The National tribune., 1886-07-29


hubs, and the driver swearing and beating
his horses in a most unInerciful manner to
urge them on. The load then consisted of
10 wounded men. After some eoaxiug on
the part Of my friend the. drivers permission
was given to have me put on board. My
seat, the only one to be had, was on the toor,
with my legs hanging ont over the end
rather an uncomfortable position for
wounded man. / thanked my two friends
for what they had done for me and bade
them goOd-by, expressing the hope that we
would meet again under much more favor
able circumstances, when l might be able In
some way to repay them for their kindness
and opportune services.
The driver soon mounted his seat, and my
two comrades putting their shoulders to the
wheels, the horses again started for the city.
The ride / shall not soon forget. No direct
road apparently was followed, owing, sup
pose, TO the darkness Sometimes, the wheels
coming in contact with stones and other OBJ
stTuctiOns, the vehicle would almost upset,
giving the wounded passengers most pain
ful shaking up. Sometimes it was out of
one gully into another, and more than prob
ably over some of the dead bodies of our
fallen comrades.
In about half an hour we reached the city,
and there the widest confusion and demOra-
liZatiOn seemed to reign. Every house ten
able was either filled or was being filed
with our wounded soldiers. The streets
were crowded with troops, not knowing what
to do or where to go-one part of n regiment
being mixed up with that of another, and
both seeming to be lost As for my own
regiment, or what was left of it, had not
the slightest idea where it was. Officers
had no control over the men. Small-arms
lay about in all directions, and disabled
horses and shattered gun-carriages blocked
up some of the principal thoroughiares OF
the town. Some of the men getting posses
sion of several barrels of whisky, drank it
freely and passed it around, making the
scene much more disgusting and the defeat
of the army much more humiliating.
Yet it might have been worse, for had
Gen. Lee followed up his victory by adj
vanciDg that night, which, fortunately for
the Federal army, he did not do, be could
have annihilated the Army Of the Potomac
or driven every man wearing blue coat
into the RappahannOck River. Resistance
would have been unavailing, for the Con-
! federates were flushed with victory; they
were almost as fresh and strong as before the
battle, having suffered comparatively little,
y
plete defeat in their whole history.
The ambulance, after passing down one of
the crowded streets, halted opposite high
brick house. Two passengers,
WHO HAD DIED on THE WAY,
were carried out and laid on a cellar door,
and the others, myself included, alighted
and applied for shelter at this house. 1t
was dimly lighted on the outside by a sickly
oil lamp, which appeared to have seen long
and trying service. Two Federal soldiers,
with muskets crossed, guarded the door.
| They admitted US, and we entered large
room, where we found several severely
wounded men lying on the floor near a stove,
| in which a wood fire was burning, making
the place tOlerably comfortable as far as
| temperature was concerned. The furniture
consisted of bagatelle table, a large library
in glass cases, and the stove already men,
toned. Feeling very cold, 1 lay down, rest
| ing my head on pile Of sawed wood near
the fire, and could have slept but for the
pain Of my wounds. In half an hour %
more unfortunates had been admitted, and
an hour later 60 of them occupied the room
Among the last admitted was a young
man apparently not over 20 years of age
His youthful appearance and mOdesty par
| ticularly attracted my attention. He was
deathly pale and pressing his hand against
his bosom, stained with blood, he slowly and
almost nOiselessly stole back 10 q vacant
corner, as if not wanting TO be observed
! There he sat down on the floor, placed his
back against the wall, and gazed silently al
the mangled victims before him. In few
minutes he seemed to be asleep, enjoying
sweet and refreshing rest. In the morning
Surgeon who came into the room pro-
nOunced him dead, remarking, Poor fellow
/ some mother viii miss her son.n Not till
then did / know that he had passed away
for he seemed 60 natural and so quietly
sleeping. The scene to me was sad, yei
beautiful, and one long to be remembered
that countenance calm and unruffled even il
death.
Our young comrade had met the king o
terTOrs bravely, and without struggle haC
passed away from earth, from war to peace
and eternal rest, having laid down his younl
life in the service Of his country and upoI
her sacred altar.
1t was curious 20 see the varieties Of wound.
from which the poor fellows in this room
were suffering. No two of them wer,
wounded alike, and probably every descrip
ton Of injury that men inilict upon men il
battle was represented here, and that, too il
the worst form, from the work of the littl,
mimic bullet to that of the grape, canister
and cannon ball, and the sword, saber anC
bayonet; and as Hooked upon them though
how much men can suffer and yet live.
AT 6 o'clock in the morning three Surgeon
entered the room, and in a short time one o
them, who / afterward learned was a Sur
geon of the Sth Ill Cav, approached me
lying on the floor, and inquired the nature o
my wound. ] told him, and asked him Il
TRY AND REMOVE THE BULLET,
as it was giving me so much pain. Helpin,
me up on the bagatelle table, he ripped Opel
my clothing with a sharp knife, as it haC
stuck fast 10 my body with clotted blood
He soon found where the ball had LODGED
and cut il out, washed il in a bucket of waite
at his side, and then handing it to me, said
i suppose you would like to preserve thi
relic of the war"
At o'clock Sunday morning an orde
was given for the wounded men in this room
10 be removed to the upper story of the build
ing, TO make room below for fresh arrival
from the battlefield. We were soon in ou
quarters, the floor Of which was covered Will
clean, dry straw-a luxurious bed under tn
circumstances. / lay down near windoy
facing the battlefield. In an hour hot coffe
7 and hardtack wereyserved, our first refresh
ment since gOingbinto battle the mornin
before. Feeling dhilly II asked an officer
who came into the room in search OF
wounded comrade,, TO unite my blanket an
spread it over me. He Kindly complied, an
, | in raising IL from the floor IN oman - on