Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-04-11
amer she nanie.
Correspondence ofthe Evening Post.

Correspondence ofthe Evening Post
WINcnEsrER Va, March 20, 1902.
l wrote you short account Of the battle
ield as il appeared in the twilight on Mon
day. The light was so dim that il was not
easy to mako out how the battle was fought,
or count the dead then lying there. The
field was even then stripped Of everything
10 the shape Of relics, and soldiers were
searching for something to carry away as
mementoes Of the fight. Early in the
morning again visited the field. l took
the direct road leading out Of the turnpike
from the right, and while following it up
discovered pile Of rails regularly laid to-
gether. Approaching it. found tho dead
body OF one Of our cannoneers, the skull
knocked in by pieco Of shell. Farther on
were the marks where round shot had
ploughed up the ground, and, bounding up,
shattered tree into spliuters.
Near the field where the rebel battery
had been posted there were moro terrible
evidences Of the battle. Hero and there,
at long intervals, lay Federal soldier
stark and stiff; just on the edge ofthe woods
lay two heaps of thcm, Eve or six in each,
bats over their faces concealing gbastly
wounds, while on tho coats of many OF them
were written labels containing the name,
regiment and company Of the dead man.
Back in the woods and fields on the right,
where the flank movement was accomplish
ed other dead Federals lay, with here and
there rebel. But further on in tho thick
ct the sight was sickening and saddening
in the extreme. Dead rebels, with most
horrible wounds, lay thickly strewn over
the ground. Most Of them had fallen back
wards, aud with pale ghastly faces, clotted
with blood, were a sight shall not soon
forget. Fighting, as they did, behind a
stone wall, their heads only were visible
and there was scarcely one who was not
shot in the head.
Many Of our men were armed with the
Enfield rife, the conica ball Of which made
terrible destruction. All through this
wood the rebels lay to the number Of fifty.
A little further on lay the artillery horses
disembowlled by she'll, and Just back OF
them behind bay-rick, two young men
better dressed than the rest, and, from their
appearance and position, officers. Here
the enemy had begun to run, and the work
of our rifles was lying thickly around. The
wounds here were lower down and more
terrible. Dangling from tree hung a
naked human foot, taken completely off
above the ancle by round shot, ghastly
spectacle. Close together lay horse and
rebel, beast and man in death reduced tc
equality.
SAD SCENES IN THE HOSPITALS.
There were some very sad sights iu the
hospital. At the Union Hotel lay rebel
badly wounded in the lungs, who positively
refused all medical treatment. He had en-
tieed out Union citizen some time ago
under flag of truce, and when he, trust
ing to the flag, had come within range,
shot him. A terrible remorse had now
seized upon him. His own wound seemed
a judgment upon him for his wickedness,
and he wanted to die. Death was pun
ishment, aud he was eager to suffer that his
death might expiate his crime, which now
rose up before him in its true Dimensions.
One young, fair, blue-eyed fellow, rebel,
was very desirous to take the oath of al
Iegiance. He thought if he only took that
he should get well. But his wound was
mortal. The United States will no longer
claim fealty Of him.
AS one of our officers was passing thro'
the large room of the hotel, thickly crowd
ed with wounded, one Of them called out
to him. STOPPING down he recognized in
the face blackened by powder and dirt the
well known features Of college classmate,
George Washington. He had entered
Harvard in the class of go, was beloved
and respected by all his class. For some
time he resisted his fathers request to
come home, but at last yieled TO parental
authority; and when once in Virginia il
was but short step TO join the the army
He with his brother entered Jackson's army
as privates, was shot in the lungs on Sun
day. and brought into our hospitals iu
feeble condition. The wound is probabl,
mortal, but what surgeons and the care Q
many friends who are with him can do, b
will have done. A sad meeting this fo
college classmates who had parted only 81
months before at convivial supper give
: by Washington.