The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-03
Wars Horrors.


Wars Horrors.
Those, says the London Times, who
can detach their minds from particular
incidents of war to contemplate its pro-
gress as whole must acknowledge the
strange and, we may almost say, terrible
fascination of the spectacle. Take the
map of France and mark upon it the
course of the advancing army during the
past week. Steadily and surely the dark
blue columns have stolen onward, cover
ing, piece by piece, the Eastern depart
ments, and pushing their way into the
heart of Franco. The whole army has
moved with the unity of single being.
Without noise, without haste, but with
out hating for moment, it has ap.
peared resolute to accomplish precon-
ceived design. We see in the character
of the advance evidence Of tue attack,
attestea to us by many other proofs,
that the plan of the campaign was set
tied before n hostile column had entered
upon French territory, for it bears in
every step of its progress tho impress of
q single mind. The effect is enhanced
by the contrast presented by the armies
OF the defence. Ever since the begin
ming of the war their movements have
been distracted, their attempts purpose
less, aud their efforts consequently inef
fectual. Other nations may show their
lines Of blue and red moving with more
than machine-like regularity and force.
The organization os the German army
goes far beyond this "Iufantry to per.
forate the foe, artillery to smash him.
cavalry to lacernte him, and at the same
time the Brethren Of Help, bearing the
red and white cross of neutrality, to drag
him from the field OF death, Sisters Of
Mercy to tend him, doctors to cure,
priests to comfort his soul, all follow,
each in its appropriate order. There is
even corps OF graye-diggers, who are
under command, and serve in their mp.
pointed functions, bnrying what were
friends md foes, but have become recon
ciled III death, and-so runs the inscrip-
tion on the heights OF Forbach, as in the
orchards Of Sndowa-'RuAen susr,a,aeu
in GoH'"
No more awful implement of destruc-
tiOn than the German army has ever
done it's destined work. It is the phy.
steal force of Il nation brought together
and driven against the foe after such
training and discipline, and with such q
ready concurrence of every man in the
array, that it acts as single man would
act under the volition of his heart and
brain. The result is seen at large in the
advance from the Rhine to tile Saar,
from the Saar to the MOsclle, from the
Moselle to the Meuse; it may be studied
in detail Oh the heights of Spicheren
and among the vineyards Of Wocrth.
Two regiments had exhausted themselves
i'll assaulting the Spickler Berg, when
the Fortieth advanced and scaled it at a
cost Of 600 men and 16 officers, while
the Sixtyseventh sacrificed Goo men and
25 officers in breaking in upon the in
trenchments ut Forbach.
The work had to be done and it was
done at no greater sacrifice than was ne
cessary, but ut any sacrifice that was ne
cessary, The ghastly spectacle after the
battle of Woerth is described by we'll
known correspondent, who, not unused
III the annals of war, says: II have seen
many fields, and the more I sec OF them,
the less like them. y Along two miles
OF road lay the trophies of death, and
though the service of burial was couti.
noasly kept up by the companies OF
grave-diggers, the harvest had proved
too heavy for the reapers. "Thore will,
I fear" writes our correspondent with
too prophetic accuracy, "be many more
of snch scenes and worse" Before tho
campaign of 1870 comes to close. how
quick socver the approach of the end
may be, the great destroyer will have
laid low thousands more of his victims.
General Sheridan witnessed the late
battle from King Williams headquarters.
Ho watched the progress of events fol
sometime, and burst into tears. The
crowd thought he was tender hearted
until he went up to Bismarck, and point
ing to barn on the right, with n lot o.
women and children looking out the loft
he said: "Please send squad Of sol