Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-11-11
THE OLD BULL RUN battlefield.

a Correspondent OF the Philadelphia Inqui-
rer gives the following description of visit to
the late Bull Run battle field
On Monday night | rested with part of the
| army that pitched their tents on the section OF
the old Bull Run battlefield adjacent TO the
Warrenton Pike. A poet might find here in
the suggestive relics of the deadly strife the
theme of an epic painter might illus
trate on canvass the horrors OF war from the
mementoes here left of its ruthless work
Bullets are picked up and exhibited by the
handful, and soldiers who participated in the
Tray, are comparing at the same time their
gathered mementoes and their personal recol-
lectlons of the bloody field. In the long, lux
urlaht grass, one strikes his foot against skulls
and bones, mingled with the deadly missiles
that brought them to the earth. Hollow skulls
lie contiguous TO hemispheres of exploded
SHELLS. The shallow graves rise here and there
above the grass, sometimes in rows some
times alone, or scattered at irregular inter
walls.
Through the thin layer of soil that hides
the nalneless hero who gave his life tor his
country, one the protruding ribs. whence
the rain has washed their covering a foot or
an arm reached out beyond its earthern bed 4;
ana once saw one of these ioug sleepers Gov
cred snugly up TO the chip, but with the en-
tire face exposed and turned up TO the passer
Oy one could imagine him soldier wing on
the field wrapped up in his blanket, bat that
theSblanket was of clay and the face was flesh
less and eyeleSs.
In one case foot protruded with the flesh
still partiaely preserved +; in another case an
entire skeleton lay exposed upon the surface
lthout any covering whatever. The tatters
OF what had been his uniform showed that he
had been a cavalryman- The flesh was, of
course, decomposed but the tanned and
shrlveled skin still incased the bony frame
work of the body, and even the fnger-naiIs.
were IN their places. The ligaments that fas-
Ten the joints must have been preserved for
hs was lifted by the belt which was still a.
round the waist, and not a bone fell out of its
place. When found he lay in the attitude of
calm repose, like who had fallen asIeep
1romweariness. This was in the camp of the 8
regiment. He was buried as
We're many more that night who had waited
long fourteen months for their funeral rites
In fact the different pioneers corps were en-
gagged for some time in paying this last tri-
butte to the gallant dead, whose fragmentary
remains were scattered round our camp
The pennsylvania Reserves bivouacked for
the night on the ground where they them
selves were engaged in deadly strifeIn the bat
tie OF fourteen months ago, and the skulls ana
bones of some of their former companions in
arms lay around within the light of their
camp lire. 1t may even have happened that
men pitched their tents over the grave of a
lost comrade, and again unwittingly rested un-
der the same shelter with one who had often
before shared their couch on the tented field.
A soldier of the lst regiment struck his foot
against cartridge box near his tent. and pick
ing 1t up read on ii the name of an old asso-
,late, who had been among the missing, and
whose death was only known from his prolong-
ed absence. His resting place had at length
been found, for near the box was a small
mound of earth that doubt less contained his
noudering bones.
An officer of my acquaintance recognized
the spot where his tent was located as on.
near which he was severely wounded and
where he lay through long, weary night by
the side of dead captain. The painful re-
niniscences which the place called up rem
Tered 1t anything but an agreeable camping
ground to him.