The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-04-10
scenes Of the Winchester Battlefield.
... WIRCHEsTKR March 0R

L . ~ FsNNS7hEhJ "dlCl 70.
| The scene OF the conflict is terrible
II is impossible 10 describe it so as to give
a realization of its ghastlintss and terror,
which any one onght to blush not to per
ceive while walking amid Ihe remnants
of humanity which are scattered about -
Bodies in all the frigh,ful attitudes which
a violent and unnatural death could pro.
iduce, stained with b. cd, mangled and
laceraied perhaps, often begtimmed and
BLACK, lay scattered here and there, some
times almost in heaps. s,- 5a feJ t
Some had crawled away when wounded
TO comfortable place TO die. Two men
lay almost covered with straw into which
they had scrambled and lay until ttalh
released them. 10 the woods through
which our troops had TO pass 10 charge
the rebels lie tie largest number OF our
dead, and beyond. on The other side OF
the wall, from behind which they poured
their volleys OF balls at our men. largs
numbers Of the rebels. lie. pierced in the
forehead or face as they rose above their
hiding place to shoot at the Federsls. -
There is a peculiar ghaslliness 10 the ap-
Ipearauce 0! the enemy's dead Did moi
their dress distinguish ,tem, their faces
would enable sny uue instantly to tell
which we've FedSrals and which were not
4 One would think they we're all Indians.
so very dark had they become from their
exposure, sleeping without tents. as they
did for lung time at the beginning Of
the war. .'.. .a -a..-
One who has not seen it cannot tell
what il is 10 see battlefield.
II there is anything mure dresd(ul it is
q visit to the hospitals after battle.
ln the Court House are placed large
number of the wounded. our own and the
enemy's without discrimination, and in
the several places in town hospitals have
heen established since the battle 1t ID
difficult to compel ones self to dwell long
enough upon the scenes witnessed there
OF the dying and dead, to give them
faithful description. Surgeons and at
teDdants have been constantly at labor
without rest, iu attending to the unforIu
nate soldiers III the hospitals.
Yet, after all their efforts, it was lone
before many of the wounded could BE-
properly cared for and their wounds prop
erly dressed. r.
The court room was filed with the
sufferers. lying upon the floor. so many Of
them that it was difficult to pass abou
among them. Among them was the Con
federate Captain Jones, who had botl
, eyes shot out, and whose face, covered
thickly with clotted blood, presented tn
+. most repulsive and pitiable sight whic
, one could behold. Some, from the iniur
les TO the face were swollen, distorted an
t. dlscolored, land others from loss OF blood
were wan and pale. Some, indeed wer
cheerful and rejoicing that. while thei
f comrades were many Of them so ueriousl,
injured, their slight wounds would 500
heal and become honorable scars, testify
lng their patriotism and loyalty. But thu
majority Of those which l saw here wer,
r dangerous wouuds,an some were to suf
ies amputations and their fellow soldier!
about them, suffering from their owr
wounds, were obliged to listen TO thei
cries aud groans, and TO hear the grating
OF the surgeons saw, a premouiior o
their own hard fate. l saw many in tn,
agonies Of death. One, who was raiset
and seated half upright. haun,s me nov
with his pale. sorrowful countenaDce.- :
He was almost dead. and every momsn
= would raise his head. open his eyes, an,
stare v"cantiy around, as if he would as
suie himselflh hat he had not yet lost al
the sense Of sight. . -ss. .e.
Here also lay some who had just died
J and as ] passed through the hall. a gray
> haired guard, resting upon his muskei
=, with tolemn, grave countenahce, wa
standing besidea number Of dead. in tn
attitude of a death Struggle. each witt
paper pinned to his cloIning, stating III
, name, regiment, ETC.. OF the deceased.
... '..