The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12

Removing the Dead and Wounded
H'@ z from the Battlefield.
Severe Hardships and Suffering
Opinions of Rebel officers Respect
p, "'f O. ing the War.
Special dispatch to the N Y World.
20 Headquarters ARMY OF THE Potomac
'7a Aug. 2, via Washington, Aug. 8.

Special dispatch to the Y World.
20 HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Aug. 2, via Washington, Aug. 3.
TRUCE TO BURY THE DEAD.
Yesterday morning flag of truce hav-
ing been agreed upon for that pur-
pose, the wounded were brought off the
field between the lines, and the dead bur-
led. The time had almost expired ere
became aware of the arrangement, but
got to the spot in time to witness one of
the most horrid sights I ever saw.
.a1oi A sIcKENINa SIGHT.
The ground was thick,y covered with
dead in every conceivable position, and
the stencil was almost uncomfortable. In
deed, the men in the trenches had suffered
greatly from the smell of the field for
twenty-four hours, and it was quite re-
lief to them to have the bodies inferred.
Very few were found alive, and these were
so far gone as to be almost hey ond aid.
The greater part of those found were ne
groes, and as near as l could estimate their
number, amounted to two hundred, while
there were only about forty white men.
The rebels would not allow our men to
approach their line of works, and it was
unnecessary, as they had buried all the
dead and cared for the wounded who fell
inside thei. lines. -. ...f.
REBEL OFFICERS ON THE GROUND
l saw number of rebel officers on the
ground, among whom were Gems. John
son, Sanders and Hill. had long con-
versatiOn with Major Girardey, of New
O.leans, who is a member of General Ma
homes staff and had charge of the flag of
truce on their side. Very few of their
men were allowed to come on to the field,
while ours poured in in crowds. The
work lasted till 1Oa O'Clock, when all being
buried the truce ended.
THE LOSSES. t...
The rebel officers claim that they took
over twelve hundred prisoners, and that
about sixty of our men were killed and
two hundred wounded inside their lines.
They acknowledge loss of eight hundred
in killed and wounded, besi!es the pris-
oners, who number two hundred and for
ty-ei yht. ,. SAX. ..... ~
THEIR OPINION OF THE CLOSE OF. THE WAR.
They talked in the most confident man
ner of the war being finished this summer
or fall, and that If Mr.. Lincoln is defeat
ed in the coming election an arrangement
aciW be made that will secure peace.
Many questions were asked as to the
prospects of electing an anti abolitionist,
and as to who the candidate was likely
to be.
THEY REPORT RKPULSE OF GEN. SHERMAN.
They had no news from Atlanta later
than Saturday, and it was then reported
that Sherman had been repulsed with
heavy loss. ..
THE NEGRO TROOPS.
One officer said he was astonished to
see the negro troops advance 80 well to
the charge, and was in hopes they would
pass the line held by the whites, but was
disappointed, as the great mass seemed to
be under no control, and filed into the
works among those already there, where
was no room for them. Some, however,
reached the open field beyond, and those
not killed or wounded were taken prison.
ers. He said his men could hardly be re-
strained from rushing out of their works
and charging them, 80 anxious were they
to get at them. But when they commence
ed to fall back they seemed like flock
of sheep and the fire of the whole line be-
ing concentrated on them the havoc was
fearful Our own officers state that it
was almost impossible to get them to halt,
and that lines had to be formed to stop
their fl ght, and many had to be- roughly
handled ere they could be got to obey an
order. All admit that this negro business
as far as fighting is concerned, is decided
failure, and think it will be along time ere
the fate of contest is intrusted to SOL
diers of that race. The feeling among
the white troops is ve-y bitter in the mat
ter, they almost unanimously believing
that victory would have been obtained
had there been no colored men on the
field.