Connecticut western news., 1885-08-19
MALVERN HILL BATTLE.
Terrible Scenes of Carnage on
 the Battlefield.
Horrors of War as Depicted in General
 POrter's Narrative of the Fight.

From General Fitz John Porter's account of the last of the Seven Days Battles in the Century, we quote the following: While taking Meagher's brigade to the front, I crossed @ DOT ton of the ground over which large colump had advanced to attack us, and had fair opportunity of judging Of the effect of our fire upon the ranks or the enemy. It was something fear ful and sad to contemplate; few steps could be taken without trampling up- on the body of a dead or wounded soldier, or without hearing piteous cry, begging our party to be careful. In some places the bodies were in con- dnuous lines and in heaps. In Mexi- co 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 countrymen then, and did not, as now, cause me to deplore the effects of a fratricidal war.
 'Sadder still were the trying scenes 1 met in and around the Malvern house. which at an early hour that day had been given up to the wound sd, and was soon filled with our un- fortunate men, suffering from all kinds of wounds. At night, after issuing orders for the withdrawal of our troops, I passed through the building and the adjoining hospital with my senior medical officer, Colonel George H. 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, we found men mortal ly wounded by necessity left unattend- ed by the surgeons, so that prompt and proper care might be given to those in whom there was hope of recovery. It seemed as if the physi- clan was cruel to one in doing his duty, by being merciful to another whose life might be saved.
 "While passing through this i'm provised hospital heard of many sad cases. One was that of the major of the Twelfth New York Volunteers, brave and gallant officer, highly es- teemed, who was believed to be nor tally wounded While breathing his last as was supposed, friend asked him if he 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 fia-' and fell back apparently dead For long time he was mourned as dead, and it was believed that he had expired with the prayer left unfinished on his clos ing lips. Though still an invalid, suffering from wound then received, that officer recovered to renew his career in the war, and now, for recre- ation, engages in lively contests of political warfare
 "On the occasion of this visit we fre- quently met with scenes which would melt the stoutest heart: bearded men piteously begging to be sent home; others requesting that a widowed mother or orphan sisters might be cared for; more sending messages to wife or children, or to others near and dear to them. We saw the amputated limbs and the bodies of the dead hur- ried out of the room for burial On every side we heard the appeals of the unattended, the moans of the dying, and the shrieks of those under the knife of the surgeons. We gave what cheer we could, ard 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 afflicted with such scourge, filled our hearts as we passed from those