The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-10-05

flames a fierce intensity. Then upon the fierce
fire were piled the bodies Of the dead, German
and French together, and these were left to
burn while the graye-diggers went on with
their work OF burying the other dead In shall
low pits, with only few inches OF earth
thrown over them. For the living it would
have been far better had all the dead been
burned: for from all these thousands of shallow
graves pestilential stencil is now arising and
filing the air with the seeds Of death. I might
fill columns with descriptions OF the awful
scenes On this battle field, which covers O
space of ten miles. Among the dead were
many peasants, and even some women. How
they came to be among the soldiers no one
knows, but there were their corpses. As for
the wounded and their sufferlngs during the
days Immediately after the battle, / have not the
courage to speak. Their means, shrieks. impre-
cations and prayers ring in my ears even now.
Starvation in the Track OF the Armies.
The same letter says: To pestilence, and TO
the horrors of the field and the hospital, must
be added starvation. I have carefully refrain
ed from using exaggerated language-no Ian
guage can e1aggerate the truth-but must
say that at Sedan there is
ABSOLUTE STARVATION.
It is still worse at Douzy, where even the
wounded men in the hospitals are dying by
scores for the want of something to eat. Ned
iclne they have, and surgeons, such as they
are, are not wanting; but food, especially such
food as men suffering from exhaustion and
pain require, Is almost impossible to obtain.
Several of these surgeons have told me that
hundreds of their patients have died from
starvation, who could have been saved had
eat. Imagine $4,000 sick and wounded men,
reduced by loss of blood and want of sleep,
and with no food save coarse bread and
wretched coffee What chance Is there of
saving their lives? But If it is bad In the
hospitals, it is worse yet In the town,
and worst OF all in the country round about.
Had I not seen what I am describing,
should not have believed 1t possible; but
the villagers and the peasants, who were thriv-
Ing and prosperous few weeks ago, are dying
tor want of food. Everything has been taken
from them. An Englishman who came here
to aid In taking care OF the wounded, and for
that purpose had provided himself with little
stock oil delicate food for them, told me, with
tears standing in his eyes, and voice tremb-
ling with emotion, that when he reached the
hospital to which his credentials carried him
he was empty-handed, having given all his
stores away to starving women and children.
The supply service of the PrusSian army has
been extOlled to the skies for Its perfection,
and in truth 1t has done wonders; but 1t is no
secret now that the strain upon 1t has been
too great, and that 1t has broken down. The
iuoSlha iolSC, tlOIu tLIo Poihe " teo
farthest advance, Is suffering desperately for
provisions The rule has been to forward first,
the men; second, the ammunition; and third,
the provisions. Immense trains ofthe latter are
continually going to the 'front.' and the army
has also 'lived upon the country" and swept
into its clutches every bIshel Of grain and
pound Of meat within Its reach. But, despite
all this, there has not been enough, and:thls
matter otsupplies daily grows more and more
embarrassing. And If the army, which takes
everything, suffers from want, what must be
the condition of the peasants 3?