The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-09-25
THE CARNAGE AT MALVORN
HILL,

From General Fitz John Porter's &C
count of the last Of the Seven Days Bat
tie in the August Century we quote the fol-
lowing: While taking Meagher's bri-
gade to the front, crossed portion of
the ground over which large column
had advanced to attack us, and had a
fair opportunity of judging of the effect
of our fire upon the ranks of the enemy.
1t was something fearful and sad to
contemplate few steps could be taken
without trampling upon the body of a
dead or wounded soldier, or without
hearing a piteous cry, begging our party
to be careful. In some places the bodies
were in continuous lines and in heaps.
In Mexico I had seen fields of battle on
which our armies had been victorious,
and had listened to pitiful appeals but
the pleaders were not of my country
men then, and did not, as now, cause
me to deplore the effects of q fratricidal
war.
"Sadder still were the trying scenes
met in and around the Malvern house,
which at an early hour that day had
been given up to the wounded, and was
soon filled with our unfortunate men,
suffering from all kinds of wounds. At
night after issuing orders for the with
drawal of our troops, I passed through
the building and the adjoining hospitals
with my senior medical officer, Colonel
George HI. Lyman. Our object was to
inspect the actual condition of the men,
to arrange for their care and comfort,
and to cheer them as best we could.
Here, as usual, were found men mortal
ly wounded by necessity left unattended
by the surgeons, SO that prompt and
proper care might be given to those in
whom there was hope of recovery. 1t
seemed as if the physician was cruel
to one in doing his duty by being mer-
ciful to another whose life might be
saved
While passing through this impro-
vised hospital / heard of many sad cases
One was that of major of the Twelfth
New York Volunteers, a brave and gal
liant officer, who was believed to be NOR
tally wounded. While breathing his
last, as Was supposed, friend asked
him ifhe had any message to leave.
He replied, Tell my wife that in my
last thoughts were blended herself, my
boy, and my flag Then he asked how
the battle had gone, and when told that
we had been successful he said, God
bless the old ha--' and fell back ap-
parently dead. For long time he was
mourned as dead and it was believed
that he had expired with the prayer left
unfinished on his closing lips. Though
still an invalid, suffering from wound
then received, that officer recovered to
renew his career IN the war, and now,
for recreation, engages in lively contests
of political warfare.
con the occasion of this visit we fire.
quently met with scenes which would
melt the stoutest heart bearded men
piteolsly begging to be sent home :
others requesting that widowed mother
or orphan sisters might be cared for
more sending messages to wife or child
rem, or to others near and dear to them.
We saw the amputated limbs and the
bodie of the dead hurried out of the
room for burial. On every side we
heard the appeals of the unattended, the
means of the dying, and the shrieks of
those under the knife of the surgeon.
We gave what cheer we could, and left
with heavy hearts. There was no room
then for ambitious hopes of promotion
prayers to God for peace, speedy peace,
that our days might be thereafter devoted
to efforts to avert another war, and that
never again should the country be af-
fiicted with such a scourge, filled our
hearts as we passed from those mourn
f,Il coonpc -