The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
On the bloody field reposed the victors when that day’s dreadful
work was done: amid the dead and dying--the lifebreath painfully
passing from the lips of wounded friend and foe--some of our bravo
fellows, pillowed on their knapsacks, slept a fitful sleep; some
crept among the heaps of dying, searching for friend or brother,
and some supported the drooping head and administered a draught of
water to the fevered lips of wounded comrade or dying enemy. The
fight was over, the lust of blood satisfied, and all the better
qualities of manhood, mercy and forgiveness, appeared beneath that
setting sun. Sometimes, as they stooped to assist a dying enemy,
the Muscovite, trained to treachery, with a final effort, would
discharge a pistol at their heads; and then the old war spirit was
once more aroused, and with clubbed musket, or deadly bayonet, the
malevolent Russian was sent to his account. The sailors, who had
watched the progress of the battle from the ships, when they saw
that victory was ours, swarmed ashore, and hurried to the scene of
strife. There they bore the wounded to the surgeon’s quarters, and
to the ships, with the tenderness of women. Little drummer-boys
might be seen among the prostrate heroes, comforting and rendering
assistance with a care and zeal beyond their years. A fatigue party
was ordered on service to bury the dead; and the surgeons, with
bare arms and splashed with blood, strove by their skill and energy
to alleviate the sufferings and save the lives of the poor fellows
brought to them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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