The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-09-13
NEAR TO THE BATTLE
SCENES IN RICHMOND DURING THE
NEARBY ENGAGEMENTS.
Agony of Women and Children In Dread
Of the Resuit-Ths Rally For the Fray.
Return From the Field OF tho Dead and
Woundsd-Ths Horrors Of War.

Return From the Field OF the Dead and
wouadsd-Ths Horrors Of War.
What a magnificent cyclorama IL would
make IL 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 human emotions and passions
which possessed them on such thrilling oc-
casionsl At all times during those four
eventful 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 DO demoralized at its near approach.
They were appalled,. not cast down.
With quiet determination to do or die
and to defend the city to the last, they met
these great emergencies with splendid
courage
Why all this hurrying to and fro, hither
and thither, of officers booted and spur
red with sabers clanking, followed by
mounted orderliesS These people have
witnessed 1t too often; they understand its
significance. The "long roll" begins to
beat, bugles to sound, the city is aroused.
A battle is imminent, couriers are coming
and going commands are forming, the
reserves are being hurried to the front. AS
they march through the streets flags are
flying, the martial strains of Dixie I'LL
the air, the excitement of battle Is on ev-
cry face. The sidewalks, windows and
doorways are thronged with women and
children, who wave their handkerchiefs
and cheer the troops as they pass. They
cheer aud cry and pray and still they bid
them go, begging God to protect and de-
fend them and bring them back victors
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.
Far 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 mental 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
er and louder grow the peals of artillery,
until it seems to- be incessant. The battle
is now raging, and too well they know
what it all means, and what fearful har-
vest the dread reaper will glean 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 contending armies
reverberate through the streets of the city
and goes echoing up the James. Every
fresh courier as he dashes by from the
front is halted for news. How goes the
fight? Thousands Of infantry are now en-
gagged in the terrible conflict. The con-
tinuous fre of musketry seems like the
rage and roar of some mighty Niagara.
Our men must be charging them.
At last the storm begins to lull the fir
ing is less frequent, the sound is more dis
tant-faint and fainter and more desultory.
A courier from General Lee as he passes
at headlong speed cries out the glad news,
THE victory is ours!
Oh what a relief, what JOY can be COM
pared to that! Still the suspense and
mental tension are not relieved. Anxiety
and eagerness, prompted by love and in
terest, are 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, have already be-
gun to stream into the city, first by twos
and threes, in little while by tens and
twenties until at last they reach the pro-
portions of a steady procession, with here
and there squad Of captured prisoners, In
IL. Co..
q striking contrast to the worn, tattered
and battle soiled garments of our own
brave boys.
The women, God bless them 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 those
for whom they are most deeply concerned.
A heartfelt THANK Godp' is the joyful
response. Another timfily inquiries AL.
ready she reads the fateful news In his face
before the soldier replies, He was killed
while we were charging battery" Oh,
the anguish, the pity of i'll She weeps
and Inourns and wring5 her hands in un
controllable grief.
The ambulance trains begin to arrive
with their burdens of wounded, bleeding,
MANNED, 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
plant. Only now and then, as the ambu-
lance jostles over rough place in the
road, do they breathe word of caution or
calculate prayer for help and strength to
bear 1t. The wounded are numbered by
thousands and must have Immediate at
tention; the 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 SaInaritans 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 i'm single file,
one by one, are the heroic dead, "who died
upon the field of honor" Silently, sadly
and tenderly their comrades have borne
them In, and now all Richmond Is a house
of mourning, until our dead are placed In
honored sepulcher. +. Tucker In
t. .x..,t IT,x,0