Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-09-13
NEAR TO THE BATTLE
SCENES IN RICHMOND DURING THE
nEARBY ENGAGEMENTS.

What magnificent cyclorama it would
make if some artist could depict upon can
vas the streets of Richmond as they ap-
peared on the day of any of the great bat
ties that were fought in the near vicinity
OF the city! What an opportunity TO por-
tray the hNnan emotions and passions
which possessed them on such thrilling oc-
caslons! AT all times during those four
! eyentful years the citizens of Richmond
were brave, but in crises like these they
were grand, schooled in the horrors and
dangers OF war, like veterans they were
not to be demoralized at its near approach
They were appalled,, not cast down.
With quiet determination to do or die
ana to defend the city to the last, they met
these great emergencies with splendid
courage.
Why all this hurrying to and fro, hither
ana thlther, of officers booted and spur
red, with sabers clanking, followed by
mounted orderlios? These people have
witnessed it too often; they understand its
significance. The 'long roll'' begins to
| beat, bugles to sound, the city is aroused.
A Dattle Is imminent, couriers are coming
and going, commands are forming, the
~
| they march through the streets flags are
| flying, the martial strains of ''Dixie" fill
| the air, the excitement of battle is on ey-
| cry face. The sidewalks, windows and
| doorways are thronged with women and
| children, who wave their handlzcrchiefs
and cheer the troops as they pass They
cheer and cry and pray, and still they bid
| them go, begging God to protect and de-
mi
| from the fight The quick step of the in
fantry, the galloping of the cavalry and
| the rumbling OF the swiftly moving artil-
| lery lend excitement and interest to the
scene.
Ear down the streets and out of the city
| the rapidly moving columns go. Then
| there is a lull. The women and children
still stand, gazing after them. Distant
| firing tells them the battle has opened
| They are oppressed with amontal strain,
| anxiety, excitement and anguish that are
| agonizing; they forget about the danger
| of the city and only remember that their
| loved ones are now engaged in mortal
| combat.
The cannonading becomes more fire.
| quent. 1t comes nearer and nearer. Loud
or and louder grow the peals of artillery,
is now raging, and too well they know
what it all means, and what fearful har-
vest the dread reaper will CLEAN, and how
many who survive will be manned for life
Their loved ones are there in the midst of
it, some in the forefront of battle Oh,
how they cry and pray and beseech God
to defend them. Hours pass and still the
storm and thunder of contendng armies
IN oh, 1,o ~ t1 ~
and goes eohoing up the James. Every
fresh courier as he dashcs by from the
front is halted for news How goes tho
fight? Thousands of infantry are now en-
gagged in the terrible conflict. The con-
tinuous fire of muskctry seems like the
rage and roar of some mighty Niagara.
Our men must be charging thom.
AT last the storm begins to lull, the fir
ing is less frequent, the sound is more dis
tant--faint and fainter and more dcsultory.
\ courier from General Lee as he passes
ut hoadlong speed cries out the glad news
Tho victory is ours!"
Oh, what o relief, what joy can be COM
pared to that! Still tho suspense and
mental tension arc not relieved Anxiety
and cagernoss, prompted by love and in
tcrcst, arc at highest pitch to hear the
news Of the battle, that terribly sad and
mournful story of the killed and wounded
They have not long to wait, for the slight
ly wounded, covered with dust and blood
and the smoke of battle, havo already be-
gun to stream into the city first by twos
and threcs, in q little while by tens and
twentics, until at last they reach the pro-
portions of a steady procession, with here
and there a squad of captured prisoners, in
their new, bright blue uniforms, forming
Il striking contrast to the worn, tattcrcd
and battle soilod garments of our own
brave boys.
The women, God bless thcr hail each
new arrival for news of their friends, of
this regiment, or that brigade, or to what
ever command their own dear loved ones
belonged, fearing to hear, yet anxious to
hear the worst, for this suspense is excru-
ciating torture AT last they meet some
one who tells them of the safety of thosei
for whom they are most deeply concerned.
A heartfelt "Thank Godr' is tho joyful
response. Another timidly inquiries. AL
ready she reads the fatcful news in his face
before the soldier replies, ''Hc was killed
while we were charging battery" Oh,
the anguish, the pity of it! She wecps
and mourns and wrings her hands in un-
eontrolable grief.
The ambulance trains begin to arrive
with their burdens of wounded, bleeding,
maimed, mangled and battle SCARED he
roes. Shot in every conceivable way and
with all their hurts, suffering and pain
full Disagreement, we hear but little com
plaint. Only now and then, as the ambu-
lance jostles over a rough place in the
road, do they breathe word of caution or
calculate prayer for help ard strength 10
bear it. The wounded are numbered BIZ
thousands and must have immediate at |
tention; tho doors of private residences |
and public buildings alike fly open to ac-
commodate the overflow of the hospitals |
The wounded are everywhere. Richmond |
is one vast hospital and her noble men !
good Samaritans and her women and chill |
dren angels of mercy.
Following the procession of the MANNED |
and wounded, coming on apace at longer |
intervals, but still coming in single file, !
one by one, are the heroic dead, "who died I
upon the field of honor" Silently, sadly 4
and tenderly their comrades have borne |
them in, and now all Richmond is house |
of mourning, until our dead are placed in /
honored sepulcher james f. Tucker in +
Jacksonville Times Union.