Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-14
A WEEK WITH the WOUNDED.


And leaving a track
stark naked and black.
.-----------
WEEK WITH the WOUNDED.
Mrs. Mary Caldwell Fisher, the wife o,
Judge Fisher of New York. left that cit,
on Saturday, July 4th, 1868, for Gettys
burg, to succor the wounded, of whom
1000 had been left within sight O,
Round Top. After nearly 70 years hav.
passed, Mrs. Fisher recalls the scenes
that were SO deeply impressed upon bel
mind during the week spent among ths
sufferers, and there appears in the cur
rent number of the Weekly Times an ex
cellent article, in which she narrates
her battlefield experiences. The pathet
- incidents that follow are taken from
that article:
In all that CHASTITY array of human
misery, between three and four hundred
men, there was not one whole individ
ual. Every one had lost either an arm
or leg, and In some cases both were
gone. One poor wretch had both lcgs
and his right arm torn of by q shell
and one had lost both arms and one leg
wounds, cuts and bruises. What hOr
from the straw-littered boards which
formed<he only beds! Nopillows to sup
port the bruised and aching heads, mol
blankets to cover the shivsring limbs
AS We entered the first words of vel
come that come wee: "Thank God
there is womanr' and the questions,
Where did you come from!' "How
did you get here?" and "What did YOU
come forI'' greeted US on every side
and the glad news that We had come tc
bring help passed like an electric thrill
from man to man.
CHARACTER OF THE PRISONERS.
One day, after very fatiguing morn
ing, sat down on a stump for mo-
ment's rest among the Southern sol
diers. AS usual, a group of boys gath.
cred around me and one said:
MADAM, can't understand your
treatment of US. Our women would not
be so willing to help prisoners from
your army, but you are just as kind to
us as to your own men,"
oh" said, "the reason is that We
do not look upon you as enemies. We
still regard you as our children, and al
though YOU have gone astray we have
not given you up and expect you to
come back to us, Just as loving mother
hopes her hayward son viii repent OF
his wanderings and disobedience anG
return again to take his place aaound
the hearthstone. You belong to US YET
and the time will come when We shall
again be one people, under a united
Government"
swell, boys" said one of the bright
est of them, there is something in that
Now, marin, won't you please give us 9
chaw of tobackerY"
Among the men were all classes,
creeds, and colors. In one of my er-
rands i'll a remote part of the field,
was called to see most distressing
case. Long before reached the desig
mated spot heard the most agOniZine
groans and appeals for meroy-a con
slant repetition of "Oh, God, have mer-
cy upon me! Oh, God. have mercy up
ON my lost son."
Again was the cry lifted up in pitifu
tones: ''Oh, God, save me from my
sinsv' found on reaching him one Of
the hopelessly wounded cases-a pool
fellow who had been left to die, beine
pass all aid. approached him anC
asked what l could do for him. He
turned his eloquent dark eyes, lustrUus
and beautiful even in his dying agony
upon me.
1 shall never forget the impression he
made upon me. man of powerful
physique and remarkable personal
beauty, with a rich, dark complexion
Every lineament of his face spoke of in
tellect, pride and great magnetic power
Oh, what anguish was depicted there
He reminded me of some great creature
brought to bay, with no way OF escape
Such terror. Such fear. The like ]
never before saw painted ON the face OF
man. He shook his head and said il
reply to my question:
"You can do nothing. must die.
only ask for death. oh, this dreadful
dreadful suffering. Oh, my poor soul
Oh, God, have mercy on my poor soul.
UNKNOWN TO HIS ooxRADE.
inquired about him of a man lyins
near, who told me he had seven gunsh01
wounds through his body, that he coulG
not be moved and nothing could allevi.
ate his pain. Of his former life or his.
tory nothing was known. They had
fought side by side in several battles
Until then he had seemed to bear q
charmed life; possessed Of incredible
strength and bravery, his tall form WA
ever to be seen in the thickeet of the
fight. He was always reserved and
moody man, evidently far superior II
intellect, education and position to mos
of the soldiers, with whom he nevel
fraternized. As he lay there his eyel
riveted to my face, a. though he would
fain derive comfort, tried to sooths
him by pointing out to him the way r
obtain the mercy he 60 eagerly craved
and repeated to him the old, yet evsl
new story of Him who suffered greater
agony than he endured, even the burden
of the guilt Of all mankind, and died OF
the cross that he and all men might livt
eternally. He listened with despairinS
eagerness, then turning away with
Groau, replied:
sob! madame, my Savior has not ye'
come. l must die without seeing Him
am jew"
WORDS OF Comfort SPOKEN N VAIN.
Again, tried to tell him Of the in
finite love and 90 npassion, that even q
the eleventh hour he might believe and
Law his sins on the Lamb Of God that
taketh away the sins of the world" He
mournfully shook his head and said
"Oh! have heard all these sayings be.
fore. bnt my Christ has not come. Obi
God of Abraham, hear me-" He begged
for death to end his miseriee. ] left
him to send some opiate which ! hoped
4