Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-27
LETTER FROM GERMANY.
Effects of the War.


We have been favored with letter writ
ten from Germany by father to his son,
Professor of the German language in this
city. The letter was written at Frankfort, on
the Oder, and is dated Ang. 4. The ne
cipient has translated 1t for rs, and We
transfer certain passages to our columns,
feeling that they will be Of interest to the
reader, as showing the inside effects Of the
war upon the people. Such letters take
the mind from the blaze and glory and
gay glitter Of war, with which history and
song have invested it, and causes US to re-
feet upon the bivousc, the camp fire, the
dread havoc of battle, and the desolate
home. Reflection is directed from the
drupl-best, the nodding plume, the pranc-
ing cavslcsde, the enthusiasm of courts
and capitals, with all their pomp and pa
geantry, to the Accidents and the Col
gothas, made by charges and counter
charges, the screaming of shell, the hurt
ling of solid shot and the kissing of ball
and bullet on the battlefield, where whole
platoons of brave men are swept down
before the iron storm, their bodies left
putrid and blackened on the ground, fester-
ing under tho blistering kisses of hot
summers sun, their unburied night re-
| queim being the mourpful too hoo OF the
owl, and the sluggish murmuring OF the
blood-stained Rhine. In reading such
| passages we instinctively turn from the
marshaling hosts with streaming banners,
fronted with kings and crowned heads, to
the pangs, the aches, the signs and tears,
and the heart-breaks among the homes OF
the soldiery. We extract:
can only tell you, my dear son,
that times about your old home are
very, very bad; nobody can say to-day that
| he will be alive TO- morrow; no one can tell
| to-day what he will be worth tomorrow,
therefore think you had better remain in
America. We are having terrible times
here. an now forty-six years old, but
| have never witnessed such scenes before In
my life as have during the past month.
/ All pleasure is at an end, and the people
gone to the war. Those over forty years
of age have gone with the others. Your
Uncle has gone to the war, too, but you
have no idea what it cost him to tell his
family good bye. His wife clung to him
so that he could hardly tear himself away.
The children wept, crying 'Oh, pa! oh,
pa, stay at home; don't go away. But the
officers appeared in the street and took him
of, he saying to his family as ne left, God
be with you, my dear wife and children
Nobody has any idea how many
have been or viii be killed in this war.
Those who are wounded on the field are
trsmpled to death by horses and wagons.
Mr.. =, my best friend, is killed. God
be with him. There is no business doing
in Berlin or here Our business losses are
very heavy. Paper that was worth befor'
the war $50 thalers, is now worth but 80
and ten of our first bankers have failed
There are great many wounded
in the city. have eight in my house.
These extracts afford some insight into
the gloomy effects of war upon the people
torn from their industrial pursuits ant
their homes to pour out their blood at tn
behests of ambitious rulers.
| -" Oh Monarchsl
l Did ye know the peace ye mar,
| The hoarse, dull drum might cease
| And man be happy yet"