The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-22
Twelve Pages.
THE RIGHT WAY
Or the Gospel Applied to Intercourse Be-
tween individuals and Naions.

RY REV. JOSEPH A. COLLIER.
EVILS OF wAR-CoNTINUED
IV. LOOK at the PERSONAL sUF'
rER1NGs OF THE BATTLEFIELD.
These are beyond the power OF lm'
apinatiop to conceive, or pen 10 de'
scribe. The effort to portray them has
fequently been made, and the page Oh
history is blackened with narratlons OF
them which seem enough to dissolve
tbe most hardened in tears. But no
nen has ever painted hundredth part
of the sufferings that have been thus
inflicted. We read the story OF an en-
pagement, of the number killed and
wounded, and of the subsequent ap-
pearance of the field of conflict, ana
we perhaps drop tear over the pa
tbetic narrative, and turn from IL
shuddering with horror. Yet after all
we have only a general view OF the
scene. The mind does not take IN
each particular pang of the sufferers,
nor can it. BY a merciful provision OF
our Creator, we cannot conceive OF a
tithe of that woe which, if vlvldly
realized, would overwhelm US with
unavailing sorrow. Yet we should by
no means close our eyes to it. 1t IS
one of the designs of Providence In
forming our hearts tender and sympa-
tbizing, that they shall, by feeling for
misery, be impelled to its alleviatlon'
Visit in imagination the field OF bat
tie. The chosen spot is perhaps one
teeming with the fruits of successful
industry. The calm stillness-the
happy aspect of all nature-the Guilt
vated fields-the waving harvests-the
abounding thrift and plenty-the low
inp berds-the shouts of husbandmen
the songs of birds and children
and the smiling cottages and gardens
all indicate the presence OF love ana
peace. Presently the Sabbath-llke
quiet is broken by distant sounds OF
music. Upon either side it advances,
and Won soon hear the steady tramp of
armies approaching in opposite direc-
tions. The Haunting plumes and ban
ners, the forest of glistening bayonets,
and the brilliant uniforms of hun
dred thousand men, form an imposing
spectacle, and the eye is dazzled by the
serried array of splendors. A pause
and then they meet with a tremen'
dous shock, and amid the roaring OF
cannon, and the rattling of musketry,
fulfil the purpose which has brought
them there. Balls and bombshells
pass each other in the air with incred'
ible rapidity. Some lose their heads
other their limbs, and at every eX'
change of shots hundreds are mangled
and mutilated. AS the foremost col
umns fall, others press on over theil
beaned-up bodies. Galloping wa:
horses trample upon the wounded, OF
stumble over them and crush out thell
lingering lives. Ever and anon q
shell explodes in the midst of a closely
hacked mass of human beings, anu
scstters them about in bloody frag'
ments. Frenzied shrieks and groans
fill the air, the discordant chorus being
every moment augmented by the
voices of new sufferers. And still on
and on, for hour after hour, RACES the
Internal work, with power which Il
only limited by the deathful capacity
of their weapons, or by the loss o.
hands to WELD them.
At length one army or the other Is
victorious, and hostilities are for
while suspended. The smoke lifts 1t
self slowly from the field-as II reluc
tant to unveil such carnage to the view
of heaven-and you once more gaze
upon the scene. How changed ! In
stead of the life-sustaining harvest
there is harvest Of death. The cot
tages are burned, their inmates mur
dered, and sweet, innocent children
lie weltering in their blood, or els'
cling, terrified and sobbing, to th'
lifeless forms of their parents. 4ol
90 through the battlefield. Groan'
and outcries and mad blasphemies sa
lutte the ear on every side. Here lie'
one whose distorted features and plead
ing eye express the agony his lips re
fuse to utter. Here is moving mas:
of beings, whom you would scarcely
recognize as human, vainiy endeavor
ing to extricate themselves from th'
nile or trench which has received then
while yet living. Here is an unhap
py wretch, clasping to his breast th'
picture of Il loved wife or mothe
whom he will never behold again an
other, frantic with agony, calling up
on God to save his soul !; another end
ing his tortures, now grown beyon'