The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-06
TIE HORRORS oF WAR.



EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Some time ago
e0mrade, in a communication to THE Ma
TToNAL TRIBUNE, requested some one to write
about burying the dead after battle l never
had any experience in that direction while |
was q soldier, but an incident came under my
observation that may be of interest to the COM
rade.
At the time of the battle Of Cedar Creek, Oct.
18th, 1851 my regiment was doing guard duty
at Martinsburg. w Va. The Sunday afternoon
after the battle, COnlrade G. 81. Green and
/, being OF duty We're strolhng about the
streets Of the town. As we were passing up the
main street We saw something going up
short lane. in 8 small, barn-like building, and
curiosity led us to see what it was. We found
il 10 be embalmeTs at work preparing the dead
for shipment to their friends at home. A large
number Of the dead had been brought there
from the battlefield. Tie bodies were piled up
about the building, some in boxes, many with
out boxes. lying under tables and in every
place where they could be put / remember
two in particular. One was Dr. Shannon. To
what regiment he belonged / do not know. We
were simply told that the body, that lay entirely
naked upon the tabsin the corner, WAS r.Shan-
non He was a short, stout man, with quite a
heavy beard He did not appear to be mangled,
and. indeed, there was no mark upon him 10
indicate where he was struck. The other body
lay upon q stretcher near the door. 1t was that
Of young man Of sandy complexion and long
curly, auburn hair. He was OF large frame and
we'll built. In life he must have been fine
looking man, the pride and JOY of some be-
reaved wife or parents He was struck in the
head. and one side of his face was covered with
blood dried on. One arm was drawn up and
the hand cIutched in the hair. His dress indi-
Gated that he was a private.
There were two men at work over the bodies.
They had long. curved needles, and were sewing
mp and washing out the wounds. They would
take a body by the legs and arms, haul it out
and slap it down upon low table or platform,
and proceed to business. If it became necessary
to use both hands, they would clap their needles
intotheir mouths, regardless Of the uses to which
they had been put. As fast IS one body was fin
I ished another took its place, and the CHASTITY
work went on.
Lying by the door, on the outside of the build
4 ing, were several boxes continuing bodies ready
for shipment. One, l remember, was that Of tht
/ Colonel Of a Massachusetts, regiment, directed
/ to Boston.
A look into place like this, and into hos
/ pital filed with wounded men, reveals the aw
/ ful side of warfare. No soldier, when he looked
| upon such scenes, could help realizing that he
too, might soon be victim, and his mangle.
body either laid in q nameless grave with hun
| dreds of others, or consigned TO his friends a
/ home.
To every intelligent soldier, as he stood il
the ranks awaiting the shock of battle, Their
would arise the probability Of his fate Til
three dread probabilities Of instant or lin
gering death on the field, long, tedious sui
fering in the hospital, or dreadful captyit
were hanging over him, and happy was tn
man who, when the last shot was fred, foun
himself safe and sOQnd.-JAs. ii. SAWYER, q
! B 18th Conn. KemDton Ill,