Year: 1864

them back when fighting is going on at the front


but fnd | can stay at the rear at such time


and be quite contentsd.


Down by tho creek where the train stopped


they put up tie division hospitals for our corps


Ambulance loads Of wounded men woro continu


ally coming in, and the surgeons had all they coulc


attend to, and more TO- Wounds Of every de


scription some in the head some in the body


some in the hands, arms, legs or feet, we're con


s,antly being brought forward for attention. Il


was impossible to attend to them all at once, and


many had TO wait and suffer long time with
their savage wounds uudressed. Amputalions at
several tables were being made all the time. A.
fast as one man was removed from the board
another was put on. Many poor fellows had to
wal! for several hours before their turn came.
The surgeons, besmeared with blood, and harden
ed to their business, looked more like butchers
cutting up beef than ike professional men, adopt
ing the stern alternative Of removing limb to
save the life Of a fellow man. A hospital on the
battlefield always presents horrid gharly sight.
Surely our national honor ought to be mperisha-
bls, purchased at such cost.


Among those brought in we're several Of ny
own comrades One man struck in the thigh
with piece Of shell, which broke bis leg, and
bruised it badly, was brought in about noon, and


il was not TIL night that any attention was paid to
his wounds, except what we could do ourselves.
/. was not I'LL night that be had any shelter either,
and then it was only ily overheal-a roof with
out walls. But it was the best they could do,
and il is not always at such times, that they can
do as well as that. II was chilly night, and the
meu, many Of whom had to have their clothing
cut from their wounds, leaving them 10 some in.
stances h,f Naked had but one blanket for two
men. remember promised to bring my friend
rubber blanket from the train, bat the train
moved along, and could not do as had prom.
ised. Yesterday suppose be, with the rest Of
the wounded, were removed to a general hospital
1t will be tedious and painful journey over the
rough roads for men with such wounds as Bis,
but know my friend is brave man. as indeed
they all are, and know that bodily pain c,nnot
crush his spirit.


Right by the side Of the tent where my friend
lay was another soldier mor,slly wounded, and
eh there to die. couldn't help noticing him in
particular though never had seen him before
Fair looking and intelligent, too young end too
tendery reared, one would think, too ennure the
hardships Of a soldiers life. Alas, ho did not
have to suffer long. lie was wounded in the head
ami died thN night first noticed him little
Psst noon. lie could not speak, bul he appeared
conscious A fellow from bis company asked him
il be knew him. lie signifed, by pressure Of
the hand, that be did. iaw him again at night.
he was dying then. Oh what would brother or
sister have given to have been with him then-to
have called bis name and received back pressure
Of recogniton' What would hi, mother Civ.
now to drop tear by his rude grave sacred
spot that she may never be able 10 find +? And |
thus have perihed thousands since this war be-
gan. Verify war i' crsel, and none more terribly
70 than this which the rebellion has forced upon
l'. God forgive those who started it, they knew
not wha, they did. AyrI.RF REL.