The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-11-19
The Horrors Of War---A Wife on
u EIt the Battle field

=. Tha following extract from q letter, dated
at Corinth on the 9th ult. has been eommu |
nicated 10 the New York EreniRg, Iost Re
paBhcah. for publication:
's0h my frieudi how can tell you Of the
tortures that have nearly crazed me br The
last three dsysl Pen is powerless TO trace,
words weak 10 convey one title Of the mis-
cry havs endured. | thought myselfstrong
e before. | have seen 20 much OF suffering that
I thought my nerves had grown steady, aud
i could bear anything; bat 10 day am weak
and trembling Ike frightened child.
"But do uot wonder a. It. My dear hus-
band lies beside me, wounded unto death per-
haps. have LIST all hope Of saving him,
though thank God for the privilege OF being
this moment beside him. And beside this,
all around me the sufferers lie meaning in ag-
ony. There has been little time to tend
them, poor fellows. True, the surgeons are
busy all the time, but all the wounded have
not ret been brought in, and it seems as ifthe
time will never come when our brave men
shall have been made as comfortable as cir.
cumstances may permit. It is awful to look
around me. can see every imaginable form
Of suffering and yet am helpless to aid them
any of consequence.
"Since night before last have not let
nv husbands side for moment except to
get such things as required, or to hand
some poor fellow cup OF water. Even as
write my heart throbs achingly to hear the
deep groans and sharp cries about me. +. is
sleeping. but dare not close my eyes, least
he should die while | sleep. And it is to
keep awake, and in manner relieve my o.
verburdened heart, that am writing to you
now uuder such sad auspices.
"0n the morning OF the 81 inst the fight
began. The attack was made on Gen Nc Ar
thurs division, and we could plaiuly hear the
roll OF the artillery here, as it is only two
miles and q half from here. Oh the fearful
agony Of that awful day! | had seen F. a
moment early in the morning, but it was on
ly moment, when he babe me goodby say
ing hurriedly as be tore himself away. Pray
for me, my wife, and, if fall, God protect
you!" There was something in his look and
tone which struck chill 10 my heart, and
every moment after knew the fight had
begun | felt as II he had fallen l cannot
tell how long it was before heard that 0s
lesby's brigade was engaged, but it seemed
an age to me. After that my agony was in
tolerable. never had thought OF fear for
myself; was thinking only Of +. Then
got the word that he had been hotly pursued
by the rebels and had fallen back.
Late in the afternoon succeeded ir gaining
a little ineligible informtion. Poor General
lIackman was shot through the neck
while giving command, and fell mortally
wounded. He died between ten and eleven
O'Clock the same night, since learned; UI
10 the time Of receiving the wound he had
acted with the greatest bravery and enthusi
asm, tempered by GOODNESS that made eve.
nv action effective. When dusk at last put
an end 10 the first days conflict. learned
that General Oglesby had been dangerously
wounded, bat could gain no intelligence of my
husband. could not bear the suspence
Dark as IL was, and hopeless as it S emed
to search Tor him then, started out tc
the battle field.
'Oh, Ao,u shall describe the search o
that night? 1t looked like m ,dnes-. 1t was
madness. But all night long | struggled a
mongst bleeding corpes; over dead horses
trampled limbs, shattered arlilery-every.
thing that goes to make up the horror Of 6
battle field when the conflict is over. They
were removeing the wounded all night. Oh
think how awful to stumble over the deat
and hear the cries Of the wounded and dying
alone, in the night time. had to start Of
alone, else they would not have let me go.
GAS you may suppose, could not fad in
either amongst the living or dead. But the
noxt morning, just af.er snnrise, came tt
little clump OF timbers where horse hat
fallen--his head shot off and his body hal
covering man whom spupo,ed dead. Iii
face was to the ground. but as stopped t.
look closer perctiveda aint movement @
the body, then heard faint moan. stoop
ed and turned he face upward. The hea
and face were both covered with blood, bu
when turned it to the light knew it il
spite Of its disfguration Oh God, the ag
ony Of that moment sickened me almost t.
suffocation. With a strength thought i'm
possible in me drew him crushed and bleed
ing, from beneath the carcass of our poor oil
horse, whom we had both so loved and pet
ted, and dipping my handkerchief in littl
pool of water amongst the bushes, bathe
his face and pressed some moisture betwee
his parched, swollen lips. He was utterly in
sensible, and there was dreadful wound j
his head. Both limbs were crushed hope
lessy beneath the horse. He was utterl
beyond the reach Of human skill to save, bu
rs soon as possible had MIN conveyed to th
hospital | have nursed him ever sine
hopelessly and with heart breaking wit
grief. On! how many wives, how man
mothers, are to day mourning the dead an
dying, even as | mourn my dying! He la
not opened his eyes to look at or spoken I
me since he fell. Oh! could he but speak t
me once before he dies, should give him u
with more resignation. But to die thus
without look or word! Oh my heart
hraakinutu