Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-03
The Horrors of the War-Four Days
ON the ia battle-ground of Getty sburg-


On yesterday (Sabbath) evening, in st. Mat
thew's Lutheran Church, New street, the pastor,
Rev. Z. W. Hutter, delivered an interesting
account of what he had witnessed during four
days service on the battle fields of Gettysburg
and vicinity
The Reverend speaker said he had 10 desire to
unnecessarily excite the sensibilites of his audi
ence by any attempt to present graphic delin
cation Of the horrible scenes he had witnessed
This would be an Improbable employment. To
berealzed, however. in the remotest degree. these
horrors must be seen Hearing of them only at
distance, or reading Of them in the newspapers,
men accustom themselves to regard war as little
more than a splendid game, proclamation, two
contending armies. battle, a defeat. and a vic
tory. But the case is altered when war is brought
to our doors. Then to exaggerate It's horrors,
there can exist no temptation. To the reality of
the frightful scenes in and around Gettysburg,
no pint of fiction or depth of coloring could
approach. The sghthad sent pang of shudder
ing through his frame. A fortnight ago the sun
bad shone on no love!ier spot than Gettysburg,
especially dear to every Lutheran heart. because
the seat of her own ancient aud reverend institu
tons. Now its fruitfuness and happiness are for
the present gonel Through those streets, and
over those fertile fields, two ravaging armies
have passed, confronting each other not to draw
closer the bond of brotherhood, but to renounce
t, and hew each other down with murderous
weaponsl Oh. what scene those hospital tents
furnish Thousands of stalwart men welterng in
blood their bodies mangIed, their limbs shattered,
and from many almost every vestige Of the hu
man form and countenance Departed Humanity
shudders ut the scene. and pity draws over it a
veil
In passing among the tents we ca me to a young
man from Eastern Virginia, not over IS years
old. We offered him food and drink "Oh!'
said he, in a hollow, sepulchral tone, cit is moth
ing that need for my body. am shot through
my lungs. The Doctor has just been here. and
says modification has just set in. and that can
not live many hours. Can you do nothing for
nv poor soulf o that had hope Of heaven
but my heart is so hard, and | can not feel that
Jesus has forgiven my sins. OH Jesus, help
me- We pointed the dying youth to the Lamb
of God, knelt at his side on the damp earth, and
offered prayer. The ladies of our party came
and sang, "Alas. and did my Savior bleed" with
the chorus, "Oh! Lord, remember me-" Then
the young Rebel folded his hands on his breast
and PRAYED fervently We could not remain to
see him breathe his last, for hundreds of Others
we're dying around him, and they had claim on
our attention too.
An affecting scene too was the death of Capt
Griffith, of Baxter's Zouaves, Of our own city
He was mOrtally wounded and carried to pri
vate residence in the town. His commanding
General, the brave Howard, came to his side
They loved each other as brothers When the
General saw his favOrite Captain sinking into the
arms of death he fell on his neck, kissed him,
and burst into a flood of tears. Recovering his
self possession, the Christian General read To the
diving Captain part Of the l4th chapter of
Johns Gospel, and then offered IA fervent and
impressive paayer. In n few moments the spirit
of the brave Captain had fed, when the General
again burst into tears, wringing his hands, and
claiming, "Oh, that | had died instead of he. He
was such brave and true man."
We witnessed. in an ope field, within sight of
hospital tents containing $500 wounded, the
burial Of eight Union soldiers. They were laid
side by side in trench. their blankets serving as
coffins, and several hundred spectators surround
ing the place OF finterment Oh. how grave the
words OF the chaplain: how affecting his earnest
and eloquent prayer; how indescribabl solemn
the scenel
Hundreds of accessons has the Gettysburg
cemetery received within these memorable days
In one place we counted over one hundred graves
of New York volunteers, the names of the brave
men ali inscribed on simple headboards. In close
proximity lie fifty six Rebels in one trench, and
not far off forty.two more. without a solitary
named inscribed. The spot itself is designated
by beard nailed against tree. with the inscrip
ton. that here lies as many Rebels. Several SOL
diers are buried within arms length of DR.
Krauth's rear door. The seminary grounds and
DE-. Schumaker's garden contain number, and
thus it is all through the country, within cir
cult of eight ten miles, It is a vast burial
ground.
On last Sabbath afternoon we we're at the hos
pital tents Of Hrmy corps No. g when violent
thundergust prevailed. The rain fell in torrents.
We were in comfortable quarters in the tent of
the Christian Commission. when recollected
that some fifty or sixty Rebels were lying at the
foot of hill close by. Prompted by motives of
humanity, we went to look alter them. Oh, what
scene! There they lay in the drenching rain,
in all their filth and wounds, without cover or
shelter .'Oh. my God - exclaimed one, won't
you gentlemen hold your umbrella over me, I'm
drownngf" A stream of water was rushing into
his mouth We shielded him with our umbrella
until we ourselves drenched TO the skin,
when we elevated his head on pillow made of a
cast of army coat and was compelled to leave
him i Philadelphia Press.