Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21

Few steps could be taken without tramp
ling upon the body of dead or wounded
soldier. or without hearing pi'~ous cry.
begging our party to be careful. In some
places the bodies were in continuous
lines and In heaps. In Mexico I had scen
fields OF battle on which our armies had
been victorious. and had listened TO pitt
full appeals. but the pleaders were not ot
my countrymen then. and did not
now. cause me to deplore the effects of q
fratricidal war.
Sadder still were the trying scenes
met In and around the Malvern house.
which at an early hour that day had been
given up to the wounded. and was soon
filled with our unfortunate men, suffer
ing from all kinds OF wounds. At night
after issuing orders for the Withdrawal
OF our troops, I passed through the build
ing and the adjoining hospitals with my
senior medical oficer, Col. George I'll.
Lyman. Our object was TO inspect the
actual condition of the men, TO arrange
for their care and comfort and TO cheer
them as best we could Here. as usual.
were found men mortally wounded. ny
necessity left unattended by the sur
geons. so that prompt and proper care
might be given to those I'm whom there
was hope of recovery.
While passing through this improvised
hospital | heard of many sad cases. one
was that of the major OF the 18th New
York Volunteers. brave and gallant
officer highly esteemed who was believed
to be MORALLY wounded. While breathing
his last, as was Supposed. friend asked
him IL he had any message to leave. lie
replied Tell my wife that I'm my last
thoughts were blended herself. my boy
and my flag. Then he asked how the
battle had gone. and when told that we
had been successful he said. God bless
the old fla and fell back apparently
dead. For long time he was mourned
as dead, and IL was believed that he had
expired with the prayer left unfinished
on his closing lips. Though still an inva-
lid, suffering from the wound then re-
ceived, that officer tafterward Brevet
Mai. Gen. Henry A. Barnum) recovered
to renew his career i'm the war.
On the occasion of this visit We fire.
quently witnessed scenes which would
melt the stoutest heart: bearded men
piteously begging to be sent home: Others
requesting that widowed mother OF
orphan sisters might be cared for: more
sending messages to wife or children. II
to others near and dear to them w
saw the amputated limbs and the bodies
of the dead hurried out of the room for
burial. On every side We heard the a,-
peals Of the unattended, the means II
the dying and the shrieks of those undo
the knife of the surgeon. We gave Wa
cheer We could, and left with heavy
hearts.
national salute was fired, and the differ
ent corps We're reviewed. Gen. Mct'lel-
Ian, as opportunity offered. made a few
remarks full Of hope and encouragement.
thanking the men i'm most feeling terms
for their uniform bravery, fortitude ana
good conduct, but iniimating that this
was not the last of the campaign.
Contrary however. to his expectations.
the peninsular campaign of the Army
of the Potomac for 1862 virtually ended
on the 4th of July. From that date TO
August IA, when the army at shutdown
took up its march for Fort Monroe. its
commander was engaged in the struggle
to retain it on the James. as against the
determination Of the Secretary OF War
to withdraw it to the line of the Kappa
hammock there to act in conjunction with
the Army of Virginia.
Although Gen. Mcclellan was assured.
in writing, that he was to have com
mand Of both armies after their junction,
he preferred, as a speedy and the only
practicable mode of taking Richmond. 10
remain on the James and renew the con-
test from the south bank. for which he
had commenced operation During this
period he omitted nothing which would
insure the removal of the army without
loss of men and material. The with
drawal of the army changed the issue
from the capture of Richmond TO the
security of Washington. transferred to
the Federals the anxiety of the Confed-
crates for their capital. and sounded an
alarm throughout the northern states.
Copyright. 1872 by the Century Company