The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-01-07
Select MlisteIlamp.
Night on the Field Of Fredericksburg.


ericksburg" OF what then was, not
much is left but memory. Faces and
forms of men and things that then
were have changed-perchance to dust.
New life has covered some; the rest
look but lingering farewells
But, whatever changes may beautify
those storm-swept and barren slopes,
there is one character from which
they can never pass. Death-gardens,
haunted by glorious ghosts, they must
abide. No bloom can there unfold
which does not wear the rich token of
the inheritance of heroic blood; no
breeze be waited that does not bear the
breath of the immortal life there
breathed away.
Of all that splendid but unavailing
valor, no one has told the story; nor
can l. The pen has no wing to follow
where that sacrifice and devotion sped
their flight. But memory may rest
down on some night-scenes, too quiet
and somber with shadow to be wildly
depicted, and yet which have their in
terest from very contrast with the
tangled and lurid lights of battle.
The desperate charge was over. We
,
tons, but only that fatal crest where
we had seen five lines of battle mount
but to be cut to earth as by sword
swoop of fire. We had that costly honor
which sometimes falls to the reserve
to go in when all is havoc and con-
fusion, through storm and slaughter,
to cover the broken and depleted ranks
of comrades and take the battle from
their hands. Thus we had replaced
the gallant few still struggling on the
crest, and received that whitening fire,
which nothing could withstand, by
throwing ourselves flat in slight hol-
low of the ground within pistol shot of
the enemy's works; and, mingled with
the dead and dying that strewed the
field, we returned the fire till it red
dened into night, and at last fell away
through darkness into silence.
But out of that silence from the bat
ties crash and roar rose new sounds,
more appalling still; rose or fell, you
knew not which, or whether from the
earth or ARA strange ventrilOquism,
of which you could not locate the source,
a smothered moan that seemed to come
from distances beyond reach of the
natural sense, wall so far and deep
and wide, as if thousand discords were
flowing together into a keynote wierd,
unearthly, terrible to hear and bear, yet
startling with its nearness; the writhing
concord broken by cries for help, pierced
by shrieks of paroxysm-some begging
for drop of water, some calling on
God for pity, and some on friendly
hands to finish what the enemy had so
horribly begun; some were delirious-
dreamy voices murmuring loved names,
as if the dearest were bending over
them; some gathering theirl last strength
to fire musket to call attention to them
where they lay helpless and deserted;
and underneath, all the time, that deep
base note from closed lips too hopeless
or too heroic to articulate their agony.
Who could sleep, or who would?
Our position was isolated and exposed.
Officers must be on the alert with their
command. But the human took the
mastery of the official; sympathy of
soldiership. Command could be de-
volved; but pity, not. So, with staff
officer, sailed forth to see what we
could do where the helpers seemed SC
few. Taking some observations, in or.
der not to lose the bearing of our own
position, we guided our steps by the
most piteous of the cries. Our part was
but little-to relieve painful posture
to give cooling draught to fevered
lips, to compress a severed artery Gas
we had learned to do, though in a
bungling fashion), to apply rude band
age (Which yet might prolong the life
to saving), to take token or farewell
message for some stricken home. 1t was
but little, yet it was an endless task
We had moved towards the right anC
rear of our own position-the part OF
the field Immediately above the city
The farther we went the more the need
deepened, and the calls multiplied
Numbers half Weakening from the leth
argy of death, or of despair by sounds
of succor, begged us to take them quickly
to surgeon; and when we could no
do that, imploring us to do the mex
most merciful service and give then
quick dispatch out of their misery
Right glad were we when, after mid
night, the shadowy ambulances came
gliding along, and the kindly hospita
stewards, with stretchers and soothing
appliances, let us feel that we might re
turn to our proper duty.
And now we were aware of othel
figures wandering, ghost-like, over tn,
field. Some on errands like our own
drawn by compelling appeals; some
seeking lost comrade, with uncertain
steps, amidst the unknown, and eve
and anon bending down to scan thu
pale visage closer, or, it may be, by thu
light of brief match, whose blue
Pickering flame scarcely can give thu
features more recognizable or NOR
human look; some man, desperatel,
wounded, yet seeking, with falterins
step, before his fast ebbing blood shall
have left him too weak to move, som,
quiet or sheltered spot, out of sound O
the terrible appeals he could neithel
answer nor endure, or out of reach o.
the raging battle coming with thu
morning; one creeping, yet scarcely
moving, from one lifeless form tt
another, if, perchance, he might find {
swallow of water in the canteen still
swung from the dead soldiers side; o.
another, as with just returning or jus
remaining consciousness, vainly striv
ing to rise from mangled heap, tina
he might not be buried with them Will,
yet alive; or some man, yet sound o
body, but pacing feverishly his grounc
because in such bivouac his spiri
could not sleep. And so we picked on
4