Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-06
The Buu Run Battle Field.

From the Washington Republican, Sept.4l
Messrs. Winter, Stoddard and Boyd, of the
treasury department, and Messrs. Thompson
and Hutchinson, of the interior department,
arrived in this city late last night, direct from
the Bull Run battle field. They are the rem
nant Of large body of volunteer nurses who
went down from this city on Saturday last
They pushed on from the railroad track to the
battle field, and about thirty Of the party sue
ceeded in going on to the battle field with am
balances, under flag of truce, on Monday
morning, where they found enough to do in
saving the lives of our wounded soldiers.
From the time they arrived to the time they
left the field, they worked and toiled industri-
Gus y, day and night, in their noble work of
humanity
The Held, over an extent of about five
miles IN length by three in width, was found
completely strewn with our dead and wounded
In all forms and conditions. One space of
many acres in extent was found very thicklv
strewn-sOme lying in masses and Others
scattered about. The dead were usually
stripped of all their military trappings, and
III most instances, of coats, pants and shoes.
many being found without any clothing. ex
cept shirts and stockings One wounded
man said he saw his companion stripped while
he was kicking in his dying struggles About
twenty surgeons were with the party. and
they commenced the work of gathering the
sufferers together in an orchard, when the on
Grafton OF amputation was performed when
necessary.
The great want was food for the sufferers
In their agonies, and the attendants in their
arduouS laborS Some of the wounded had
not tasted food for four days, and they were
completely exhausted, and some died of hun
ger, in addition to wounds and loss of blood,
1t is represented as being horrible to witness
the aSOnles of these men and to be unable to
give them food. About four hundred men
were saved by these noble laborers, and sent
to the railroad station, thence to Alexandria.
Our informant says that some eight or ten
OF our citizens are still on the field which the
others were compelled to leave on account of
hunger, without means of food. He saws that
about sixty Of the Washington party of gov
eminent clerks, &c, were undoubtedly cap
tured by the enemy on Monday morning.
They started little ahead of his party and
swung Off towards Gen. Banks's corps, where
1t is supposed they were taken by division
OF the enemy who were engaged in harraSsing
Banks on his retreat from Wamenton.
There are now many dying and dead on the
held still uncared for. Many of the latter
might be saved by proper care, if relief is
promptly sent. The dead ought to be buried.
When our party arrived the rebels were lust
completing the burial of their own dead Be-
sides the number sent to Alexandria quite a
large number were carried to shady places
and made as comfortable as possible, awaiting
the arrival OF more ambulances and wagons
to transport them to the depot. Our prisoners
seen by this party represent that they are well
treated by the enemy, except in the matter of
food, which the rebels do not have in their
possession to bestow. The enemy is estimat-
ed at two hundred thousand men, and their
purpose is said to be to make their way over
into Maryland.