The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-19
After a Battle.

there l. 20 i:rle Tor tx rtl>ll : - .-
feelings ui our nature; toe irOmTjIA> {.
humanli, are silent, and the sight # slatitr-
Cd wrecks of men is but passing dlean,
and awaken but little emotion. II is when
the reaction occurs, and the whis,lins of balls
AID the kissing of shot IS hushed, and Tie
noble innate genileness and love of the s,ar-
ed soldier asserts its power-and forgetting
his WEAKNESS and fatigue he goes about To
minister TO the suffering mangled bodies HAT
are scattered about SO fearfully frequent.
A private in the S1th Massachusetts Tes-
iment,-who in selfforgetfalness, and kind
ness to his comrades has DO riyal-wriits
thus:
The last say of the battle of Gettysburg
was seemingly the hottest l ever experienced.
and the 31lh was ordered back and forth
from left 10 right. to support batteries, and
strengthen Reserves; much of the way st
double quick and with heavy knspsacks.-
Some fifteen OF our beys were sun-strack.'
aid | being detailed 10 care for them, soon
found gathered at the extcmporizcd hospital
some two hundred dead, diving, wounded
men from both armies The house. AID gar
den door-yard were fllst with groaning, torn,
b!aekened men, lying side By side, wlo, but
short hour ago, s.Uod face 10 face in mortal
combat. No enmity now; Common misery
made ali brothers. TO add 20 lh,ir agony,
night was rapidly approaching, and the
dense black clouds shooting forth vivid FASH
IS, and the terrific roar of thunder, foreiold
tie coming tempest.
AS | passed among them, manv would
look a. the clouds and then at me, and be-
seeehingly ask if | could get something 10
cover them. As | looked al these blovdy,
wri,hlng sufferers, without tent or blanket,
m? heart bled in sympathy, and thought of
the blankets and knapsacks, passel that day,
which lay strewn on the battlefield. On
searching for some, / could find nothing but
knapsacks; two of them. however, opened,
make quite res i.eciable covering. But oh,
how many lay all night in that drenching
rain. without the slightest shelter As l
went from one TO anno;hel, raising The head
Of this one, changing The position of that,
moving another with great stort from pool
of his own blood, bathing the heads, rul biug
the arms. getting old hay or trrt for pillows,
speaking words Of tenderness TO the sufftr-
ing, my heart, in lis deep sadness, was made
glad by the loving recognition of even The
slightest favcr, and oh, hos many went taat
night up TO Him, whose ministries alone can
ne the wants OF our immortal ,.ature.
l shall never forget Ss finding Of cne
fellow who had been overlooked, and was
oily discOyer,d by his moaning. | found
him by large rcek in tk:cket of brush, in
terrible pain from wound in his side, per-
maps mortal.
He was Con:ed,rat soldier from South
ern Virginia; boy only Is, possessed Of a
digniied, noble demeanor Vita great dis
trustfuiness, lie asked NV aid. In an hour
Ike this. whatever a mans color or regiment,
ne is entitled TO my teal,rest sympathies.-
For several hours, with raging thirst. be
had lain in one position. had him remov-
ed TO the hospital, when his agony was SO
intense, as TO call forth such cries of pain as
L never before heard. Inlermins!sd with
piercing screams, were prayers and petitions
Oh this wise: Jesus Christ have mercy On
ny soul 'Oh, MY heavenly Father, have
mercy on me-, and take ne out of this fear
IL. suiE-Eing.' 'Wha: would poor mother
say, could she see her darling boy in It's
Condition. Before ni,saing his earthly SUI
ier;nss wtIe al ar es.d
Ispeak Of these sal scents TO awaken a
deeper, tendertr iniere-t il. the behalf oi our
soldiers, and to appeal for practical aid,
which can be SO We'll Supplied through the
agency of the Christian Commission. which
is doing power OF g.oi for our arn.,."
Let US, who in The quiet of our homes
nave so little ID Of the necessities and
needs of our .ayai patriotic army, pul forth
every effort 10 all those who in wateilir.s
often, III hpaser and thirst, in fastia.s often.
in cod and '.ahe:!ness,' stand a li,in- val
on the border land of strife, to protect Us
ard 20 preserve for Us or most sacred priri-
leses. SEE.