News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-08-20
THE CARNAGE Ar MALVERN HILL.
The story Told by the Commander of the
9Th Corps.

From General Fitz John Porter's &C
count of the last of the Seven Days
Battles in the August Century we quote
the following: "While taking Meagher's
brigade 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 con-
template; few steps could be taken
without trampling upon the body
of dead or wounded soldier, or
without hearing piteous cry, begging
our party to be careful. In some places
the bodies were in continuous lines and
in heaps. In Mexico had seen fields of
battles 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 I
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 withdrawal
of our troops, I passed through the
building and the adjoining hospitals with
my senior medical officer, Colonel George
H. Lyman. Our object was to inspect
the actual condition of the men, to ar
range for their care and comfort, and to
cheer them as best we could. Here, as
usual, were found men MORALLY wounded
by necessity left unattended by the sur
geons, 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 merciful to another
whose life might be saved.
'While passing through this imprS-
vised hospital heard of many sad CASES.
One was that of the major of the
Twelfth New York Volunteers, brave
and gallant officer, highly esteemed,
who was believed to be MORALLY
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 fla and fell back apparently
dead. For long time he was mourned
as dead, and it was believed that he had
expired with the prayer On his lips.
Though still an invalid, suffering from a
wound then received, that officer recov-
cred to renew his career in the war, and
now, for recreation, engages in lively
contests of political warfare.
On the occasion of this visit we fire.
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 chill
dren, or to others near and dear to them.
We saw the amputated limbs and the
bodies 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 de-
voted to efforts to avert another war,
and that never again should the country
be afflicted with such scourge, filed
our hearts as we passed from those
mournful scenes.