Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-31

their faces would enable any one instantly
to tell which were fe1OEalssand which not.
One would think they were all Indians, So
very dark hadsthey become from their ex-i
posture, sleeping without tents IS they did
for long time atfhe beginning Of the war;
One who has not seen it cannot tell
what 1t is to see battlefield.
If there is anything more dreadful it is
visit to the hospitals after a battle.
In the Court House are placed large
number of the wounded, our own aud the
enemy's without discrimination, and i'm
several places in town hospitals have been
establtshedH sirce the battle. Il SIS difi-s
cult 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 attendants
have been constantly at labor, without
rsst, in attending to the unfortunate sol.
diers in the hospitals fg 5-,15.sg
Yet, after all their efforts, it was long
before many of the wounded could be
properly cared for and their wounds prop
erly dressed. E-t.-..
The Courtroom was filed with the
sufferers, lying upon the floor, so many
that it was difficult to pass about among
them. Among them was the Confederate
Captain Jones, who had both eyes shot
clotted blood, presented the most pitiable
sight which one could we'll behold, Some
from loss of blood were wan and palc,aud
some, from injuries to the. face, were
swollen, distorted aud discolored. Some,
indeed, were cheerful, and rejoicing that,
while their comrades were some of them
SO seriously injured, their slight wounds
would seon heal and become honorable
scars, testifying their patriotism and loyal
~, but the majority of those l saw here
were dangerous wounds, aud were to suf-
fer amputations, and their fellow soldiers
pbOut them, suffering from their own
wounds, were obliged to listen to
their cries and groans, and to hear the gra-
ting of the surgeons saw, y premOnitor of
| their own hard fate. saw many in the
agonies of death. One, who was raised
md seated half upright, haunts me now
with his pale, sorrowful countenanCe. He
was almost dead, and every moment would
raise his head open his eyes, aud stare va
| cantly around, as if he would assure him
selfthat he had not yet lost all the sense
of sight. 49, . s-,r
Here also lay some who had just died,
and as passed through the hall, gray
haired guard, resting upon his ,musket,
with solemn, grave cOunteuapce, was
standing beside number of dead, in the
attitude of death struggle, each with u
paper pinned to his clothing, stating the
name, regiment, etc., of the deceased.
Many ladies of the town were seen Wis
iting all the hospitals. Must it be said
that theis anxiety was to find out the con-
federate prisoners only, and administer TO
them. the comforts which they did mot ex-
tend to our own? Can it be, in such a
case, that humanity can SO distinguish be-
tween friend and foe stricken down by
suffering and death Yet many have OBJ
served the unconcern for the Federal suf-
terers and the anxiety and care for the
contederates which,w very generally ex-
hibited at our hospitals. The, people of
the. place have displayed more sullenness
aud hatred toward US since this battle, ten
times over, than they ever have before,
aud when the approach of Jackson on
Winchester was reported, the people, many
OF them were exultant and triumphant,
thinking that Jackson was immediately
about to march in and redeem them.
When the rebel prisoners were being
sent awayto Baltimore, the ladies in town
sought to tighten the imprisonment by
bringing delicacies to them, and little
presents-and their disloyalty was mani.
tested openly, the men assuring the fair
ones that they were still for JEFF. Davis
All who had started for Fairfax Court
House have returned to Winchester. The
breaking down of the bridge was the prin-
cipal event. One brigade had passed over
on the previous friday night; and a few
had gone over in the morning, but as the
baggage train was crossing the bridge
broke under the weight of one of The
wagons-fortunately near the commences
ment of the bridge, however. This part
had not beenprOperly Strengthened. The
mules splashed about. r.ga.
aud the two leaders were drowned in the
rapid current. The bridge appeared quite
trail, but am informed that except at this
end it is quite substantial. Several boats
were fortunately at hand, and these were
anchored, and beams thrown across and
pianks placed up on them, and after about
hours delay the whole was placed in good
condition. This was quite fortunate, how
ever, for as they were called back to Win
chester it was we'll that they were saved
the advance of four hours and the return
over the same route, which they would
have made had the bridge been in good
order. sas i5 49,
People crowded the streets to see the
soldiers pass, and were wonderfully
amazed at very novel sight, for though
they had seen soldiers before, thew had
never seen such as those. "Such per-
feet gentlemen" said they, in; astonish-
ment. Their uniform and appearance
was in such contrast to what they had
seen of the southern army that We found
it tho general impression that our soldiers
were a very genteel' class of men
Our cavalry horses, too, impressed them.
at some places the most hearty Union
feeling was manifested. Many a duck
goose, turkey, and chicken disappeared
before our troops, yet we were so much.
moro generally well behaved that the:
people expressed the greatest surprise at
the order which was manifested byour
soldiers asa. ...,sgg III, 80. Z
But this march was very unexpectedly
cut short, and will not probably be re-
sumed at present, as 1 understand that
Stras6urg Is now the headquarters Of
Gen Banks e-Il.a.t 49,.