t.,',t'...',.,,'...-e,,,.,.,.~ -.
-. IS 49, Ill anh ua,a. and ,.n
them nv their corcba. for r,,,re psc In
others thew had been rogobly treated
cursed as Yankees. bu, vet not outraged
as they had been ON former occasions.
where the fortunes OF war had made our
men SUBJECT 10 their mercy.
One singular feature was remarkable
after tAe battle, which, as it may have
some connection wi,h this department,
may mention here. Numbers of our
men were found with tho hair on tba ton
Of their head their wbi.kers and som.-
times a portion Of their upper clothing
burned away. They presented strange
and ghastIy appearance. Whether these
were mere wanton acts on the bart of the
enemy mr. vbe,bar the victims vero
those who had been inmates cf some of
the burned hospital tents. I cannot saw.
If the latter, thew had made an attempt
to escape, and had so far succeeded that
they had reached the woods, and there,
from sheer exhaustion, had laid them
down to die.
As near nc cor estimate of ,hoo,
tire f,roo o,ooood :, lila ooaa;.. ba
80. :. L.. .l-. -