Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-01-13
ON GETTYSBURG FIELD.

What u Good Samaritan Saw During
the Days Following the Battle
Twenty Thousa nd Paticnts.-Many
Pathetic Incidents.
From the Phil Times.
On the morning of Saturday, July 4,
1868, came the glorious news OF our vic.
torious arms and of the retreat of the
enemy towards the border. We learned
that by afternoon supplies could be for
warded to our army. The public square
in York was rapidly filed with wagon s
packed with provisions, clothing, blank
cts and hospital stores waiting the arriv-
nj of the banished horses which had
been sent across the river before the oc-
cupation of the town by General Cor
don's command. The urgent call fol-
help from Gettysburg decided US to 60
through without stopping.
Exhausted with loss of blood, faint
with hunger, they turned to us with i'm
ploring looks, and dying eyes frightened
at the sight of friends bringing food and
aid. Some who seemed almost gone,
apparently too weak to take sustenance,
could be revived with few drops OF
brandy or little wine and water until
they could swallow some moistened
bread. Many had to be fed like infants,
either TOO weak or too disabled to help
themselves. How eagerly they de-
voured the sweet homemade bread and
butter, which we gave sparingly at first,
only little piece at time, repeating
the ration as they were able
to bear it. 1t seemed at first
incredible to them that we had enough
for all, and in several instances with
heroic self-denial, one would turn to his
comrade and say: "Give it to him; he
needs it more than do. had bis
cult this morning" I saw tears Of graf
itude run down the cheeks of men who
would have died in the ranks without
finchins as they received the food We
so gladly gave. Even the nurses came
to the wagon and begged for crust OF
bread, having been two days with moth
ing to eat.
Much of my work lay among the con-
fede rate troops, whom | found i'll most
deplorable condition. In some instances
they were entirely destitute of clothing,
being covered with piece of old blank
ct. Others had nothing on but ragged
shirt or pair of drawers, those who
were fortunate enough to have two gar
ments sharing with those who had none.
The long march had completely worn
out the poor uniform, and the distance
from the base of their supplies rendered
it impossible to replace them. Provi
dentially our sample stores enabled us to
clothe them all decently. How emacia-
ted they were! Some of them told me
they had subsisted almost entirely on
corn, gathered from the fields in their
hurried march, which ravenous hunger
often compelled them to devour green
from the stalk. After the struggle was
over and there was no longer need for
exertiOn, nature seemed to have eX
hausted her resources, and they were for
the most part Indifferent, depressed and
hopeless.
The larger number of those in my care
belonged to the poorer class Of whites at
the south, but among them were many
Of natures noblemen," intelligent and
courteous, fully representing the idea of
Southern chiyalry," showing in their
bearing towards the women of our party
serving their dignity and manliness I'M
der the most trying circumstances. Still
it was very apparent that they bore, in
bitterness of soul, the downfall of their
ambitious hopes. But one short week
before they stood in battle array, with
"all the pride, pomD and circumstance
of war;" to crush the Northern army.
Now prisoners on the invaded soil they
lay at the mercy of their captors. They
manifested the utmost surprise at the
impartial treatment they received at
our hand, and could not understand
why we fed and clothed them as prompt
ly and willingly as we did our own men.
One day, after very fatiguing morn
ing, / sat down on stump for mo-
ment's rest among the Southern soldiers
As usual a group ofboys gathered around
me and one said:
Madam, l 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 ~ enemies. We still
regard you as our children, and although
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 boy will repent of his wander
ings and disobedience and return again
to take his place around the hearthstone.
You belong to us yet, and the time will
come again when we shall be one peo-
pie, under a united government"
well, boys;" said one of the bright
est Of them, there is something in that.
Now, marin, won't you please give us
chaw of tobacker?"
SECTIONAL JEALOUSY HARDLY NOTICEABLE.
was much surprised at the absence
of all sectional jealousy among the en-
listed men. The greater number ig-
nored the difference between north and
south and many on both sides seemed
to have but faint realization of the
meaning of the warfare in which they
engaged, and were entirely ignorant of
the great principles involved. met
but one union soldier who complained
that we treated the ."rebs" as we'll as
our own men. l had asked him to car
ny the heavy tray for me one morning,
as | was about to give out the breakfast,
and as | went to a group Of prisoners
who came first in my way he refused to
60, saying he would not feed the "rebels"
while 30 many of our men were still
hungry.
Among many similar instances recall
one of a confederate officer of high rank
who, by the courtesies of war, would at
once have been removed TO comfortable
quarters. first met him on Wednes.
day, lying on the ground, with no shelf
er but u couple of army blankets. Upon
my expressions of surprise at finding
him in such a situation he replied
that he could not desert his men.
IT enlisted most of the poor fellows"
said he, land will stay by them as long
as l am permitted to remain"
He had brother, also, an officer in
his regiment, lying near him. They did
all in their power to help the men bear
the terrible reverse. He, besides being
painfully wounded, was suffering severe
" from chills and rheumatism.
I offered him some brandy which he
refused, saying. ~ can do without it,
but if you can give some to that poor fell
low (pointing to one lying near him
racked with cramps) 81 will be exceed
inoly indabtedD Aftar complyino with