Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-03-08
Faces ona Battlefield.

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The celebrated report of DR.. Cbanu, on
the mortality oaused BY the war, contains
some interesting information concerning the
appearance presented BY some who die .
violent death on the field of battls. One
surgeon says that wandering on the battle
field of the Alma, on the third day after
the fight he observed with astonishment .
number of Russian oorpses whose attitude
and expression of countensnes were pre-
eisely those of life. Some did certainly
present an aspect which showed that they
bad suffered severely just previously to dis
solution, but these were few in number
compared with those who wore calm and
resigned expression, as though they had
passed away in the act Of prayer. Others
had smile on their faces, and looked as if
they were in the act Of speaking; one in
particular attracted bis attention be was
lying partly on his side, his knees we're
bent under him, his hands were clasped
together and pointing upward, his head was
thrown back, and be was apparently still
praying-evidently be was in the act Of
doing 80 at the moment when death laid
bis hand upon him.
Another medical man relates that after
the battle of Inkerman, the faces Of the
dead still wore smile; while others had
christening expression. Some lay stretch.
ed on their backs as if friendly hands had
prepared them for burial. Some were still
resting on one knee, their hands grasping
their. muskess. In some instances, toe
cartridge remained between the teeth, or
the musket was held in one hand, and the
other was uplifted as though to ward off a
blow or appealing to Heaven. The faces
Of all were pale, as though cut in marble.
As the wind swept across the battlefield it
waved the hair, aud gave the bodies such an
appearance of life that a spectator could
hardly help thinking they were about to
rise to continue the fight.
Another surgeon, describing the appear.
ance of the corpses on the field of Magenta,
says that they furnish indubitabls proof that
man may cease to exist without suffering
the least pain. Those struck on the head
generally lie with their faces on the ground,
their limbs retaining the position they were
in at the instant they were struck, and
most of these still held their rifles showing
that when ball entered the brain it causes
such sudden contraction of the muscles
that there is not time for the hand to loose
its hold Of the weapon before death. Anoth.
er popularity observed in the case of those
who who were wounded in the brain, was,
the suddenuess with which they died even
when suspected to be out of danger During
the battle of Solferino, riaemau was
wounded in the head BY ball which passed
through the skull and buried itself In the
brain. His wound was dressed, and was
stretched on straw, With his head resting on
his knapsack, like his wounded comrades.
He retained the full use of bis faculties, and
cbatted about his wound almost with indif.
ference, as be filled bis pipe and lay smok.
ing it. Nevertheless, before be had finish.
ed it death came upon him, and be was
found lying in the same attitude, with his
pipe still between his teeth. He had never
uttered cry, or given any sign that be was
suffering pain.
In cases where the ball had entered the
heart, nearly the same appearances were pre-.
sented as in the case of those who had been
struck in the brain; death was what We
term instantaneous, but it was not quite as
swift as in the former ease; there was gene
rally time for movement in the act of dy-
ing. There was Zouave who hsd been
struck full in the breast be was lying on
his rife, the bayouet was fixed, and point.
ing in such way as showed that he was in
the act of charging when struck. bis head
was lifted, and his countenance still bore
threatening appearance, as if he had mere.
Iy stumble and fallen, and was in the
act of of rising again. Close by him lay an
Austrian foot soldier, with clasped hands
and upturned eyes, whohad died in the act
of praying Another foot soldier had fallen
dead as he was in the act of warding off
blow, and the other was drawn back in the
act of striking.
On another battlefield, several French
soldiers lay 10 line, with their bayouets
pointing in the direction Of the foe they
were advancing against, when storm of
grape moved them down. On the left
bank of the river Tessin, several Austrian
officers lay dead. Some of them were re.
markable for the noble expression Of their
faces, the extreme neatness of their dress,
and the cleanliness of their persons. Most
of them had fair hair, and their countensn.
ces bore the stamp of calm resignation.-
The best opportunity Of seeing the aspect
of the masses who died on the field, was
when they lay stretched beside the trench.
es which were destined to be their final
resting place. So far were their faces from
presenting the lived appearance and the
expression of despair which painters arc
in the habit of producing in pictures Of
battlefelds, that spectator could hardly
help calling to the burying parties to wait
little before covering them up. They
were so like life.-AN the Year Round
AGRICULTURAL PRospEcTs.-The re.
ports which come up from the various por-
tions of the District are in the main favor.
able to the interests of planters Much OF
the labor of the country has been absorbed,