New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-07
BURYING THE DEAD.

BURYING THE DEAD.
The following is portion of lette
written by surgeon to the Cologne Gazette
dated Spicheren, August 8:
From the four roads which meet in tn,
midst OF the village watched four groups
of persons pass. The first group was com
posed of peasants, who came from the for
ests of Spichnerberg, carrying shovels or
their shoulders, who had been pressed into
the service rs graye-diggers, and who, when
tired out, would make way for others
These people inform us that there are i'm
mense heaps of dead French soldiers in the
wood, who poison the air, and that there
are still many who are only seriously
wounded. The number of corpses is so
great that sometimes as many as seventy
have to be buried in one grave. French
bodies of graye-diggers approach armed
with spades, and they remind one strongly
sof the peasants who are employed in the
winter to clear the snow away from the
streets Of the village. The Wholesale and
regulated interments are conducted under
the superintendent of the sanitary police
The second group l saw was composed of a
body of volunteers in uniform from Frank
fort-0n-the-Main and Otfenbach, who car
ried the wounded.
These brave people go out Systematically
W
and seem to be willing, kind, and devoted to
their self-imposed duty. The different ar
ticles of comfort they carry with them for
the use of the wounded are redolent of ease
and comfort; but, on the Other4land, the
clothing Of these people is humble. l fol
lowed with my telescope the steps of this
devoted band winding along through the
different regiments bearing the red cross
upon their flag, until at last they disappeared
IN m If nf
berg, following their humane mission of
seeking and bringing in the wounded The
third group is simple military funeral
party passing through the village and camp
with the muffled drums beating. and al
though in the camp noise and laughter pre-
walls, all around the grave is silent until the
bodies of the French dead are covered with
the earth. The fourth group consists of
body of prisoners taken in the wood. and
escorted by patrol of hussars. They seem
ed in a great measure to be frightened as
the funeral cOrtege OF their dead comrades
passed them.
We asked the prisoners, who, for the most
part, were only slightly wounded, what i'm
preston the quick and victorious advance
of the Prussian troops had made upon the
French. The effect may be judged by their
answer: "YOu fire like fiends, and run like
DEER which, in fact, bears out the nick
name Of "devilshoofs," applied to our For
tieth regiment of Infantry. There were no
Zouayes or Turcos among the prisoners.
and none of these corps have, as yet, been
captured by the First army. In the
evening We went to take look at the
wounded. In the schOolrOoms, which were
full this morning, all the wounds had been
redressed, windows had been opened to
change and sweeten the air, the dead had |
been buried, and all seemed to long for
natures restOrer-sleep. 1t is otherwise at
the church. French soldiers who have I'M !
lergone operations are lying upon portable |
beds, and are placed in rows under the ave-
1ue leading from the gate to the porch. In !
The dark porch we had to step over some of |
The more seriously wounded, who were con- |
stantly creeping out OF the corners and |
barring, as it were, the way with their chaff
beds.
The floor is covered-as are also tile chaff |
beds-with patches of. dried and drying
blood. Inside the church, by the altar. |
where all the seats have been removed, the
ioor is strewn With straw upon which lay
:he MORALLY wounded remnants of General
Nrossard,s corps darnaee-some nude. some
,niy :.af dressed, some silent, with eyes and
mouth finally closed, some restless, moan
ng, and in agony. The beautiful uict,lres
If the passion of our Lord that hung around
he church and over the heads OF those
'oor sufferers who are leaning against the
walls, almost past sense and feeling, strong
Y impress us, and we cannot but compare
hem with the pain. and agony being en-
lured by many in the dark quiet, and OBJ
cure corners of the church. Numerous
windows in the church have been broken 80
S to allow OF free current of air to carry
# the foul smell, but the air was most i'm
ure. In the choir of the church where the
7indOws had not been opened or broken, ON
ccount, no doubt, of their being stained
lass, and expensive, the odor that per-
AIDED the place was most insupportable,
nd, in order to try and comfort the
with some fresh air. had The win.
ows forcibly opened I do not know
.hether shall get into any great trouble
bout this. The only light that could be
erceived In the church was the still, small
amp. the symbol of the lights that burn in
ne angels choir, and in this semi-darkness
re mad to feel about to find the wounded.
the nave Of the church all seemed
4 pam and cOmfortless, save two
mo had been wounded in the thigh, and
by their dead COMPANIONS. smOI,-
% theIr cigars Beneath the picture of the
loly virgin lay a young French cantaiD
no had been shot in the breast. his head q
eposed upon the faithful bosom of n sold;ar
no actea as nurse, and when we informed
I'M that the officer had ceased to live. tba ]
Dor fellow burst into tears. The Sisters of
ercy had all their work to do to attend to tha 7
fferent call of the sick men. Some cr;e,j I
). drop OF water although perhaps they
be turned on one side. and some on tba e
her. Some hoped to lessen their agony bv Y
wing their heads raised, and tried to de-
ease the horror of death by stretching out r
cir cold and stifening hands toward us; I
deed, they seem to die more contented
d peacefully when they can by any means
ke hold Of any of our hands. On the O
her side of the church the benches have
t been removed; on them were lying or
ting such. as had been only slightly
FUNDED, smoking cigars and writing or