The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-01-13
CORRESPONDENCE.
US. A. General Hospital. "Finlssy,"


Washington, ID. T., Jan. 4, 1865.
Friend Butler: You are constantly hearing
about the "History Of this Rebellion" bat
tell you Il cannot be written, any more than .
reporter can describe battle, sound Of which
he never heard. A few principal events may
be recorded, q few general outlines given. but,
at hest, II 10 o fragment. The causes OF this 70.
belliou, the general uprising Of q loyal people,
the raising OF IN immense army, and powerful
navy, the conflicting opinions In regard to
measures best calculated to restore perfect
and harmo NOUS union, the mar,hsiling Of for
ces, the strategratic movements Of commanders
the successful or disastrous battle, the valor
and courage Of troops unaccustomed to war,
the fearful loss OF life and destruction OF prop
erty, the baneful influence OF war, the uuprecc-
dented example Of generosity and humanity as
exhibited in the formation and support OF the
Christian and Sanitary Commissioners, the en-
forcement Of DRAFT, the issue Of paper cur
reucy, and It's depreciation, the choice OF ru.
Ter In time Of war, the inhumane treatment OF
prisoners, actions transcending our power In
yolving US In foreign war, almost, and other
Kindred topics constitute our written history.
occasionally instances of individual proves,
daring and fortitude are cited, but the many
examples OF true heroism must necessarily be
omitted, or forgotten, and the heroes 60 down
70 their graves, "unhonored and uusung."
Every soldier has distinct and individual 40
count to give OF what he has seen, done, escaped
and suffered. These experiences, marvellous
and almost incredible at times, make up the
unwritten history Of this rebellion. In On ar.
my hospital one hears many an unyarnished sto-
ry that would adorn any history, move to pity
the heart Of any listener, and give more def
mite idea of army lie than most Of our histori.
ans can give. Simply. because they have seen
and suffered, and freely tell what their out
gushing hearts contain. Ihave heard doIeLs
tell their adventures and hair. breadth escapes,
and never tire Of them. All Ore diferent-ev-
cry soldier having witnessed different scenes.
Enter this ward with the this morning and
accompany me down between these two rows
wounded soldiers. The most Of them are up
q few only being confined to their beds on &C
count of severe wounds. Some are reading,
you see, some playing cards, checkers or DOM
inoes, many smoking, others writing, and some
dressing wounds. You would hardly suppose
that these men have marched up to the gates
of hell, or rode into the jaws OF death, and
coming back MANNED, are now so cheerful and
contented But 80 they are, and they look
back upon the terrible past with scarcely q
shudjer, and think but little what the future
may bring them, when, with rifle or sabre.
they bear down upon the enemy in battle-ar-
ray.
severe flesh wound In his thigh that one
was struck by piece Of shell, this one bears
the soar Of o bsyonet; that one, 1--WE call him
"Corp.") was wounded In the face and carried
piece Of the bullet therein more than six
months, (he'll show you the piece, I've seen
ito this one bears ball just above the breas:
bone, that entered HIS shoulder. Notice that
boyish looking soldier, see that soar on his
right cheek A bullet entered there and was
taken from his left shoulder. There Is one
with q fractured rib, aud just there lay one a
few days ago, who carried that tell.tale thing,
an empty sleeve. But come with me To thus
couch Seven, yes, nearly eight long months,
has this man lain here on his back. He was
wounded in his right arm in the Wilderness.
This Pennsylvania has long fracture OF the
leg bel Nv the knee. Once prisoner, he tells
hard stories Of being robbed by the rebs. This
native Of Biddeford serving In Maryland reg
iment, has lost his left leg above the knee. He
was compelled to lie q long while perfectly still
on the field Of battle, and twice crawled to our
breastworks several rods, when circumstances
would permit. On this side near each other
are two who have lost legs, one right, the
other left. Day after day, and week after
week. rs the months drag by they lie here. I
never hear them complain, though they have
suffered much, nor do they grumble because so
much has been sacrificed by them. One repre-
sents the Old Bay State; the other Our Mary
land" though he enlisted In q Michigan regi
ment. Some ten or o dozen states are here rep
resented.
All of these beds are not occupied. Those,
who slept in the vacant ones, have been dis
charged, furloughe1, transferred, returned to
the front, or have died. And as we move down
the ward, let me tell you what iecollections
Lo,r Of NJ cDnClRS-h0W
death entered here, aud snatched his victims
from them. The thought of death brings sad
memories to most OF US. We think OF many
friend taken away, many o form laid In the
grave, many light gone out forevcr-fOr-
ever in this world, but perhaps, shining bright.
ly on high And as the anniversary OF the de.
parture of one dear to us approaches, the 70
membranes OF those solemn hours I'LL our soul
with sadness. II is a consolation, however, to
have the privilege OF performing the last sad
rites Of burial, aud seeing the dear forms laid
tenderly away. Sadder, indeed, must be those
hearts made desolate by war-bound up in
those having fallen on the field of battle, or
died in the hospital, where strangers hands
must care for them, and hardened men hear
the last audible whisper, the sad farewell
There was one, q wounded soldier Of n west
ern regiment, whose life was fast ebbing away
A loathsome disease had fastened upon him,
and every one saw that his hours were mum.
bered. In a few hours he breathed his last, and
while the nurses were preparing his body for
burial, they laughed and made fun over the
corpse To me It seemed sacriligious that men
should have 80 little respect for fellow NOR
tai, even though error had planted with thorns
his pathway to the grave.
Soon after another died; He lay on that bed
at the farther end OF the ward His wound was
known to be mortal. The chaplain came in,
questioned him about his friends, and, promis-
Ing to write to his sister, departed. On retur-
ming he prayed with the dying man. All that
night the soldier lay in perfect agony, but.
amid oil his suffering he was engaged In pray.
CIR. AS he prayed aloud, the burden OF his sup
plicstiou was in behalf Of the soldier. 20 Lord.
bless the soldier in his hours Of temptation"
he uttered. Just before the light Of day came
through those eastern windows, his freed spr-
il was received within the golded gates Those
same nurses laid him out for burial, but they
made no sport death was reality. Said one,
"wcll, boys, you may make rs much fun ~
you please. shan't; he prayed for us all be-
fore he died." Aud men Of hardened heart,
handled that lifeless form rs tenderly Us friend
ly hands would have done.
Right there was the couch Of o boy not over
eighteen. He had q slight wound in his hand
thumb and finger were gone. Erysipelss
disease reached his vitals, aud he died. A slight
wound-a sudden death. A loving father was
here to zee him quickly waste away. With
bursting heart he saw him die, aud when all
was over. he took the body home, to his snx
iously waiting family-all that was left for
them Of him who went out from among them
with the spirit, buoyancy and life Of youth.
Another just above here died after much sui
fering. A brother attended him In his last
hours, but strangers hands buried him.
Two rebels lay just over there, seriously
wounded, and respondent, they could not live
thex mould NOT Ere. Ihay aeemed determined