The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-08

myself among the number, were ordered
to remain on the field, gather the wound
ed together and care for them as best We
could. On the fourth evening alter the
battle I learned that some wounded men
had been carried TO some bushes IN q dis
tant part Of the field aud were left with:
out succor. Gathering up some food
brought through the lines by the SAM
tary Commission fastened to the place,
and met there two gentlemen Of the Com.
mission from Washington city, who were
on tho same errand as myself. Among
the group OF wounded men were two that
had died, their bodies already In state
Of decomposition and emitting horrid
stencil, while the living lying
close beside them were too feeble
and helpless 10 crawl away from
their inSufI0rable presence. utthis was
only figure in the picture. After re-
moving the wounded to new spot,
kindling fire, adjusting their blanketa
and administering food and cordials, We
separated to return to our quarters. My
way lay across an open plateau where the
battle had been fierce and bloody. Scores
Of the dead, stripped Of their clothing,
lay upon the ground In every direction.
Their upturned faces swollen, "begrimed
and black" and distorted beyond recog.
milton, and their bodies immensely bloat-
ed and appearing in the light olthe moon
as II smeared with glistnig slime, pre-.
senting the most revolving spectacle a
man could witness. Amid my strange
thoughts and feelings In that dismal
place, could not but wonder how the
moon, so bright and full and beautiful,
could course her way mid.heaven and
look down on such scene without veil.
ing her face. But she was as serene as
il only gazing on heroes sleeping peace
fully, and as II whispering to them the
bepediction, crest in peace
BEAUTIES OF URS.DuRrAL.
When recall that lonely walk, and, in
the light Of what I saw, contrast the
loathsome putreiuction with immediate
combustion OF the body, the thought Of a
cremation furnace ceases to disturb me.
l fancy 1t would have been fitting tribute
to the dead II their bodies could have
been gathered from that fatal field and
reduced on the funeral pyre.
Their remains could then have been
brought to the Capital OF the Nation and
deposited in n monument erected to their
memory, with every name inscribed.
Here the friends OF Liberty, for genera.
tions, could come, and in the sacred ashes
count the cost 10 the Union oil these
States and learn how brave men who love
the Union csuld lay down their lives to
defend II.
But some one will interpose tho ques.
ton, are not these bodies TO be recon.
structed l.? Yes, verilyl And il gross
matter Is required for the purpose il will
be at hand. Matter Is indestructible; It's
atoms change their places, forming new
combinations in an endless series, but
none are ever lost. All matter, every
particle and atom Of 1t Is in the safe and
eternal keeping otHim who Is "ihe Res.
direction and the Life" "who will change
our vile bodies, that they may be fashion,
ed like unto His glorious body, accord
ing to the working whereby He Ia able
to Z subduc ali things unto Himself" We
need not, therefore, concern ourselves
about the disintegratiug body. 1t has
the sure promise Of reconstruction, not
made subject to any contingency Of re.
gathering the scattered dust. 1t ia charg.
ed that It may be fashioned after better
model. ut is sown n natural body-it is
raised spiritual body" ave shall be
changed, for this corruptible must put on
interruption, and this mortal must put
on Immortality.