Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-05-18

Losses on. BattIefieIds of Old.

While the losses that are sustained by
the great armies that are contesting the
issue in the war in Europe are appalling,
and far greater in actual numbers than
were ever known in any war in the past,
in the percentage of losses TO the number
engaged some of the great battles OF the
past exceed materially the estimates-for
only estimates are available-ofthe losses
sustained in conflicts of the present war.
The heaviest loss in the battles OF the
eighteenth century was at Kunersdorf,
fought August IL, 1859, where 1900
Prussians met II 600 Russians and Aus
trians, and the total casualty list num-
bered 81, ,370 killed and wounded; 43 4
per cent for the Prussians and y l per
cent for the Allies. AT Zorndorf, fought
year earlier, August Is, 1868, the forces
engaged were smaller and the total cas-
ualties greater. numbering 429 per cent
for the AZ 900 Russians and 1873 per cent
for the sc, 900 Prussians. The principal
battle OF the nineteenth century was Leip-
zig, October 10, 1913, the "Battle OF the
Nations" where Napoleon with III 900
men met and defeated the Allied army
numbering 30l 500. Napoleon's casual
ties numbered $1,000 and those OF the
Allies $4,000, but in percentage the losses
told heavily against him. 263 per cent to
l6 per cent for the Russians. the Prus-
SLAMS and Austrians. AT ASpern, May
q, 1909, 10000 French lost 42OSO, or
46 s per cent, and IS, 900 Austrians p, $50,
or 30 per cent. AT Borcdino, September
7, 1912, the French lost 24.500. or 1874
per cent of their 100 600, and the Russians
81 800, or 81 per cert OF l2l 600 men.
AT Waterloo the French numbered S0,-
600 men and 252 guns, the Allies num-
bered 1900 men and 1856 guns. AT
Gettysburg the Union army numbered
5000 men and $50 guns. AT Waterloo
Wellington's army lost 23.lS5. at Gettys-
burg Meade's army lost 23,003.
The loss OF the French at Waterloo has
never been officially announced, but has
been estimated at &c. 300; the Confederate
loss at Gettysburg, as officially reported
by the Confederate surgeon general, was
20 O,44S, to which must be added 7,O77
wounded and dunwounded prisoners whose
names are omitted from his lists, but ap-
pear on the records at Washington.
In short, the battles of Waterloo and
Gettysburg were fought with from 10000
to 81, 900 men on each side and the con-
testants lost about 5000 men each.
In the Franco -PruSsian war the greatest
loss occurred at the battle Of Gravelotte,
where the Germans lost 4, ,449 killed, in
Guiding the MORALLY wounded, l5,lS9
wounded and 939 missing; total 2O,57,
out OF lac, 900 troops engaged, exclusive OF
65, 900 reserves. AT Gettysburg Meade'S
army sustained greater loss with half
the number engaged.
II may be suggested that the Franco
Prussian war was, comparatively, OF brief
duration, and hence comparison OF The
aggregate casualties cannot be made.
But in the American Civil war during the
six months following May a, 1864, the
various Union armies sustained greater
loss than the German armies did during
the whole Franco -PruSSian war. The
total loss OF the Germany army in that
war was S,277 killed or MORALLY wound
ed, 85, ,4S2 wounded and l4,l3S missing,
total, l27 1897.
The casualties at Borodino, one OF the
bloodest battles since the use Of gun
powder, have been variousIy stated. The
Encyclopedia Britannica puts the Russian
loss at $4,000 killed, wounded and pris-
oners and the French loss at consider
ably above 10000" Allison gives the
losses at Borodino in round numbers only,
placing the French loss at $4,000 and the
Russian at $4,000. The most credible
statement is found in the Journal OF the
London Statistical Society, which places
the number of killed and wounded in the
French army at Borodino at 2S.0S5 out OF
$1,000 troops present on the field. The
Russian army numbered $4,000 at that
battle, and there is nothing 10 show that
its loss was greater than that OF its. an
taoouist Although the number of killed
and wounded at Borodno was greater,
numerically, than at Waterloo and Gettys-
burg, the percentage of loss was very
much less.