Milford chronicle., 1885-08-21
MALVERN HILL BATTLE.
Terrible Scenes or Carnage on
the Battlefield.
Horrors Of War as Depicted in General
Porters Narrative of the Fight

From General Fitz John Porter
account of the last of the Seven DAYS
Battles in the Century, we quote tn,
following: "While taking Meagher's
brigade to the front, 1 crossed a por-
ton Of the ground over which a large
column had advanced to attack us,
and had fair opportunity of judging
Of the effect of our FIRE upon the ranks
Of the enemy. 1t was something fear
full and sad to contemplate; few steps
could be taken without trampling up
on 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 con-
tnuous lines and in heaps. In Mexi-
co 1 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 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 wound
ed, and was soon filed with our IN
fortunate men, suffering from all kinds
Of wounds. At night, after issuing
orders for the withdrawal of our
troops, 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
" wounded by necessity left unattend-
Sd by the surgeons, so that prompt
and proper care might be given to
those in whom there was hope of
1t 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
1rovised hospital I heard of many
sad cases. One was that of the major
If the Twelfth New York Volunteers.
brave and gallant officer, highly es-
who was believed to be NOR
ally wounded While breathing his
asst, as was supposed, friend asked
linn If he had any message to leave.
lie replied, Tell my wife that in my
asst thoughts were blended herself, my
10Y, and my flag Then he asked
low the battle had gone, and when
old that we had been successful he
aid, God bless the old fla and fell
ack apparently dead. For a long
line he was mourned as dead, and it
7as believed that he had expired with I
he prayer left unfinished on his clos
ig lips Though still an invalid,
from wound then received,
nat officer recovered to renew his
areer in the war, and now, for recre-
ton, engages in lively contests of
Olitlcal warfare.
"On the occasion of this visit we fire.
lently met with scenes which would '
cit the stoutest heart: bearded men 4
teously begging to be sent home; u
hers requesting that a widowed t
other or orphan sisters might be c
red for; more sending messages to s.
life or children, or to others near and
ar to them. We saw the amputated :
nbs and the bodies Of the dead hur- il
ID out Of the room for burial On s.
cry side we heard the appeals Of the y,
ATTENDED, the means of the dying, re
d the shrieks of those under the 81
life of the surgeons. We gave what u
eer we could, ard left with heavy s
arts There was no room then for m
lbitious hopes of promotion; prayers tn
God for peace, speedy peace, that
r days might be thereafter devoted
efforts to avert another war, and b
1t never again should the country 90
afflicted with such a scOurge, filed la
: hearts as we passed from those DIR
urnful scenes" re'