Litchfield enquirer., 1870-09-22
THE SUFFERERS BY THE WAR.
HOSPITAL SCENES IN GERMANY.

A correspondent of the London Times apparently physician-who writes from Spicheren, gives this account of the re- verse side of the medal-of the scenes and sufferings which follow battle:
 "Before the headquarters of the divis- ion lie great heaps of regimentals and chassepots, and officers and soldiers are busy seeking out souvenirs to send home, such as red French caps, braided coats, guns, and chassepot ammunition. The chassepots are fired off before being piled away; and from end to end of the camp, there is @ ceasless report of salvos and sim gle shots. The numerous captured tents are reserved for the march, and the men are set to carry them on their heads to the the rear. Some are at work cutting up the red brooches of the French into strips, and cobbling them into red crosses for the hos pital flags. saw just now such an inter- national flag made of red brooches hang ing out from the steeple of the church, which is filled with wounded.
 "Just now four groups passed me at the crossway of the hamlet roads, bound on different errands; the first coming from the woods of the Spicherberg, consists of the peasants of the district; they carry shovels on their shoulders and are impress ed grave-diggers, who, after they are wear jed out, are relieved by others. They re- late that great heaps of corpses of the French yet lie in the woods poisoning the air; also that wounded men are still being carried by them. The number of dead is so grave. Fresh columns of these grave dig gers pass by me, reminding me of the brigades of snow -shovellers who clear the roads in winter.
 "The second apparition which is notice able is 8 troop, organized and uniformed, of the volunteer wounded attendants from Frankfort and suburb Ofenbach. These fine fellows step out smartly and full of tact in all directions, and give one the im- pression that they are hearty, practical corps, up to and ready for their task. What they have brought with them for the con venience of the wounded is all comforta- ble in the highest degree, and even ele- gant, while their personal costume is quite homely and modest. The third group is a simple military escort of the dead. It moves slowly from the hamlet towards our camp, the drums beating low, mournful notes signal it's track, and while in the re- moter corners of the same smothered mur- murs reach the ear, along the path 8 sol emn silence settles down upon the soldiers as the corpses of their French comrades are carried to their bed. The fourth group consists of column of prisoners escorted from the woods by patrol of hussars. They halt, apparently startled, as the route crosses that of the funeral procession. We asked the prisoners, some of whom are slightly wounded, what impression the quick victorious march of the Prussians had made upon their army. The unani- nous reply was. Tous tires comms des dia- bles, Uous c0ssres c0nsnae des herres!"
 "We have now to make an evening fare- we'll visit to the wounded. In the school rooms, which this morning were overflow ing, all have had their wounds fresh bound. Through the opened windows fresh wind blows in. The dead are removed, and all seem in refreshing sleep. It is other wise in the church.. French soldiers, ope- rated upon and transportable, bedded on stretchers, form an avenue right and left up the graveyard to the church porch. In the dusky vestibule we step, across some severely wounded, who continually creep from out of the corners, and with part of the chaff bedding block the way. On the Gospel side of the choir, the altar of which is removed, and the floor of which is deck ed with draw, lie the sorely wounded vic- tins of Frossard's army streWed around, part naked, part half naked, part clothed; but ever as yesterday, some silent, with closed eyes, and tight compressed lips. the others pitifully walling. The beautifully painted pictures of the Passions of Christ and the stations of his cross which adorn- ed the circuit of the church walls, rising above the heads of the wounded soldiers propped and leaning. against the walls and confessional seats, appeared in solemn harmony with the bangs of the mangled sufferers, and in the gloom of the evening twilight involuntarity the deep, awful sym bolism of the story smote upon the con- science Although I had broken many panes in the church windows, the air foul with the smell of matter, left much to be desired. 'ha~ 4 s.1
 s.The only light which burned in the choir was the still small flame known as the perpetual lamp In this cbiG0scuro one had to grope round for the wounded. Beyond two, who wounded in the thigh,