The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-06
The Carnage at Malvern Hill.

Fitz ohm Porter's Description.
In General Fitz John Porter's ac-
count of the last of the seven days
battles in the August Century the fol-
lowing OCCURS: "While taking Meagher's
brigade to the front I crossed a por-
tion 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 tramping up
on the body of dead or wounded sol
dier, or without 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 battle on which our arm
les had been victorious, and had lis
tened to pitiful appeals; but the plead
ers were not of my countrymen then,
and did not, as now, cause me to de-
plore 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 with
drawal of our troops, Ipassed through
the buildings and the adjoining hospi-
tails with my senior medical officer,
Colonel George H. Lyman. Our OBJ
ject was to inspect the actual condi-
ton 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 unattended by the sur
geons, so that prompt and proper
there was hope Of recovery. 1tseemed
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 impro-
vised hispital L 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 fla and fell back
apparently dead. For a long time he
was mourned as dead, and it was be-
lieved that he had expired with the
prayer left unfinished on his closing
lips. Though still an invalid, suffering
from a wound then received, that Off
Ger recovered 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 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 sister 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 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. Wegave what cheer we could,
and left with heavy hearts. There was
no room then for ambitious hopes of
promotion; prayers to Godfor peace
speedy peace-that our days might be
there after devoted to efforts to avert |
war, and that never again
should the country be afflicted with |
such a scourge filled our hearts as we |
passed from those mournful scenes"