Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-23

From General Fitz John Porter's 40
connt of tho last of the Seven Days
Battles in the August century we
quote the following: "While taking
Meaghcr's brigade to the front, cross
cd portion OF the ground over which
large column had advanced to at
tack us, and had fair opportunity Of
judging OF the effect Of our fire upon
the ranks Of the enemy. II was somc-
thing fearful and sad to contemplate;
few steps could be taken without
trampling upon tho body Of dead or
wounded soldier. or without hearing Il
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 armies had been victori-
Gus, and had listened to pitiful appeals;
but the pleadcrs were not Of my coun-
trymen then, and did not. US now.
cause me to deplore the effects of u
fratricidal war.
"Sadder still were the trying scenes
] met in and around tho Malvern
house. which at an early hour that day
had been given up to the wounded,
anu "uS sOoi WIN ouI
ate 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 II. Ly-
man. Our object was to inspect the
actual condition of tho men, to ar
range 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 surgeons, 50 that prompt and
proper care might be given to those in
whom there was hope of recovery. 1t
seemed rs If the physician was cruel
to one in doing his duty, by being mer-
ciful to another whose life might DO
saved.
while passing through this impro-
vised hospital l heard of many sad
cases. One was that of the major of
the Twelfth New York Volunteers, o
brave and gallant officer, who was be-
licyed to be mortally wounded. While
breathing his last, as was supposed, q
friend asked him if he had any mes
sagcs to leave. lie replied. Toll my
wife that in my last thoughts were
blended herself. my boy, and my flag
Then he asked how the battle had
gone, and wnen told that We had been
successful he said, God bless tho old
ha- and icll back apparently dead.
For long time he was mourned as
dead, and it was believed that he had
expired with the prayer left unfinished
on his closing lips. Though still an
invalid, suffering from wound then
received, that ttlicer recovered to re-
new his career in tho war, and now,
for recreation. engages in lively con-
tests 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 II widowed moth
er or orphan sisters might be cared
for; more sending messages to wife OF
children, or to others near and dear to
them We saw the amputated limbs
aud the bodies of the dead hurried out
of the room for burial. On every side
we heard tho appeals of the unattcnd-
ed, the means Of tho dying, aud 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 DO thereafter devoted to efforts
to avert another war, and that never
again should the country be- afflicted
with such a scourga, filled our hearts as
We passed from those mournfulscenos."