Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-27
Extract from a Letter on the Battlefield


This battle (Antietam) has been the most san
culinary of the war, and the only one fought with
visible design and upon military principles. The
arrangement of our corps--he overlooking posi-
ton of the commanding General-the sending
into action the right and left divisions--the
closing up of the center--and finally success
excites bewlderng admiration and carries the
mind to the great fields Of Austerlitz and Wag-
ram, fought by Napoleon. OF all this have
spoken. The heart history Of such conflict
purchased by the lives and blood of twenty thou
sand men, mast be found in the hospitals. War
has its glories, but il has its ten thousand demons
in these human tortures, that make the eye-balls
ache, the heart bleed. the lips palsy, and the
brain reel The sight is at first positively unen-
durable The life blood of some is still trickling
away in silent ealmness, while the discovered
limbs and maniac brain of others give rise to
sounds God grant may not again witness
But, We mothers who here seek a son, or wives
husband, or sisters brother, or SONS father,
know and be consoled that even here the hand
OF mercy is watchful and better care is bestowed
upon your loved ones than might at first seem
possible. IL was in the hospital where rested the
gallant Hooker that learned the history of those
mythical words. often and 80 little under
stood, IS. T.--lS6O-X." Anything alleviating
the sufgeungs and saving the lives OF our soldiers
is a national blessing | witnessed some aston
ishing results from this article
1t is well known the effect of burnt gunpow
der and excitement is thirst, which, added to the
loss OF blood in the wounded, creates the neces-
sity of reviyiug stmulant In this particular
hospital the physicians allowed their patients TO
drink Plantation Bitters, otherwise called
). T.--ls60-X. and although the wounded are
most numerous here-this iii, ison having opened
the fight ut ) in the mornng-the men were
mostly composed. and there very little faint
ing The article acts upon the stomach and the
nerves in most iucomprehensbe manner, supe-
rior to brandy, and without subsequent stupefy
ing reaction. 1t originated in the West Indies,
composed of the celebrated Calisaya Bark, Roots,
Herbs. &c. all preserved in St Croix Rum, the
S. T.-lo60--X being secret ingredient, not
yet revealed to the public. 1t is principally
recommended for want of appetite, dsordered
liver, intermittent fevers, stomachic difficulties
sc. ! understand it was somewhat known in
the Southern States previous to the war, and it
appears agent Of Jefferson Davis recently
applied To the propretors for the privilege to
make it for hospital purposes during the war, 10
which they made the following reply:
INV YoRk, Jan. l6. 1862.
Mr. - Agent Of DC:
Dear Sir-ln reply 10 your communication
offering fft, thousand dollars tor tue recipe and
rtpht -, a..
hospital purposes during the war; we-beg to say
your price Is a liberal one, considering il would
cost Us nothing TO comply, and that otherwise We
can derive no revenue from the Southern States;
but, sir our duties TO our Government and our
ideas of consistency would not allow Us to enter
tain it. although it might please to assuage
the suferings of your misguided followers.
We rem lin. very respectfully. yours.
i. II. DRAKE Co.
These gentlemen give the history OF certain
Ingredients OF their article for two hundred
years-shoang that, through all changes of the
medical profession and It's practitioners, strength.
comPosure and cheerfulness have been derived
from these sONes. Dr. Woods in the Wash
ngton hospitals, informed me that one patient
was fast sinking and crazy. and had not slept an
hour for two weeks, until the Plantation Bitters
came 10 his knowledge, when one DAYS trial gave
him nights rest, aud he was now fast recover
ing. am surprised our Government has not
equaled Jefferson Davis in energy, and adopted
this invaluable article in all our hospitals The
weak soldiers cling to it like brother AS lay
member, can bear witness that it is good 10
take" and affords energy and life than
anything ever tried. success to the Plantation
Bnters
But have digressed. In nay next ] shall
speak Of gathering in the wounded, buryng he
| dead. &c. NICODEMUS
jl0dl meod & s2teOw