The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-08-07
THE CARNAGE AT MALVERN HILL.

From General Fitz John PoIters ac-
count of the last of the Seven Days Bat
ties in the August Century we quote the
following s'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 OPP
portunity 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 tramp
ling upon the body of 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 i'll heaps. In Mexico had seen fields
of battle on which our armies had been
victorious, and had listened to pitiful APP
peals but the peaders were not of my
countrymen then, and did not, as now,
cause me to deplore the effects of fratri-
cidal 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 withdrawal of our
troops, passed through the building and
the adjoining hospitals with my senior
medical officer, Colonel George III. Lyman.
Our object was to inspect the actual con-
dtion of the men, to arrange for their care
and comfort, and to cheer them as best we
could. Here, as usual were found men
mortally wounded by necessity left unat-
tended 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 mercifnl to
another whose life might be saved.
''While passing through this improvised
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 mortality wounded. While breathing
his last, as was supposed, friend asked
him il 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 a long time he was monrned as
dead, and it was believed that he had ex-
pred with the prayer left unfinished on his
closing lips. Though still an invalid, suf-
fering from a wound then received, that
officer recovered to renew his career in the
war, and now, for recreation, engages in
lively contests of political warfare.
quently met with scenes which would melt
the stoutest heart; bearded men piteously
begging to be sent home others request
ing that 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 am
putated limbs and the bodies of the dead
hurried out of the room for burial. On every
side we heard the appeals of the unattend-
ed, 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 promotions;
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 mournful scenes.
DE Mnlker,s Ninegar Ritters. the celehratod