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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43b3d22 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50968 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50968) diff --git a/old/50968-8.txt b/old/50968-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 380e5c4..0000000 --- a/old/50968-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2615 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Origin of the Red Cross, by Henry Dunant - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Origin of the Red Cross - "Un souvenir de Solferino" - -Author: Henry Dunant - -Translator: Mrs. David H. Wright - -Release Date: January 19, 2016 [EBook #50968] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS *** - - - - -Produced by Bryan Ness, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: JEAN HENRI DUNANT] - - - - - _The_ ORIGIN _of_ - _the_ RED CROSS - - "_Un Souvenir - de Solferino_" - - BY - HENRI DUNANT - - Translated from the French by - MRS. DAVID H. WRIGHT, - of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American - Red Cross, Independence Hall. - Philadelphia, Pa. - - 1911 - THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. - PHILADELPHIA, PA. - - - - - Copyright, 1911, - By MRS. DAVID H. WRIGHT. - - - - - AMERICAN RED CROSS. - WASHINGTON, D. C., November 9, 1910. - - Mrs. David H. Wright, - Philadelphia, Pa. - - DEAR MRS. WRIGHT: - -I appreciate and thank you for your courtesy in dedicating to me, as -President of the American Red Cross, this recent translation of Henri -Dunant's "Un Souvenir de Solferino." - -Whoever calls attention of the people to the sufferings and misery -caused by war so that men realizing its results become loath to -undertake it, performs a public service. - -[Illustration: handwritten signature of William Howard Taft] -_President American Red Cross._ - - - - -_EDITOR'S NOTE_ - - -_So far as is known, this book of such far-reaching influence has never -before been translated or published in English._ - - - - -PREFACE - - -_Henri Dunant, the famous author of "A Souvenir of Solferino," was born -in Geneva in 1828._ - -_The instruction and philanthropic principles received by him in his -youth, together with his natural energy and power of organization, were -a good foundation for the unfolding of the ideas and inclinations which -led to his fertile acts._ - -_In 1859 occurred the event which definitely impelled him to a course -of action which did not discontinue during his whole life. A course of -action for the mitigation of the sufferings caused by war, or from a -broader point of view, for the commencement of the reign of peace._ - -_This event was the battle of Solferino, when he first organized, in -Castiglione, corps of volunteers to search for and nurse the wounded._ - -_Having thus started the idea of a permanent organization of these -voluntary bands of compassionate workers, and also of an international -treaty agreement in regard to the wounded, he presented himself to -Marshal MacMahon and afterwards to Napoleon III, who became interested -in the project of Dunant and immediately ordered his army no longer to -make prisoners of the physicians and nurses of the enemy._ - -_Soon Dunant organized an Aid Committee in Geneva, and shortly -afterwards he published his "Souvenir of Solferino," which was -enthusiastically received and greatly applauded._ - -_He met, however, opposition and obstacles, principally from the French -Minister of War._ - -_The philanthropic ideas of this book were received with interest -by many European sovereigns with whom Dunant had intercourse, -either by correspondence or by conversation; he always propagated -persistently his ideas in regard to the organization of a national -permanent committee for the wounded, his International Treaty, and the -neutralization of those injured in war (he developed in separate works -his ideas which were outlined only in the "Souvenir")._ - -_The Geneva Society of Public Utility created a commission for the -purpose of studying the question. Meanwhile Dunant had the opportunity -to speak with the King of Saxony, and to persuade representatives of -some other countries to take up the question with their respective -sovereigns._ - -_Dunant interested the governments so much in his project that various -nations sent delegates to the International Conference, which was -held in Geneva, in 1863, when it was decided to establish a National -Committee, and when the desire was expressed that the neutralization -of the physicians, nurses and injured should be provided by treaty, -and for the adoption of a distinctive and uniform international emblem -and flag for the hospital corps, and the unanimous thanks of this -Conference were extended to Dunant._ - -_To consider this subject, a diplomatic International Congress was held -in 1864, at Geneva, by invitation of the Swiss Federate Counsel. The -treaty there drafted accepted the projects of Dunant and the formation -of Volunteer Aid Societies, later called Red Cross Societies, was -recommended by the Convention to the signatory powers._ - -_In the further development of the ideas of Dunant The Hague -Conference, in 1899, extended the provisions of the Treaty of Geneva to -naval warfare._ - -_Thus, a single individual, inspired with the sentiment of kindness -and compassion for his fellow-creatures, by his own untiring energy -attained the realization of his ideas, and aided in the progress of -mankind toward peace._ - -_Thus, truly all men, and above all, the workers for peace, owe to this -laborer merited and everlasting gratitude and remembrance._ - - * * * * * - -_The recompense, however, arrived late._ - -_In the zealous propaganda, for which, during four years, he edited -pamphlets and articles in all languages, and traveled continuously -through the whole of Europe, Dunant spent everything that he possessed, -and, for many years, nothing more was heard of the modest and good man, -to whom the approval of his conscience was all sufficient._ - -_At last, in 1897, he was discovered in the Swiss village of Heiden, -where he was living in misery, in a "Home" for old men, with almost no -means other than a small pension received from the Empress of Russia._ - -_The Baroness von Suttner sent at that time to the press of the whole -world, and especially to those interested in International Peace, -an appeal to raise a contribution of money to ease his last years. -In 1901, when the Nobel-Peace-Prize, valued at 208,000 francs, was -awarded for the first time, it was divided between Henri Dunant and -Frederick Passy._ - -_It is true that many peace workers did not approve of this decision -of the Nobel Committee. They said in opposition, that the projects of -Dunant not only were not pacific, but could even have the contrary -effect. To lessen the terrors of war is really, according to them, -to destroy the most effective means of turning men from it, and -consequently tended to prolong the duration of its reign. One of the -chief representatives of this idea, Signor H. H. Fried, said that the -Geneva Convention was only a small concession by the governments to the -new idea that is fighting against war._ - -_Without doubt, they do not approve of the humane plan of Dunant, on -the contrary, they think that it is not essentially peace-making; that -it should not be recompensed by the first peace prize, and that it is -dangerous to confuse pacification with simple humanitarianism._ - -_The contrary opinion is shown by the following words, written by -Signor Ruyssin, in the review "Peace by Right," at the time when Dunant -received his prize:_ - -_"His glory has grown each year in proportion to all the lessening of -suffering which his work has accomplished, to all the lives which it -saves, and to all the self-devotion to which it gives birth._ - -_"Henri Dunant has decreased the abomination of war; Frederick Passy -fought to make it impossible. One has accomplished more; the other has -created more remote, but brighter hopes. One has harvested already; -the other sows for the future harvest; and so it would be arbitrary -and unjust to compare such dissimilar lines of work, both equally -meritorious. The accomplishment of the wishes of Nobel rightly placed -identical crowns on the heads of two old men who employed their lives -in fighting against war."_ - -_This disagreement is interesting in that it shows the contrary -judgment to which different zealous peace workers were led in regard to -the project of Dunant._ - -_Whatever may be the conclusion of the reader, about the relation -between it and the peace propaganda, he will certainly be of the -opinion that "A Souvenir of Solferino," showing the abominations of -war, is a useful instrument of the propaganda, and that the name of -Dunant should be blessed, as that of one of the most self-devoted -benefactors of mankind._ - -_Henri Dunant died at Heiden, Switzerland, on October the thirty-first, -1910._ - - - - -THE ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS - - -The bloody victory of Magenta opened the gates of Milan to the -French Army, which the towns of Pavia, Lodi and Cremona welcomed -enthusiastically. - -The Austrians, abandoning the lines of the Adda, the Oglio, and the -Chiese, gathered their forces on the bank of the River Mincio, at whose -head the young and courageous Emperor Joseph placed himself. - -The King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel, arrived on the seventeenth -of June, 1859, at Brescia, where, with great joy, the inhabitants -welcomed him, seeing in the son of Charles Albert a saviour and a hero. -During the next day the French Emperor entered the same town amid the -enthusiastic cries of the people, happy to show their gratitude to the -monarch who came to help them gain their independence. - -On the twenty-first of June, Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II -left Brescia, from which place their armies had departed during the -previous day. On the twenty-second they occupied Lonato, Castenedolo -and Montechiaro. On the evening of the twenty-third Napoleon, who was -commander-in-chief, published strict orders for the army of the King -of Sardinia, encamped at Desenzano, and forming the left flank of the -allied armies, to proceed early the following day to Pozzelengo. - -Marshal Baraguey d'Hilliers was ordered to march on Solferino; Marshal -MacMahon, Duke de Magenta, on Cavriana; General Neil was to proceed to -Guidizzolo; Marshal Canrobert to Medole; Marshal Regnaud de Saint-Jean -d'Angley, with the Imperial Guard, to Castiglione. - -These united forces amounted to 150,000 men, with 400 cannon. - -The Austrian Emperor had at his disposition, in the Lombardo-Venetian -kingdom, nine army corps, amounting in all to 250,000 men, comprising -the garrison of Verona and Mantua. The effective force prepared to -enter the line of battle consisted of seven corps, some 170,000 men, -supported by 500 cannon. - -The headquarters of the Emperor Francis Joseph had been moved from -Verona to Villafranca, then to Valeggio. On the evening of the -twenty-third the Austrian troops received the order to recross the -River Mincio during the night to Peschiera, Salionze, Valeggio, Ferri, -Goito and Mantua. The main part of the army took up its position from -Pozzolengo to Guidizzolo, in order to attack the enemy between the -Rivers Mincio and Chiese. - -The Austrian forces formed two armies. The first having as -Commander-in-chief Count Wimpffen, under whose orders were the corps -commanded by Field Marshals Prince Edmund Schwarzenberg, Count -Schaffgotsche and Baron Veigl, also the cavalry division of Count -Zeidewitz. This composed the left flank. It was stationed in the -neighborhood of Volta, Guidizzolo, Medole and Castel-Gioffredo. - -The second army was commanded by Count Schlick, having under his orders -the Field Marshals Count Clam-Gallas, Count Stadion, Baron Zobel and -Cavalier Benedek, as well as the cavalry division of Count Mensdorf. -This composed the right flank. It occupied Cavriana, Pozzolengo and San -Martino. - -Thus, on the morning of the twenty-fourth, the Austrians occupied all -the heights between Pozzolengo, Solferino, Cavriana and Guidizzolo. -They ranged their artillery in series of breastworks, forming the -center of the attacking line, which permitted their right and left -flanks to fall back upon these fortified heights which they believed to -be unconquerable. - -The two belligerent armies, although marching one against the other, -did not expect such a sudden meeting. Austria, misinformed, supposed -that only a part of the allied army had crossed the Chiese River. On -their side the confederates did not expect this attack in return, and -did not believe that they would find themselves so soon before the army -of the Austrian Emperor. The reconnoitering, the observations and the -reports of the scouts, and those made from the fire balloons during the -day of the twenty-third showed no signs of such an imminent encounter. - -The collision of the armies of Austria and Franco-Sardinia on Friday, -the twenty-fourth of June, 1859, was, therefore, unexpected, although -the combatants on both sides conjectured that a great battle was near. - -The Austrian army, already fatigued by the difficult march during the -night of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth, had to support from the -earliest dawn the attack of the enemies' armies and to suffer from the -intensely hot weather as well as from hunger and thirst, for, except -a double ration of brandy, the greater number of the Austrians were -unable to take any food. - -The French troops already in movement before daybreak had had nothing -but coffee. Therefore, this exhaustion of the soldiers, and above all, -of the unfortunate wounded, was extreme at the end of this very bloody -battle, which lasted more than fifteen hours. - -Both armies are awake. - -Three hundred thousand men are standing face to face. The line of -battle is ten miles long. - -Already at three o'clock in the morning, corps commanded by Marshals -Baraguey d'Hilliers and MacMahon are commencing to move on Solferino -and Cavriana. - -Hardly have the advance columns passed Castiglione when they themselves -are in the presence of the first posts of the Austrians, who dispute -the ground. - -On all sides bugles are playing the charges and the drums are sounding. - -The Emperor Napoleon who passed the night at Montechiaro hastens -rapidly to Castiglione. - -By six o'clock a furious fire has commenced. - -The Austrians march in a compact mass in perfect order along the open -roads. In the air are flying their black and yellow standards, on which -are embroidered the ancient Imperial arms. - -The day is very clear. The Italian sun makes the brilliant equipments -of the dragoons, the lancers and the cuirassiers of the French army -glitter brightly. - -At the commencement of the engagement the Emperor Francis Joseph, -together with his entire staff, leaves headquarters in order to go to -Volta. He is accompanied by the Archdukes of the House of Lorraine, -among whom are the Grand Duke of Tuscany and the Duke of Modena. - -In the midst of the difficulties of a field unknown to the French -army the first meeting takes place. It has to make its way through -plantations of mulberry trees, interlaced by climbing vines, which form -almost impassable barriers. - -The earth is cut by great dried up trenches which the horses have to -leap, and by long walls with broad foundations which they have to climb. - -From the hills the Austrians pour on the enemy a constant hail of shot -and shell. With the smoke of the cannon's continual discharge the -rain of bullets is ploughing up the earth and dust into thousands of -missiles. - -The French hurl themselves upon these strongly fortified places in -spite of the firing of the batteries which falls upon the earth with -redoubled force. - -During the burning heat of noon the battle everywhere becomes more and -more furious. - -Column after column throw themselves one against the other with the -force of a devastating torrent. - -A number of French regiments surround masses of Austrian troops, but, -like iron walls, these resist and at first remain unshaken. - -Entire divisions throw their knapsacks to the earth in order to rush at -the enemy with fixed bayonets. - -If a battalion is driven away another replaces it; each hill, each -height, each rocky eminence becomes a theatre for an obstinate struggle. - -On the heights, as well as in the ravines, the dead lie piled up. The -Austrians and the allied armies march one against the other, killing -each other above the blood-covered corpses, butchering with gunshots, -crushing each other's skulls or disemboweling with the sword or -bayonet. No cessation in the conflict, no quarter given. The wounded -are defending themselves to the last. It is butchery by madmen drunk -with blood. - -Sometimes the fighting becomes more terrible on account of the arrival -of rushing, galloping cavalry. The horses, more compassionate than -their riders, seek in vain to step over the victims of this butchery, -but their iron hoofs crush the dead and dying. With the neighing of -the horses are mingled blasphemies, cries of rage, shrieks of pain and -despair. - -The artillery, at full speed, follows the cavalry which has cut a way -through the corpses and the wounded lying in confusion on the ground. -A jaw-bone of one of these last is torn away; the head of another is -battered in; the breast of a third is crushed. Limbs are broken and -bruised; the field is covered with human remains; the earth is soaked -with blood. - -The French troops, with fiery ardor, scale the steep hills and rocky -declivities in spite of shot and shell. - -Hardly does some harassed and profusely perspiring company capture -a hill and reach its summit, when it falls like an avalanche on the -Austrians, overthrows, repulses and pursues them to the depths of the -hollows. - -But the Austrians regain the advantage. Ambuscaded behind the houses, -the churches and the walls of Medole, Solferino and Cavriana, they -heroically fight on and very nearly win the victory. - -The unending combat rages incessantly and in every place with fury. -Nothing stops, nothing interrupts the butchery. They are killing -one another by the hundreds. Every foot of ground is carried at the -bayonet's point, every post disputed foot by foot. From the hands of -the enemy are taken villages, house after house, farm after farm, each -is the theatre of a siege. Doors, windows and courts are abattoirs. - -A rain of cannon balls is sending death to the distant reserves of -Austria. If these desert the field they yield it only step by step, and -soon recommence action. Their ranks are ceaselessly reforming. On the -plains the wind raises the dust, which flies over the roads like dense -clouds, darkening the day and blinding the fighters. - -The French cavalry flings itself on the Austrian cavalry; uhlans and -hussars slash furiously at each other with their swords. - -The rage is so great that in some places, after the exhaustion of the -cartridges and the breaking of the muskets, they fight with fists and -beat one another with stones. - -The strongest positions are captured, lost, and recaptured, to be lost -again. Everywhere men are falling mutilated, riddled with bullets, -covered with wounds. - -In the midst of these endless combats, these massacres, blasphemies -arise in different tongues, telling of the diverse nationalities of the -men, many of whom are obliged to become homicides in their twentieth -year. - -The soldiers of the Sardinian King, defending and attacking with -fervor, continue their skirmishes from early morning. The hills of San -Martino, Roccolo, Madonno della Scoperta are captured and recaptured -five or six times. Their Generals Mollard, La Marmora, Della Rocca, -Durando, Fanti, Cialdini, Cucchiari, de Sonnoz, with all kinds and all -grades of officers help the king before whose eyes lie the wounded -Generals Cedale, Perrier and Arnoldi. - -The French Emperor orders that the corps of Baraguey d'Hilliers and -MacMahon, together with the Imperial Guard, attack at the same time the -fortress of San Cassiano and occupy Solferino. - -But the brave Austrians make the allied army pay dearly for its -success.... One of its heroes, Prince Aleksandro de Hessen, after -fighting with great courage at San Cassiano defends against repeated -attacks, the three heights of Mount Fontana.... At Guidizzolo, Prince -Charles of Windischraetz, braves certain death in seeking to recapture -under a hail of balls Casa Nova. Mortally wounded, he still commands, -supported and carried by his brave soldiers, who vainly make for him a -rampart of their own bodies. - -Marshal Baraguey d'Hilliers finally enters the town of Solferino, -courageously defended by Baron Stadion. - -The sky is darkened, dense clouds cover the horizon. A furious wind -is rising. It carries away the broken branches of the trees. A cold -rain, driven by the tempest, a veritable cloud-burst, drenches the -combatants, exhausted from hunger and fatigue, while dust, hail and -smoke are blinding the soldiers forced to fight also the elements. - -The army of the Emperor Francis Joseph retreats. Throughout the entire -action the chief of the House of Hapsburg shows admirable tranquillity -and self-control. - -During the capture of Cavriana the Austrian Emperor finds himself, -together with Baron Schlick and the Prince of Nassau, on the adjacent -heights, Madonna della Pieve, opposite a church surrounded by cypress -trees. Towards evening, the Austrian center having yielded and the -left flank not daring to hope to force the position of the allies, -the general retreat is decided. In this grave moment, Emperor Francis -Joseph, around whom rained balls and bullets during the whole day, -goes with a part of his staff to Volta, while the Archdukes and the -hereditary Grand Duke of Tuscany returned to Valeggio. - -The Austrian officers fought like lions. Some, through despair, let -themselves die, but sold their lives dearly. The greater number rejoin -their regiments covered with the blood of their own wounds or with that -of the enemy. To their bravery should be rendered merited praise. - -... Guidizzolo remains occupied by the Austrians until ten o'clock -in the evening.... The roads are covered with army wagons, carts -and reserve artillery. The transport vans are saved by the rapid -construction of improvised bridges. The first Austrian wounded -consisting of men slightly injured, commence to enter Villafranca. -The more seriously wounded follow them. Austrian physicians and their -assistants rapidly bandage the wounds, give some nourishment to -the wounded and send them by railroad trains to Verona, where the -embarrassment is becoming terrible. - -Although during its retreat the Austrian army tries to carry away all -the wounded which it could transport (and with what great suffering!), -nevertheless, thousands remain lying on the ground moistened with their -blood. - -The allied army is in possession of the conquered field. - -Near the close of the day when the evening shadows creep over this vast -field of carnage, more than one officer, more than one French soldier, -seek here and there a comrade, a compatriot, or a friend, when he -finds the wounded friend, he kneels beside, trying to restore him to -consciousness, wiping away the blood, bandaging the wounds as well as -he can, wrapping a handkerchief around the broken limb, but rarely can -he secure water for the suffering man. - -How many silent tears were shed during this sad night, when all false -pride, all human regard were set aside. - -During the battle, hospitals for the wounded established in nearby -farmhouses, churches, monasteries, in the open air, under the shade -of trees receive the wounded officers and non-commissioned officers, -who are hastily given treatment. After these comes the turn of the -soldiers, when that is possible. Those of the latter who are still -able to walk find their way to the field hospitals. The others are -carried on litters and stretchers, weakened as they are by loss of -blood, by pain, by continued lack of food, and by the mental and moral -shock they have experienced. During the battle a pennant fixed on an -elevation marks the station for the wounded and the field hospitals of -the fighting regiments. Unfortunately, only a few of the soldiers know -the color of the hospital pennant or that of the hospital flag of the -enemy, for the colors differ with the different nations. The bombs fall -upon them, sparing neither physicians, nor wounded, nor wagons loaded -with bread, wine, meat or lint. - -The heights which extend from Castiglione to Volta, sparkle with -thousands of fires, which are fed by pieces of Austrian gun-wagons and -by huge branches of trees, broken by the tempest or by cannon balls. -The soldiers dry their dripping clothes; then, overcome by fatigue and -exhaustion, they fall asleep on the stones or on the ground. - -What terrible episodes! What touching scenes! What disillusionments! - -There are battalions without food, companies lacking almost every -necessity, because of the loss of the knapsacks. Water also is lacking, -but their thirst is so intense that officers and soldiers resort to -slimy and even bloody pools. Everywhere the wounded are begging for -water. - -Through the silence of the night are heard groans, stifled cries of -anguish and pain, and heartrending voices calling for help. - -Who will ever be able to paint the agonies of this horrible night! - -The sun on the twenty-fifth of June, 1859, shines above one of the most -frightful sights imaginable. The battle-field is everywhere covered -with corpses of men and horses. They appear as if sown along the roads, -in the hollows, the thickets and the fields, above all, near the -village of Solferino. - -The fields ready for the harvest are ruined, the grain trodden down, -the fences overturned, the orchards destroyed. - -Here and there one finds pools of blood. - -The villages are deserted. They bear traces of bullets, of bombs and -shells and grenades. - -The houses whose walls have been pierced with bullets and are gaping -widely, are shaken and ruined. - -The inhabitants, of whom the greater number have passed almost twenty -hours in the refuge of their cellars, without light or food, are -commencing to come out. The look of stupor of these poor peasants bears -testimony to the long terror they have endured. - -The ground is covered with all kinds of debris, broken pieces of arms, -articles of equipments and blood-stained clothing. - -The miserable wounded gathered up during the day are pale, livid and -inert. - -Some, principally those seriously injured, have a vacant look, they -seem not to understand what is said to them. They turn their staring -eyes toward those who bring them help. - -Others, in a dangerous state of nervous shock, are shaking with -convulsive tremblings. - -Still others, with uncovered wounds, where inflammation has already -appeared, seem frenzied with pain; they beg that someone may end their -sufferings, and, with drawn faces, writhe in the last torments of agony. - -Elsewhere, poor fellows are prostrated on the ground by bullets and -bursting shells. Their arms and legs have been fractured by the cannon -wheels that have passed over them. - -The shock of the cylindrical ball shatters the bones, so that the wound -it causes is always very dangerous. The bursting of shells and the -conical balls make extremely painful fractures, the internal injury -being terrible. Every kind of pieces of bone, of earth, of lead, of -clothing, of equipments, of shoes, aggravate and irritate the wounds of -the patients and increase their sufferings. - -Those who cross this vast field of yesterday's battle meet at every -step, in the midst of a confusion without parallel, inexpressible -despair and suffering of every kind. - -Some of the battalions which had taken off their knapsacks during the -battle, at last find them again, but they have been robbed of all their -contents. During the night, vagabonds have stolen everything. A grave -loss to the poor men whose linen and uniforms are stained and torn. Not -only do they find themselves deprived of their clothing, but even their -smallest savings, all their fortune as well as of the treasures dear to -them; small family mementoes given by mothers, sisters and sweethearts. - -In several places the dead are stripped of their clothing by the -thieves, who do not always spare the wounded who are still living. - -Besides these painful sights are others still more dramatic. - -Here the old, retired General Le Breton wanders, seeking his -son-in-law, the wounded General Douay, who has left his daughter, -Madame Douay, in the midst of the tumult of war, in a state of the -most cruel uneasiness. There, Colonel de Maleville, shot at Casa -Nova, expires. Here, it is Colonel de Genlis, whose dangerous wound -causes a burning fever. There, Lieutenant de Selve of the artillery, -only a few weeks out of Saint Cyr, has his right arm amputated on the -battle-field, where he was wounded. - -I help care for a poor sergeant-major of the Vincennes Chasseurs, both -of whose legs are pierced through with balls. I meet him again in the -Brescia Hospital; but he will die crossing Mount Cenis. - -Lieutenant de Guiseul, who was believed dead, is picked up on the -spot, where, having fallen with his standard, he was lying in a swoon. -The courageous sub-lieutenant Fournier, of the flying-guard, gravely -wounded, finishes in his twentieth year a military career commenced in -his tenth year by voluntarily enlisting in the foreign legion. They -bury the Commander de Pontgibaud, who died during the night, and the -young Count de Saint Paer, who had attained the rank of major hardly -seven days before. General Auger, of the artillery, is carried to the -field hospital of Casa Morino. His left shoulder has been shattered by -a six-inch shell, part of which remained imbedded for twenty-four hours -in the interior of the muscles of the armpit. Carried to Castiglione he -is attacked with gangrene, and dies as a result of the disarticulation -of the arm. General de Ladmirault and General Dieu, both gravely -wounded, also arrived at Castiglione. - -The lack of water becomes greater and greater. The sun is burning, the -ditches are dried up. The soldiers have only brackish and unwholesome -water to appease their thirst. Where even the least little stream or -spring trickling drop by drop is found, guards with loaded guns have -great difficulty in preserving this water for the most urgent needs. - -Wounded horses, who have lost their riders, and have wandered during -the whole night, drag themselves to their comrades, from whom they seem -to beg for help. They are put out of their agony by a bullet. One of -these noble chargers comes alone into the midst of a French company. -The rich saddle-bag, fastened to the saddle, shows that it belongs to -Prince von Isenberg. Afterwards, the wounded Prince himself is found; -but careful nursing during a serious illness will allow him to return -to Germany, where his family, in ignorance of the truth, have believed -him dead and have mourned for him. - -Among the dead some have peaceful faces; these are the men who were -struck suddenly and died at once. But those who did not perish -immediately have their limbs rigid and twisted in agony, their bodies -are covered with dirt; their hands clutch the earth, their eyes are -open and staring, a convulsive contraction has uncovered their clenched -teeth. - -Three days and three nights are passed in burying the dead who are left -on the battle-field. - -On so large a field, many of the corpses hidden in the ditches, covered -by the thickets or by some uneveness of the ground are discovered very -late. They, as well as the dead horses, emit a fetid stench. - -In the French army a number of soldiers from each company are detailed -to recognize and bury the dead. As far as possible soldiers of the -same corps must pick up their fellow-members. They write down the -number stamped on the clothing of the dead. Then, aided in this painful -duty by paid Lombardy peasants, they put the corpses in a common grave. -Unfortunately, it is possible that, because of the unavoidable rapidity -in this labor, and because of the carelessness and inattention of the -paid workmen, more than one living man is buried with the dead. - -The letters, papers, orders, money, watches found on the officers are -sent to their families, but the great number of the interred bodies -make the faithful accomplishment of this task impossible. - -A son, the idol of his parents, educated and cared for during many -years by a loving mother who was uneasy at the very slightest -indisposition. A brilliant officer, beloved by his family, having left -at home his wife and children. A young soldier who has just left his -betrothed and his mother, sisters and old father; there he lies in the -mud and in the dust, soaked in his own blood. Because of the wound in -his head his face has become unrecognizable. He is in agony, he expires -in cruel suffering, and his body, black, swollen, hideous, thrown in -a shallow grave, is covered with a little lime and earth. The birds -of prey will not respect his feet and hands protruding from the muddy -ground of the slope which serves him as a tomb. Someone will come back, -will carry more earth there and, perhaps, will put up a wooden cross -above the place where his body rests, and that will be all. - -The corpses of the Austrians, clothed in mud-stained cloaks, torn linen -jackets, white tunics stained with blood are strewn by thousands on -the hills and plains of Medole. Clouds of crows fly over the bodies in -hopes of having them for prey. - -By hundreds they are crowded into a great common grave. - -Once out of the line of fire, Austrian soldiers, slightly wounded, -young first-year recruits, throw themselves on the ground from fatigue -and inanition, then weakened by loss of blood, they die miserably from -exhaustion and hunger. - -Unhappy mothers in Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, your sorrow will be -great when you learn that your children died in the enemy's country, -without care, without help, and without consolation! - -The lot of the Austrian prisoners-of-war is very sad. Led like simple -cattle, they are sent in a crowd, with a strong guard, to Brescia, -where they at last find repose, if not a kind welcome. - -Some French soldiers wish to do violence to the Hungarian -captives whom they take for Croates, adding furiously that those -"Glued-pantalooners," as they called them, always killed the wounded. -I succeeded in tearing from their hands these unfortunate, trembling -captives. - -On the battle-field many Austrians are permitted to keep their swords. -They have the same food as the French officers. Some troops of the -allied army fraternally divide their biscuits with the famished -prisoners. Some even take the wounded on their backs and carry them to -the ambulances. Near me the lieutenant of the guard bandages with his -white handkerchief the head of a Tyrolese which was scarcely covered -with old, torn, and dirty linen. - -During the previous day at the height of the battle, Commandant de la -Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, the fearless African hunter, threw himself -upon a squad of Hungarians; but his horse having been pierced through -with balls, he himself was struck by two shots and made prisoner by the -Hungarians. Learning that wounded La Rochefoucauld had been captured -by the soldiers, the Austrian Emperor ordered that he be treated with -great kindness and given the best care. - -The commissary continue to pick up the wounded. These, bandaged or not, -are carried by mules or wheelbarrows and litters to the field hospitals -in the villages and towns near the place where they fell. - -In these towns, churches, monasteries, houses, parks, courts, streets -and promenades are transformed into improvised hospitals. - -In Carpenedolo, Castel-Goffredo, Medole, Guidizzolo, Volta and -neighboring places are arriving many of the wounded. But the greater -number are carried to Castiglione, where the least mutilated have -already succeeded in dragging themselves. - -Behold the long procession of vehicles of the Commissary Department, -loaded with soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers of all -grades mixed together; cavalry-men, infantry, artillerymen, bleeding, -fatigued, lacerated, covered with dust. Each jolt of the wagons which -carry them imposing on them new suffering. - -Then the mules come trotting in, their gait drawing, each instant, -bitter cries from the throats of the unfortunate wounded whom they are -bearing. - -Many die during the transportation. - -Their corpses are put on the sides of the roads. To others is left the -duty of burying them. These dead are enscribed, "Disappeared." - -The wounded are sent to Castiglione. From there they are carried on to -the hospitals in Brescia, Cremona, Bergama, Milan, and other cities -of Lombardy, where they will receive the regular care and will submit -to the necessary amputations. But as the means of transportation are -very scarce, they are obliged to wait several days in Castiglione. This -city, where the confusion surpasses all imagination, soon becomes for -the French and Austrians a vast temporary hospital. - -On the day of battle the field-hospital of headquarters is established -there. Chests of lint are unpacked, dressings for wounds and medicate -necessities are prepared. The inhabitants give everything that they can -get ready--coverings, linens, mattresses and straw. - -The Hospital of Castiglione, the monastery, the Barracks of San Luigi, -the Church of the Capucines, the stations of the police, the churches -of Maggiore, San Giuseppe, Santa Rosalie, are filled with the wounded -lying crowded on the straw. - -Straw is also arranged for them in the courts and in the public parks. -Plank roofs are quickly put up and linen is stretched to protect them -from the hot sun. - -The private dwellings are soon converted into hospitals. Officers and -soldiers are there received by the inhabitants. - -Some of these last run through the streets anxiously searching for a -physician for their guests. Later, others, in consternation, go and -come through the city, insistently begging that someone take away from -their houses the corpses with which they do not know what to do. - -A number of French surgeons, having remained in Castiglione, aided by -young Italian physicians and by hospital orderlies, dress and bandage -the wounds. - -But all this is very insufficient. - -The number of convoys of wounded becomes so great during Saturday -that the administration, the citizens and the few soldiers left in -Castiglione are incapable of caring for so much misery. - -Then, melancholy scenes occur. There is water; there is food; and -nevertheless the wounded are dying of hunger and thirst. There is much -lint, but not enough hands to put it on the wounds! The greater number -of the army of physicians must go to Cavriana; the hospital orderlies -make mistakes, and hands are lacking at this critical moment. - -A voluntary service, good or bad, must be organized. But this is -difficult in the midst of such disorder, to which is added a panic of -the Castiglionians, which results in aggravating the misery of the -wounded. This panic is caused by a very insignificant circumstance. - -As each corps of the French army had recovered itself, after taking up -its position, on the day after the battle, convoys of prisoners were -formed who were sent to Brescia, through Castiglione and Montechiaro. -The inhabitants took one band of captives coming from Cavriana escorted -by hussars, for the Austrian army returning in force. Alarm was given -by the frightened peasants, by the assistant conductors of the baggage, -by itinerant merchants who follow the troops in a campaign. - -Immediately all the houses are closed, the inhabitants barricading -themselves in their homes, burning the tri-color flags which had -adorned their windows, hiding themselves in the cellars or the attics. -Some run into the fields with their wives and children carrying with -them their most valuable possessions. Others, less frightened and more -sagacious, remain at home, but take in the first Austrian wounded upon -whom they lay their hands and overwhelm them with kindness and care. - -In the streets, on the roads, blocked by wagonloads of wounded, by -convoys of supplies, are rapid transport wagons, horses flying in all -directions, amid cries of fear, of anger and of pain. Baggage wagons -are overturned, bread and biscuits fall into the gutter. The drivers -detach the horses, dashing away with hanging bridles on the road to -Brescia, spreading the alarm as they go. They collide with carts of -provisions and convoys of wounded. These latter, trodden under foot and -frenzied with terror, beg to be taken with them. In the city some of -them deaf to all orders tear away their bandages, go staggering out of -the churches, into the streets where they are jostled and bruised and -finally fall from exhaustion and pain. - - * * * * * - -What agonies! What suffering during the days of June twenty-fifth, -twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh! - -Wounds poisoned by heat, by dust and by lack of water and care, have -become intensely painful. - -Suffocating stenches pollute the air in spite of efforts to keep in -good condition these local hospitals. - -Every quarter of an hour the convoys sent to Castiglione are bringing -new loads of wounded. The insufficiency in the number of assistants, of -hospital orderlies, of servants is cruelly felt. - -In spite of the activity of the Commissary Department, which is -organizing transportation to Brescia by means of ox-carts; in spite of -the spontaneous care of the inhabitants of Castiglione, who transport -the sick, the departures are much less numerous than the arrivals, and -the crowding grows unceasingly greater. - -On the stone floors of the churches of Castiglione are placed, side -by side, men of every nation. French, Germans, Slavs and Arabs are -temporarily crowded to the most remote part of the chapels. Many have -no longer the strength to move themselves and cannot move or stir in -the narrow space where they are lying. Oaths, blasphemies and cries -which can be interpreted by no expression, are sounding beneath the -arches of the sanctuaries. - -"Ah, sir, how I suffer!" say to me some of these poor fellows. "We are -abandoned, left to die miserably, and yet we fought bravely!" They can -get no rest, in spite of the nights they have passed in sleeplessness -and long-endured fatigue. In their distress they beg for help which -is not given. Some, in despair, roll in convulsions which will end in -tetanus and death. Others, believing that the cold water poured on -their festered wounds produce worms, which appear in great numbers, -refuse to have the bandages moistened. Others still, whose wounds -were dressed at the improvised hospitals on the battle-fields, are -given no further attention during the halt they are obliged to make -in Castiglione, and as these bandages are very tight, in view of the -roughness of the transportation and have not been changed, they are -suffering veritable tortures. - -These, whose faces are black with flies, with which the air is infested -and which cling to their wounds, cast on all sides distracted glances. -But no one notices. On these, the cloaks, shirts, flesh and blood form -a compact mass that cannot be removed. - -Here, lies a soldier totally disfigured; his tongue hanging far out -of his broken jaws. He stirs and wishes to rise. I moisten his dried -palate and hardened tongue. Seizing a handful of lint I soak it in -a bucket and squeeze the water from this improvised sponge in the -formless opening which is in the place of his mouth. - -There, is an unfortunate man a part of whose face, the nose, lips and -chin have been cut away by the stroke of a sword. Incapable of speech, -half blind, he makes signs with his hands, and by that heartrending -pantomime, accompanied by guttural sounds, draws attention to himself. -I give him a drink by dropping gently on his blood-covered face a -little pure water. - -A third, with a cleft head, expires, his blood spreading over the stone -floor of the church. He presents a horrible sight. His companions in -misfortune push him with their feet, for he incommodes the passage. I -protect his last moments and cover with a handkerchief his poor head -which he still feebly moves. - -Although every house has become an infirmary, and every family has -dedicated itself to nursing the wounded officers, that it has gathered -in, nevertheless I succeed by Sunday morning in collecting a certain -number of women of the people, who assist, as best they can, in the -efforts made to help so many thousands of wounded men who are without -succor. Food must be given, and above all, drink, to the men who -literally are dying from hunger and thirst. Wounds must be bandaged, -blood-stained bodies, covered all over with dirt and vermin, must be -washed, and all this must be done in the extremely hot weather, in the -midst of the suffocating, nauseating stench, and of groans and cries of -pain. - -Nevertheless, a little group of volunteers is formed. I organize, well -as I can, aid in the section which seems to be the most without care, -and I choose one of the churches of Castiglione, called Chiesa Maggiore. - -Nearly five hundred soldiers are crowded together on the straw, about -one hundred others, suffering and groaning, are lying in the public -park before the church. - -In the church the women of Lombardy go from one to the other with -jars and pitchers full of clear water, which serves to appease the -thirst and to bathe the wounds. Some of these improvised nurses -are good-hearted old women, others are charming young girls. Their -gentleness, goodness, compassion, and their attentive care restores a -little courage to the wounded. - -The boys of the neighborhood come and go between the church and the -nearby springs with buckets, pitchers and jars. - -The distribution of water is followed by that of bouillon and soup, of -which the servants of the Commissary Department are obliged to cook a -marvelous quantity. - -Thick bundles of lint are placed here and there. Everyone can use it -freely; but bandages, linen and shirts are lacking, and one can hardly -procure the most necessary articles. I purchase, however, some new -shirts by the aid of those kind-hearted women who have already given -all their old linen; and, on Monday, early in the morning, I send my -coachman to Brescia to bring back supplies. He returns after some hours -with his cabriolet loaded with sponges, linen, pins, cigars, tobacco, -camomile, mallow, sambuca, oranges, sugar and lemons. - -This makes it possible to give refreshing lemonade, wash the wounds -with mallow-water, put on warm compresses and renew the material of the -bandages. - -In the meantime we have gained some recruits, who help us. The first -is an old naval officer, then some English tourists, who, desiring to -see everything, have entered the church, and whom we keep almost by -force. Two other Englishmen, on the contrary, show themselves desirous -to help. They distribute cigars to the Austrians. An Italian priest, -three or four travelers, a Swiss merchant from Neuchatel, a Parisian -journalist, who afterwards takes charge of the relief in the adjacent -church, and some officers whose company has received orders to remain -in Castiglione, also aid us. - -But soon some of those voluntary nurses go away, not being able to bear -the sight of this suffering. The priest follows their example, but he -reappears, however, with delicate kindness to make us smell aromatic -herbs and bottles of salts. A tourist, oppressed at the sight of these -living debris, swooned from emotion. The merchant from Neuchatel -perseveres for two days, bandaging wounds and writing for the dying -letters of farewell to their families. We are obliged to quiet the -compassionate excitement of a Belgian, fearing that he will have an -attack of burning fever. - -Some men of the detachment, left to garrison the city, try to help -their comrades, but cannot endure the sight which breaks down their -courage, striking too keenly upon their imagination. Nevertheless, a -corporal of the engineer corps, wounded at Magenta, almost restored to -health and about to return to his battalion, but whose orders leave him -a few days of liberty, aids us with courage and perseverance. - -The French Commissary, remaining in Castiglione, finally grants, on my -insistence, authority to utilize for service in the hospitals, some -healthy prisoners, and three or four Austrian physicians who aid the -efforts of the few surgeons left in Castiglione. - -A German physician remaining voluntarily on the battle-field to care -for the soldiers, dedicates himself to the injured of both armies. -After three days the Commissary sends him back to Mantua to rejoin his -compatriots. - -"Do not leave me to die," exclaim some of these agonized men seizing my -hand in despair, but their death is not long delayed. - -"Ah, sir, if you would write to my father, that he might console my -poor mother!" said to me, with tears in his eyes, a corporal named -Mazuet, scarcely twenty years old. I noted down the address of his -parents and a few minutes later he had ceased to live. The parents, who -dwelt on rue d'Alger, in Lyons, and of whom this young man, enlisted -as a volunteer, was the only son, received no other information about -their child than that which I sent to them. He very probably, like so -many others, has been enscribed, "disappeared." - -An old sergeant, decorated with many chevrons, repeated with profound -melancholy and an air of conviction full of bitterness: "If someone had -cared for me sooner, I should have lived, whereas, this evening I will -die." That evening he died. - -"I do not want to die! I do not want to die!" cries, with savage -energy, a grenadier of the guard, full of strength and health three -days before, but who, mortally wounded, and feeling sure that his -minutes are irrevocably numbered, fights against this dark certainty. I -talk to him, he listens to me, and this man, calmed, soothed, consoled, -finally resigns himself to die with the simplicity of a child. - -In the back of the church, on the steps of an altar, a Chasseur -d'Afrique lies on straw. Three balls have struck him, one on the right -side, one on the left shoulder, the third remained in the right leg. It -is Sunday, and he asserts that he has eaten nothing since Friday. He is -covered with dried mud flecked with blood, his clothing is torn; his -shirt is in tatters. After I had washed his wounds, given him a little -bouillon and wrapped him in covers, he put my hand to his lips with an -expression of unspeakable gratitude. Later we were able to send him to -a better hospital. - -At the entrance of the church is a Hungarian who cries unceasingly, -calling in heartrending tones for a physician. His back and his -shoulders, ploughed with grapeshot, appear as if torn by iron hooks and -are one mass of quivering, raw flesh. The rest of his body is swollen, -green and black--horrible. He can neither lie down nor sit up. I dip -some packages of lint in cool water and try to make a cushion for him, -but gangrene soon carries him off. - -A little further on lies a dying Zouave who is weeping bitter tears, -and we console him as if he were a little child. The preceding fatigue, -the lack of food and repose, the intensity of the pain, the fear of -dying without help, excites even in these brave soldiers a nervous -sensibility which betrays itself by sobs. One of their chief thoughts, -when they are not suffering too cruelly, is the memory of their mother, -and the fear of the grief she will experience on learning of their -fate. On the corpse of a soldier we found, hanging from his neck, a -medallion containing the portrait of an aged woman, without doubt his -mother, which with his left hand he was pressing on his heart. - -In the part nearest the great door of the church Maggiore lie, now, on -straw, enveloped in covers, about a hundred French non-commissioned -officers and soldiers. They are ranged in two nearly parallel ranks, -between which one can pass. Their wounds have been dressed. The -distribution of soup has taken place. They are quiet. They follow me -with their eyes; all heads turn to the left if I go to the left, to -the right when I go to the right. Sincere thanks are visible on their -astonished faces. "One can easily see that he is a Parisian," say some. -"No," retort others, "he seems to be a Southerner." "Truly, sir, are -you not from Bordeaux?" asks a third, and each wishes that I might -be from his city or province. I met afterwards some of these wounded -men, who had become crippled invalids. Recognizing me, they stopped -to express their gratitude because I had nursed them in Castiglione. -"We called you 'the gentleman in white,'" said one, in his picturesque -language, "for you were always dressed entirely in white. It is true -the weather did not fail to be hot." - -The resignation of the poor soldiers was often touching; they suffered -without complaint, they died humbly and silently. - -On the other side of the church, some wounded Austrian prisoners -fear to receive care which they distrust. They angrily tear off -their bandages, opening their bleeding wounds. Others remain silent, -dejected, impassive. But the greater number are far from being -insensible to kindness and their faces express their thanks. One of -them, about nineteen years of age, who with forty of his compatriots is -pushed into the deep recesses of the church, has been without food for -two days. He has lost one eye, he trembles with fever, he is scarcely -able to speak or to drink a little bouillon. Our nursing revives him; -twenty-four hours later when we are able to send him to Brescia, he -leaves us with sorrow, almost with despair, pressing to his lips the -hands of the good-hearted women of Castiglione, whom he entreats not to -abandon him. - -Another prisoner, a prey to a burning fever, draws attention to -himself. He is not yet twenty years of age and his hair is already -perfectly white; it became white during the battle, as his wounded -comrades near whom he lies assure us. - -The women of Castiglione, seeing that I make no distinction in -nationality, imitate my example, showing the same kindness to all these -men of such different origin and who are to them all equally strangers. -"Tutti Fratelli," they repeat with compassion. "All are brothers." - -Honor to these compassionate women, to these young girls of -Castiglione! As devoted as they are modest, they give way neither -before fatigue, nor disgust, nor sacrifice; nothing repels, wearies or -disheartens them. - -For the soldier recommencing the everyday life of the campaign, after -the fatigue and emotions of a battle like that of Solferino, the -memories of his family become more strong than ever. That mental state -is vividly described by the following lines from an officer writing -from Volta to his brother in France: - -"You cannot imagine how the soldiers are moved when they catch sight -of the baggage-master who distributes the letters to the army; because -he brings to us, understand, news from France, from our native land, -from our parents, from our friends. Each one listens, watches, and -stretches to him eager hands. The happy men, who receive a letter--open -it hurriedly and devour it immediately; the rest, deprived of this -happiness, depart with heavy heart and isolate themselves in order to -think about those so far away. - -"Sometimes a name is called to which there is no response. The men -glance at each other, they question among themselves, they wait. -'Dead,' murmurs a voice, and the baggage-master files the letter away -and returns it unopened to the writer. They had rejoiced when they sent -it, and had said to one another. 'He will be happy to receive it!' When -they see it returned, their poor hearts will break." - -The streets of Castiglione are quieter; the deaths and the departures -have left vacancies. - -In spite of the arrival of new wagons full of wounded, order, little by -little, is established and regular attendance commences. - -The convoys from Castiglione to Brescia are more frequent. They consist -principally of hospital wagons and heavy carts which, constantly -carrying, to the French Commissary Department, gun supplies, and -provisions, go back empty to Brescia. - -They are drawn by oxen, walking slowly under the fierce sun and through -the thick dust in which the pedestrian sinks to his ankles. These -uncomfortable wagons are covered with branches of trees which very -imperfectly protect from the rays of the coming sun. The wounded, piled -up, one may say, one upon another. It is difficult to imagine the -torments of this long ride. - -In these wagons some groan, others call for their mother; there are the -ravings and delirium of fever, sometimes curses and blasphemies. - -The least interest shown to these unhappy men, a kind salutation, gives -them pleasure and they return it at once with expressions of gratitude. - -In all the villages along the road leading to Brescia, the women -sitting before their doors, silently prepare lint. The Communal -authorities have had prepared, drinks, bread and nourishment. When a -convoy arrives the women of the village go to the wagons, wash the -wounds, renew the lint compresses, which they moisten with fresh water. -They pour spoonfuls of bouillon, wine or lemonade in the mouths of -those who have not the strength to raise their heads or extend their -arms. - -In Montechiaro, three small hospitals are under the care of the women -of the people, who nurse with as much wisdom as kindheartedness. In -Guidizzolo, about one thousand invalids are placed in a large castle. -In Volta, some hundreds of Austrians are received in an old monastery -which has been transformed into barracks. In Cavriana, they establish -in the church a number of Hungarians who had been forty-eight hours -without help. In the field-hospital of the headquarters, chloroform is -used in operating; this produces, in the Austrians, almost immediate -insensibility, and in the French nervous contractions, accompanied by -exaltation before unconsciousness results. - -The people of Cavriana are entirely without provisions; the soldiers of -the guard feed them by sharing with them their rations and their mess; -the country has been laid waste, and almost everything edible, cattle, -garden produce, etc., has been sold to the Austrian troops. The French -army has campaign food in abundance, but only with difficulty can it -procure the butter, meat and vegetables necessary for the ordinary food -of soldiers. - -The wounded of the Sardinian army, who have been transported to -Desenzano, Rivoltella, Lonato, and Pozzolenzo, are in conditions less -disadvantageous than the French and Austrians temporarily established -in Castiglione--Desenzano and Rivoltella not having been occupied -at a few days interval by two different armies. Food is still to be -found there; the hospitals are better kept and the inhabitants, less -troubled, actively support the nursing service. The sick are sent -to Brescia in good carts provided with thick beds of hay. They are -protected from the sun by arches of interlaced foliage which support a -strong linen cover. - -The feeling that one has of his own insufficiency in such solemn -circumstances, is an inexpressible suffering. It is extremely painful -to feel that you cannot help all those who lie before you, because of -their great number, or aid those who appeal to you with supplications. -Long hours pass before you reach the most unfortunate. You are stopped -by one, petitioned by another, all equally worthy of pity. Embarrassed -at each step by the multitude of miserable sufferers who press about -you, who surround you, who beg support and help. Then, why turn to the -left, while on the right are so many men who will soon die without a -word of consolation, without even a single glass of water to appease -their burning thirst? The thought of the importance of one human life -that one might be able to save; the desire to alleviate the tortures -of so many unfortunate and to restore their courage, the forced and -unceasing activity which one imposes on himself in such moments, -gives a supreme energy, a thirst to carry help to the greatest number -possible. One becomes no longer moved by the thousand scenes of this -terrible tragedy, one passes, with indifference, before the most -hideously disfigured corpses and glances almost coldly at sights, so -much more horrible than those already described, that the pen refuses -absolutely to depict them; but it happens, sometimes, that the heart -suddenly breaks, struck all at once by a poignant sadness at the sight -of a single incident, an isolated fact, an unexpected detail, which -goes directly to the soul, draws out our sympathy, moves the most -impressionable cords of our being and brings a realization of the whole -horror of this tragedy. - -Worn out with fatigue, but unable to sleep, I have my little carriage -harnessed on the afternoon of Monday, the twenty-seventh, and go away -about 6 o'clock to breathe in the open air the freshness of the evening -and to find a little repose by escaping, for a moment, from the dismal -sights which surround me on every side in Castiglione. - -It was a favorable time, for no movement of the troops had been -ordered during the day. - -Calm had succeeded the terrible agitation of the previous days. -Here and there are visible pools of dried blood which redden the -battle-field. One meets newly turned earth, white with freshly -strewn lime, indicating the place where repose the victims of the -twenty-fourth. - -At Solferino, whose square tower has proudly dominated for some -centuries that country, where for the third time have just met two of -the greatest powers of modern days, one still picks up much debris -which covers, even in the cemeteries, the crosses and the bloody stones -of the tombs. The ground is strewn with swords, guns, haversacks, -cartridge boxes, tin boxes, shakos, helmets and belts. Almost -everything is twisted, torn and broken. - -I arrive at Cavriana at about 9 o'clock in the evening. - -The train of war surrounding the headquarters of the Emperor of France -is an imposing sight. - -I seek the Marshal, Duke of Magenta, with whom I am personally -acquainted. - -Not knowing exactly where his army corps is encamped, I stop my little -carriage on the park opposite the house occupied, since Friday -evening, by the Emperor Napoleon. I find myself suddenly in the midst -of a group of generals, sitting on straw chairs and wooden stools, -smoking their cigars and inhaling the fresh air before the improvised -palace of the Sovereign. - -While I inquire about the location of Marshal MacMahon, several -generals, very suspicious of my arrival, question the corporal, wounded -at Magenta, who begged permission to accompany me on this excursion -through the armies as his rank would ensure me safe conduct. Sitting -beside the coachman, he gives me, in a certain degree, official -character. The generals desire to know who I am and to discover the -object of the mission with which they suppose I am charged, for they -cannot imagine that a simple traveler would dare to risk himself alone -in the midst of the camps at such a time. - -The corporal, who knows nothing, remains impenetrable, while he replies -respectfully to their questions. Their curiosity increases considerably -when they see me leave for Borghetto where the Duke of Magenta is. - -The second corps, commanded by the Marshal, has been moved from -Cavriana to Castellaro, which is at a distance of five kilometers; -its divisions are encamped on the right and left of the road leading -from Castellaro to Monzambano. The Marshal, himself, with his staff, -occupies Borghetto. - -Although the night has arrived, we continue our way. The fires of the -bivouac, fed by whole trees, and the lighted tents of the officers, -present a picturesque appearance. The last murmurings of a sleeping, -yet watchful, camp soothes a little my excited imagination. Under this -beautiful star-lit sky, a solemn silence at last takes the place of the -noises and emotions of the preceding days. I breathe with delight the -pure sweet air of a splendid Italian night. - -Having obtained only incomplete information, we mistake our way and -follow a road leading to Volta. We are about to fall into the army -corps of General Neil, made Marshal three days before, which is -encamped on the outskirts of the town. - -My Italian coachman is so frightened at the idea of being very near the -Austrian lines that, more than once, I am obliged to take the reins -from his hands and give them to the corporal seated beside him on the -box. The poor man had run away from Mantua several days before to save -himself from the Austrian service, taking refuge in Brescia, he hired -out as a coachman. His fears grow greater on hearing the discharge of a -distant gun, fired by someone who disappears in the underbrush. After -the retreat of the Austrian army, many of the deserters hid themselves -in the cellars of the houses of the villages, abandoned by their owners -and partially plundered. In order not to be captured, they, at first, -ate and drank in those underground retreats, then, being at the end of -their resources and pressed by hunger, but well armed, they ventured -out at night. - -The unhappy and terrified Mantuan can no longer guide his horse. He -constantly turns his head, he casts affrighted glances at all the -thickets along the road, at all the hedges and hovels, fearing, any -moment, to see emerge some hidden Austrians. - -His fears increase at every turn of the road and he almost swoons, -when, in the silence of the night we are surprised with a shot from a -guard, whom we do not see on account of the darkness. His terror knows -no limit when we almost collide with a large, wide open umbrella which -we vaguely catch sight of at the side of the road near a path leading -to Volta. That poor umbrella, riddled with bullets and balls was, -probably, a part of the baggage of some canteen-woman who had lost it -during the storm of the twenty-fourth. - -We were retracing the road to reach Borghetto. It was after 11 o'clock. -We were making the horse gallop and our modest vehicle rolled across -the space, almost without noise, on to the Strato Cavallara, when cries -of "Who goes there? Who goes there? Who goes there? or I fire," came -like a bolt from the mouth of an invisible sentinel. "France," replies -immediately a loud voice, which adds, in giving his rank: "Corporal -in the First Engineer Corps, Company Seventh." "Go on," is the reply. -Without this presence of mind of the corporal we would have received a -shot almost in the face. - -Finally, at a quarter before twelve we reach, without other adventure, -the first houses of Borghetto. - -All is dark and silent. However, a light shines on the ground floor -of a house on the principal street, where are at work in a low room -the accounting officers. Although embarrassed in their work and very -much astonished at our appearance at such an hour, they treat us very -kindly. A paymaster, Signor Outrey, gives me a cordial invitation to -be his guest. His orderly brings a mattress on which I throw myself, -completely dressed, to rest for several hours, after drinking some -excellent bouillon, which seems to me the more delicious as I am -hungry and for several days have eaten nothing even passable. I can -sleep quietly, not being, as in Castiglione, suffocated with fetid -exhalations and tormented with the flies, which though satiated with -corpses, attack also the living. - -The corporal and the driver settled themselves simply in the carriage, -remaining in the street, but the unfortunate Mantuan, always in great -terror, could not shut his eyes during the whole night and the next day -he was more dead than alive. - -Tuesday, the twenty-eighth, at six in the morning I was received -most kindly by Marshal MacMahon. At ten o'clock I was on the way to -Cavriana. Soon after I entered the modest house, since historic, for -there was lodged the Emperor Napoleon. - -At three o'clock in the afternoon I found myself once more in the midst -of the wounded of Castiglione, who expressed their joy at seeing me -again. - -The thirtieth of June I was in Brescia. - -This city, so charming and picturesque, is transformed, not into a -large temporary shelter for the wounded like Castiglione, but into -a vast hospital. Its two cathedrals, its palaces, its churches, its -monasteries, its colleges, its barracks, in a word all its buildings -receive the victims of Solferino. - -Fifteen thousand beds, of some sort, have been improvised in -forty-eight hours. The inhabitants have done more than was ever done -before under similar circumstances. - -In the centre of the city the old basilica, "il Duomo recchio," -contains a thousand wounded. The people come to them in crowds, women -of every class bring them quantities of oranges, jellies, biscuits and -delicacies. The humblest widow or the poorest little old woman believes -that she must present her tribute of sympathy and her modest offering. - -Similar scenes occur in the new cathedral, a magnificent temple of -white marble, where the wounded are taken by the hundreds. It is the -same in forty other buildings, churches or hospitals which contain -nearly twenty thousand wounded. - -The municipality of Brescia understood the extraordinary duty imposed -upon it by such grave circumstances. With a permanent existence it -associates with itself the best men of the town, who bring to it eager -co-operation. - -In opening a monastery, a school, a church, the municipality created, -in a few hours, as if by magic, hospitals with hundreds of beds, vast -kitchens, improvised laundries for linen and everything that would be -necessary. - -These measures were taken with so much courage that, after a few days, -one was able to admire the good order and regular management of these -hurriedly arranged hospitals. The population of Brescia, which was -forty thousand, was suddenly almost doubled by the great number of -wounded and sick. The physicians, numbering one hundred and forty, -displayed great self-devotion during the whole duration of their -fatiguing service. They were helped by the medical students and some -volunteers. Aid committees being organized, a special commission was -appointed to receive donations of bedding, linen and provisions of all -kinds; another commission administered the depot or central store house. - -In the large rooms of the hospitals, the officers are ordinarily -separated from the soldiers. The Austrians are not mixed with the -allies. The series of beds are all alike, on the shelf above the bed of -each soldier, his uniform and military cap indicate to which branch of -the service he belongs. - -They have commenced to refuse permission for the crowd to enter, it -embarrasses and hinders the nurses. - -At the side of soldiers, with resigned faces, are others who murmur -and complain. The idea of an amputation scarcely frightens the French -soldier, because of his careless nature, but he is impatient and -irritable; the Austrian, of a less thoughtless disposition, is more -inclined to be melancholy in his isolation. - -I find in these hospital wards some of our wounded from Castiglione. -They are better cared for now, but their torments are not ended. - -Here, is one of the heroes of the Imperial Flying Guard, wounded at -Solferino. Shot in the leg, he passed several days at Castiglione, -where I dressed his wounds for the first time. He is stretched on a -straw mattress; the expression of his face denotes profound suffering; -his eyes are hollow and shining; his great pallor gives evidence that -purulent fever has set in to complicate and increase the gravity of his -condition; his lips are dry; his voice trembles; the assurance of the -brave man has given place to fear and timidity; care even unnerves him; -he is afraid to have any one approach his poor injured leg which the -gangrene has already attacked. - -A French surgeon, who makes the amputations, passes by his bed; the -sick man, whose touch is like burning iron, seizes his hand and presses -it in his own. - -"Do not hurt me! My suffering is terrible!" he cries. - -But one must act, and without delay. Twenty other wounded must be -operated on during the same morning, and one hundred and fifty are -waiting for bandages. One has not time to pity a single case nor to -await the end of his hesitation. The surgeon, cool and resolute, -replies: "Let me do it." Then he rapidly lifts the covering. The broken -leg is swollen double its natural size; from three places flows a -quantity of fetid pus, purple stains prove that as an artery has been -broken, the sole remedy, if there is one, is amputation. - -Amputation! Terrible word for this poor young man, who sees before him -no other alternative than an immediate death or the miserable life of a -cripple. - -He has no time to prepare himself for the last decision, and trembling -with anguish, he cries out in despair: "Oh! What are you going to do?" -The surgeon does not reply. "Nurse, carry him away, make haste!" he -says. But a heartrending cry bursts from that panting breast; the -unskilled nurse has seized the motionless, yet sensitive, leg much too -near the wound; the broken bones penetrating the flesh, has caused new -torments to the soldier whose hanging leg shakes with the jolts of the -transportation to the operating room. - -Fearful procession! It seems as if one were leading a victim to death. - -He lies finally on the operating table. Nearby, on another table, a -linen covers the instruments. The surgeon, occupied with his work, -hears and sees only his operation. A young army doctor holds the arms -of the patient, while the nurse seizes the healthy leg and draws the -invalid to the edge of the table. At this the frightened man shrieks: -"Do not let me fall!" and he seizes convulsively in his arms the young -physician, ready to support him and who pale from emotion is himself -almost equally distressed. - -The operator, one knee on the floor and his hand armed with the -terrible knife, places his arm about the gangrenous limb and cuts -the skin all around. A piercing cry sounds through the hospital. The -young physician, face to face, with the tormented man can see on his -contracted features every detail of his atrocious agony. - -"Courage," he says, in a low tone to the soldier, whose hands he feels -gripping his back, "two minutes more and you will be saved." - -The doctor stands up again; he separates the skin from the muscles -which it covers, leaving them bare; as he draws back the skin he cuts -away the flesh, then returning to the attack, with a vigorous turn, he -cuts away every muscle to the bone; a torrent of blood gushes out of -the arteries, just opened, covering the operator and flowing down on to -the floor. - -Calm and expressionless, the rough operator does not speak a word; but, -suddenly, in the midst of the silence reigning in the room, he turns -in anger to the awkward nurse, reproaching him for not knowing how to -press on the arteries. This latter, inexperienced, did not know how to -prevent the hemorrhage by applying his thumb properly on the bleeding -arteries. - -The wounded man, overcome by suffering, articulates feebly, "Oh! it is -enough, let me die!" and a cold sweat runs down his face. - -But he must bear it still another minute,--a minute which seems an -eternity. - -The young physician, ever full of sympathy, counts the seconds as he -watches sometimes the operating surgeon, sometimes the patient, whose -courage he tries to sustain, saying to him: "Only one minute more!" - -Indeed, the moment for the saw has come and already one hears the -grinding of the steel as it penetrates the living bone, separating from -the body the member half gangrenous. - -But the pain has been too great for that weak, exhausted body; the -groans have ceased, for the sick man has swooned. The surgeon, who is -no longer guided by his cries and his groans, fearing that this silence -may be that of death, looks at him uneasily to assure himself that he -has not expired. - -The restoratives, held in reserve, succeed, with difficulty, in -reviving his dull, half-closed, vacant eyes. The dying man, however, -seems to return to life, he is weak and shattered, but at least his -greatest sufferings are over. - -Imagine such an operation on an Austrian, understanding neither -Italian nor French and letting himself be led like a sheep or an ox to -slaughter without being able to exchange one word with his well-meaning -tormentors! The French meet everywhere with sympathy; they are -flattered, pampered, encouraged; when one speaks to them about the -battle of Solferino, they brighten up and discuss it: That memory, full -of glory for them; drawing their thoughts elsewhere than on themselves, -lessens a little their unhappiness. But the Austrians have not this -good fortune. In the hospitals where they are crowded, I insist upon -seeing them and almost by force enter their rooms. With what gratitude -these good men welcome my words of consolation and the gift of a little -tobacco! On their resigned faces is depicted a lively gratitude, which -they do not know how to express. Their looks tell more than any word of -thanks. - -Some of them possess two or three paper florins, a small fortune for -them, but they cannot change this modest value for coins. - -The officers particularly show hearty appreciation of the attentions -bestowed upon them. In the hospital where he is lodged, Prince von -Isenburg occupies with another German prince, a comfortable little room. - -During several successive days I distribute, without distinction of -nationality, tobacco, pipes and cigars in the churches and hospitals -where the odor of the tobacco lessens a little the nauseous stench -produced by the crowding of so many patients in suffocating places. -Besides that, it is a distraction, a means of dispelling the fears of -the wounded before the amputation of a member; not a few are operated -on with a pipe in the mouth, and some die smoking. - -Finally all the supply of tobacco in Brescia is exhausted. It must be -brought from Milan. - -An eminent inhabitant of Brescia, Signor Carlo Borghetti, takes me in -his carriage, from hospital to hospital. He helps me to distribute my -modest gifts of tobacco, arranged by the merchants in thousands of -little bags that are carried by willing soldiers in very large baskets. - -Everywhere I am well received. Only a doctor of Lombardy, named Calini, -will not allow the distribution of cigars in the hospital San Luca, -which is confided to his care. In other places the physicians, on the -contrary, show themselves almost as grateful as their patients. But -wishing to try once more at San Luca, I visit again that hospital and -succeed in making a large distribution of cigars, to the great joy -the poor wounded, whom I had innocently made suffer the torments of -Tantalus. - -During the course of my investigations I penetrate into a series -of rooms forming the second floor of a large monastery, a kind of -labyrinth of which the ground and the first floors are full of the -sick. I find in one of the upper rooms four or five wounded and -feverish patients, in another ten or fifteen, in a third about twenty, -all neglected (this is very excusable; there were so many wounded, -everywhere), complaining bitterly of not having seen a nurse for -several hours and begging insistently that someone bring them bouillon -in place of cold water which they have for their only drink. At the -end of an interminable corridor, in a little isolated room, is dying -absolutely alone, motionless on a mattress, a young corporal attacked -with tetanus. Although he seems full of life as his eyes are wide open, -he hears and understands nothing and remains neglected. - -Many of the soldiers beg me to write to their relatives, some to their -captains, who replace in their eyes their absent families. - -In the hospital of Saint Clement, a lady of Brescia, Countess Bronna, -occupies herself, with saintly self-abnegation, in nursing those -who have had limbs amputated. The French soldiers speak of her with -enthusiasm, the most repellant details do not stop her. "Sono madre!" -she says to me with simplicity: "I am a mother!" These words well -express her devotion as complete as motherly. - -In the hospital San Gaetano, a Franciscan monk, distinguishes himself -by his zeal and kindness to the sick. A convalescent Piedmontese, -speaking French and Italian, translates the petitions of the French -soldiers to the Lombardy physicians. They keep him as interpreter. - -In a neighboring hospital chloroform is used. Some patients are -chloroformed with difficulty, accidents result and sometimes it is -in vain that they try to revive a man who a few minutes before was -speaking. - -I am stopped many times on the street by kind people who beg me to come -to their homes, for a minute, to act as interpreter to the wounded -French officers, lodged in their houses, surrounded by the best care, -but whose language they do not understand. The invalids, excited and -uneasy, are irritated at not being understood, to the great distress of -the family whose sympathetic kindness is received with the bad humour -that fever and suffering often call forth. One of them, whom an Italian -physician desires to bleed, imagining that they wish to amputate him, -resists with all his strength, overheating himself and doing himself -much harm. A few words of explanation in their mother tongue, in the -midst of this lamentable confusion, alone succeed in calming and -tranquilizing these invalids of Solferino. - -With what patience the inhabitants of Brescia devote themselves to -these who have sacrificed themselves in order to deliver them from a -foreign rule! They feel a real grief when their charge dies. These -adopted families religiously follow to the cemetery, accompanying to -its last resting place, the coffin of the French officer, their guest -of a few days, for whom they weep as for a friend, a relative or a son, -but whose name, perhaps, they do not know. - -During the night the soldiers, who have died in the hospitals, are -interred. Their names and numbers are noted down, which was rarely done -in Castiglione. For example, the parents of Corporal Mazuet, aided by -me in the Chiesa Maggiore and who lived in Lyons, 3 Rue d'Alger, never -received other information about their son than that which I sent them. - -All the cities of Lombardy considered it due to their honor to share in -the distribution of the wounded. - -In Bergamo and Cremona special commisions organized in haste are aided -by auxiliary committees of devoted ladies. In one of the hospitals of -Cremona an Italian physician having said: "We keep the good things -for our friends of the allied army, but we give to our enemies only -what is absolutely necessary, and if they die, so much the worse for -them!" A lady, directing one of the hospitals of that city, hastened -to disapprove of these barbarous words, saying that she always took -the same care of Austrians, French and Sardinians, not wishing to make -any difference between friends and enemies, "for," she said, "Our Lord -Jesus Christ made no distinction between men when it was a question of -doing them good." - -In Cremona, as everywhere else, the French physicians regret their -insufficient number. "I cannot, without profound sorrow," said Dr. -Sonrier, "think of a small room of twenty-five beds assigned, in -Cremona, to the most dangerously wounded Austrians. I see again their -faces, emaciated and wan, with complexion pallid from exhaustion and -blood poisoning, begging with heartrending gestures, accompanied by -pitiful cries, for one last favor, the amputation of a limb (which they -had hoped to save), to end an intolerable agony of which we are forced -to remain powerless spectators." - -Besides the group of courageous and indefatigable surgeons, whose names -I would like to be able to cite (for, certainly, if to kill men is a -title to glory, to nurse them and cure them, often at the risk of one's -own life, merits indeed esteem and gratitude), medical students hasten -from Bologna, Pisa and other Italian cities. A Canadian surgeon, Dr. -Norman Bettun, professor of anatomy in Toronto, comes to assist these -devoted men. Besides the people of Lombardy, French, Swiss and Belgian -tourists seek to render themselves useful, but their efforts had to -be limited to the distribution of oranges, ices, coffee, lemonade and -tobacco. - -In Plaisance, whose three hospitals are administered by private -individuals, and by ladies serving as nurses, one of these last, a -young lady, supplicated by her family to renounce her intention to pass -her days in the hospital, on account of the contagious fevers there, -continued her labors so willingly and with such kindness that she was -greatly esteemed by all the soldiers. "She enlivens the hospital," they -said. - -How valuable, in the cities of Lombardy, would have been some hundreds -of voluntary nurses, devoted, experienced and, above all, previously -instructed! They would have rallied around themselves the meagre band -of assistants and the scattered forces. Not only was time lacking to -those who were capable of counselling and guiding; but the necessary -knowledge and experience was not possessed by the greater number of -those who could offer only personal devotion, which was insufficient -and often useless. What, indeed, in spite of their good will, could -a handful of persons do in such urgent need? After some weeks the -compassionate enthusiasm began to cool and the people, as inexperienced -as they were injudicious in their kindness, sometimes brought improper -food to the wounded, so that it was necessary to deny them entrance to -the churches and hospitals. - -Many persons, who would have consented to pass one or two hours -a day with the sick, gave up their intention, because a special -permission was necessary, which could only be obtained by petitioning -the authorities. Strangers disposed to help met with all kinds of -unexpected hindrances, of a nature to discourage them. But voluntary -hospital workers, well chosen and capable, sent by societies with the -sanction of the governments and respected because of an agreement -between the belligerents, would have surmounted the difficulties and -done incomparably more good. - -During the first eight days after the battle the wounded, of whom the -physicians said, in low tones, when passing by their beds and shaking -their heads: "There is nothing more to be done," received no more -attention and died neglected. And is not this very natural when the -scarcity of the nurses is compared with the enormous number of the -wounded? An inexorable and cruel logic insists that these unfortunate -men should be left to perish without further care and without having -given to them the precious time that must be reserved for the soldiers -who could be cured. They were numerous, however, and not deaf, those -unfortunate men on whom was passed such pitiless judgment! Soon they -perceive their deserted condition and with a broken and embittered -heart gasp out the last breath while no one notices. - -The death of many a one among them is rendered more sad and bitter -by the proximity, on a cot by his side, of a young soldier, slightly -wounded, whose foolish jokes leave him neither peace nor tranquillity. -On the other side, one of his companions in misery has just died; and, -he dying, must see and hear the funeral ceremony, much too rapidly -performed, which shows him in advance his own. Finally, about to die, -he sees men, profiting by his weakness, search his knapsack and steal -what they desire. - -For that dying man there have been, lying in the postoffice for eight -days, letters from his family; if he could have had them, they would -have been to him a great consolation; he has entreated the nurses to -bring them that he may read them before his last hour, but they replied -unkindly, that they had not time as there was so much else to do. - -Better would it have been for you, poor martyr, if you had perished, -struck dead on the field of butchery, in the midst of the splendid -abomination which men call "Glory!" Your name, at least, would not have -been forgotten, if you had fallen near your colonel defending the flag -of your regiment. It would almost have been better for you had you been -buried alive by the peasants commissioned for that purpose, when you, -unconscious, were carried from the hill of the Cypresses, from the foot -of the tower of Solferino or from the plains of Medole. Your agony -would not have been long. Now, it is a succession of miseries that you -must endure, it is no longer the field of honor that is presented to -you, but cold death with all its terrors, and the word "disappeared" -for a funeral oration. - -What has become of the love of glory which electrified this brave -soldier at the commencement of the campaign and during that day at -Solferino, when, risking his own life, he so courageously attempted to -take the lives of his fellow-creatures, whose blood he ran, with such -light feet, to shed? Where is the irresistible allurement? Where the -contagious enthusiasm, increased by the odor of powder, by the flourish -of trumpets and by the sound of military music, by the noise of cannon -and the whistling of bullets which hide the view of danger, suffering -and death. - -In these many hospitals of Lombardy may be seen at what price is bought -that which men so proudly call "Glory," and how dearly this glory costs. - -The battle of Solferino is the only one during our century to be -compared by the magnitude of its losses with the battles of Moscow, -Leipzig and Waterloo. - -As a consequence of the twenty-fourth of June, 1859, it has been -calculated that there were in killed and wounded, in the Austrian and -Franco-Sardinian Armies, three field-marshals, nine generals, fifteen -hundred and sixty-six officers of all grades, of whom six hundred and -thirty were Austrians and nine hundred and thirty-six allies, and about -forty thousand soldiers and non-commissioned officers. - -Besides that, from the fifteenth of June to the thirty-first of August, -there were in the hospitals of Brescia, according to the official -statistics, nineteen thousand six hundred and sixty-five patients with -fever and other illnesses, of whom more than nineteen thousand belonged -to the Franco-Sardinian Army. - -On their side, the Austrians had at least twenty thousand sick soldiers -in Venice, beside ten thousand wounded, who, after Solferino, were sent -to Verona, where the overcrowded hospitals were finally attacked by -gangrene and typhus fever. - -Consequently, to the forty thousand killed and wounded on the -twenty-fourth of June, must be added more than forty thousand sick with -fever or dying from illness caused by the excessive fatigue experienced -on the day of the battle or during the days which preceded and -succeeded it or from the pernicious effects of the tropical temperature -of the plains of Lombardy, or, finally, from the imprudence of these -soldiers themselves. - -If one does not consider the military point of view, the battle of -Solferino was then, from the point of humanity a European catastrophe. - -The transportation of the wounded from Brescia to Milan, which takes -place during the night because of the torrid heat of the day, presents -a dramatic sight with its trains loaded with crippled soldiers arriving -at the station filled with crowds of people. - -Lighted by the pale flare of the tar torches, the mass of men seems -to hold its breath to listen to the groans and the stifled complaints -which reach their ears. - -The Austrians, in their retreat, having torn up several places on the -railroad between Milan and Brescia--this road was restored for use -by the first days of July, for the transportation of ammunition, of -supplies and of food sent to the allied army--the evacuation of the -hospitals in Brescia was in this way facilitated. - -At each station, long and narrow sheds have been constructed to receive -the wounded. These, when taken from the cars, are placed on mattresses, -arranged in a line one after the other. Under these sheds are set up -tables covered with bread, soup, lemonade, wine, water, lint, linen -and bandages. Torches, carried by the young men of the place where -the convoy stops, light the darkness. The citizens of Lombardy hasten -to present their tribute of gratitude to the conquerors of Solferino; -in respectful silence they bandage the wounded whom they have lifted -carefully out of the cars to place them on the beds made ready for -their use. The women of the country offer refreshing drinks, and food -of all kinds, which they distribute on the cars to those who must go on -to Milan. - -In this city, where about a thousand wounded have arrived every night -for several nights in succession, the martyrs of Solferino are received -with great kindness. No longer are rose leaves scattered from the -flag-ornamented balconies of the luxurious palaces of the Milanese -aristocracy, on shining epaulets and on striped gold and enameled -orders, by beautiful and graceful ladies whom exaltation and enthusiasm -rendered still more beautiful. To-day, in their gratitude, they shed -tears of compassion which are interpreted by devotion and sacrifice. - -Every family possessing a carriage, goes to the station to transport -the wounded. The number of equipages sent by the people of Milan -probably exceeds five hundred. The finest carriages as well as the -most modest carts are sent every evening to Porto Tosca, where stands -the railroad station for Venice. The Italian ladies consider it an -honor to themselves to place in their rich carriages, which they have -provided with mattresses, sheets and pillows, the guests assigned to -them and who are accompanied by the greatest noblemen of Lombardy, -aided in this work by their not less considerate servants. - -The people applaud the passage of these men, famed because of their -suffering. They respectfully uncover their heads. They follow the -slow march of the convoy with torches illuminating the sad faces of -the wounded, who try to smile. They accompany them to the door of the -hospitable palace, where awaits them the most devoted care. - -Every family wishes to receive the French wounded and, by all sorts of -kindness, try to lessen the sadness caused by distance from home, from -parents and from friends. - -But after a few days the greater number of the inhabitants of Milan -are obliged to remove to the hospitals the wounded whom they have -received in their houses. The administration desires to avoid too -great scattering of the nursing and any increase of fatigue for the -physicians. Before Solferino, the hospitals of this city contained -about nine thousand wounded from preceding battles. - -Great Milanese ladies watch beside the bed of the simple soldier, of -whom they become the guardian angels. Countess Verri, née Borroméo, -Madame Uboldi de Capei, Madame Boselli, Madame Sala-Taverna, Countess -Taverna and many others, forgetting their luxurious habits, pass whole -months by these beds of suffering. Some of these ladies are mothers, -whose mourning garments testify to a recent and sorrowful loss. One of -them said: "The war robbed me of my oldest son; he died eight months -ago, from a shot received while fighting with the French Army at -Sebastopol. When I knew that the French wounded were coming to Milan -and that I could nurse them, I felt that God was sending me His first -consolation." - -Countess Verri-Borroméo, president of the Central Aid Committee, has -charge of the great depot for linens and lint. In spite of her advanced -age she devotes many hours a day to reading to the sick. - -All the palaces contain wounded. That of the Borroméo family has -received three hundred. The Superior of the Ursulines, Sister Marina -Videmari, has converted her convent into a hospital and serves in it -with her companions. This convent-hospital is a model of order and -cleanliness. - -The Marchioness Pallavicini-Trivulzio, who presides over the great -Turin Committee with admirable devotion and self-forgetfulness, -collects the donations from different cities and countries; thanks to -her activity the depot in Milan, situated contrada San Paolo, remains -always well provided. - -Some weeks later, in the streets of Milan, there were seen passing -a few companies of convalescent French soldiers sadly returning to -France. Some have their arms in slings, others are supported by -crutches or bear marks of wounds. Their uniforms are well worn and -torn, but they wear fine linen, which the rich men of Lombardy have -generously given them in exchange for their blood-stained shirts: -"Your blood flowed to defend our country," they said, "and we wish -to keep these memories of it." These men, not long ago so strong, so -robust, now deprived of an arm or a leg or with head bandaged, bear -their misfortune with resignation. But, thus incapable of continuing -in the army and earning bread for their families, they already with -bitterness, behold themselves, after their return to their native -land, objects of commiseration and pity, a care to others and to -themselves. - -In one of the hospitals of Milan, a sergeant of the Zouave Guard, -with an energetic and proud face, who has had one leg amputated and -had borne that operation without a complaint, was seized, some time -after, with extreme sadness, although his health was improving and his -recovery rapidly taking place. This sadness, increasing daily, was -incomprehensible. A Sister of Charity, perceiving tears in his eyes, -questioned so insistently that he at last confessed that he was the -sole support of his aged and infirm mother to whom he used to send each -month five francs of his pay. He added that, being unable to help her, -this poor woman must be in great need of money. The Sister of Charity, -touched with compassion, gave him five francs, the value of which was -immediately sent to France. When the directress of the hospital wished -to make him another gift, he would not accept it, and said to her -thankfully: "Keep this money for others who need it more than I; as for -my mother, I hope next month to send her her usual allowance, for I -count on soon being able to work." - -A lady of Milan, bearing an illustrious name, placed at the disposition -of the wounded one of her palaces, with one hundred and fifty beds. -Among the soldiers, lodged in this magnificent mansion, was a grenadier -of the Seventieth Regiment of the French Infantry, who, having -undergone an operation, was in danger of death. The lady, trying to -console him, spoke to him of his family. He told her that he was the -only son of poor peasants in the Department of Gers, and that he was -very sad at leaving his parents in misery, for he alone provided -for their maintenance. He added that his greatest consolation would -be to kiss his mother before he died. Saying nothing to him of her -project, the noble lady suddenly decides to leave Milan, takes the -train, reaches the Departments of Gers, near the family, whose address -she has procured, takes possession of the mother of the wounded man. -After having left a large sum of money for the infirm old father, she -brings the humble villager with her to Milan; and six days after the -confession of the grenadier, the son kisses his mother, weeping and -blessing his benefactress. - -But why recall so many pitiful and melancholy scenes and thus arouse -such painful emotions? Why relate, with complaisance, these lamentable -details and dwell upon these distressing pictures? - -To this very natural question we reply with another question. - -Would it not be possible to establish in every country of Europe, Aid -Societies, whose aim would be to provide, during war, volunteer nurses -for the wounded, without distinction of nationality? - -As they wish us to give up the desires and hopes of the Societies -of the Friends of Peace, the beautiful dreams of the Abbot of Saint -Pierre and of Count Sellon; as men continue to kill each other without -personal enmity, and as the height of glory in war is to exterminate -the greatest number possible; as they still dare to say, as did Count -Joseph de Maistre, that "war is divine"; as they invent every day with -a perseverence worthy of a better aim, instruments of destruction more -and more terrible, and as the inventors of these death-dealing engines -are encouraged by all the European governments--who arm themselves in -emulation one of another--why not profit from a moment of comparative -calm and tranquillity in order to settle the question which we have -just raised, and which is of such great importance from the double -point of view of humanity and Christianity. - -Once presented to the consideration of every man, this theme will -probably call forth opinions and writings from more competent persons; -but, first, must not this idea, presented to the different branches -of the great European family, hold the attention and conquer the -sympathies of all those who possess an elevated soul and a heart -capable of being moved by the suffering of their fellow-men? - -Such is the purpose for which this book has been written. - -Societies of this kind, once created, with a permanent existence, would -be found all ready at the time of war. They should obtain the favor of -the authorities of countries where they are created, and beg, in case -of war, from the sovereigns of the belligerent powers the permission -and the facilities necessary to carry out their purpose. These -societies should include in their own and each country, as members of -the central committee, the most honorable and esteemed men. - -The moment of the commencement of war, the committee would call -on those persons who desire to dedicate themselves, for the time -being, to this work, which will consist in helping and nursing, under -the guidance of experienced physicians, the wounded, first on the -battle-field, then in the field and regular hospitals. - -Spontaneous devotion is not as rare as one might think. Many persons, -sure of being able to do some good, helped and facilitated by a -Superior Committee, would certainly go, and others, at their own -expense, would undertake a task so essentially beneficent. During our -selfish century what an attraction for the generous-hearted and for -chivalrous characters to brave the same danger as the soldier with an -entirely voluntary mission of peace and consolation. - -History proves that it is in no way chimerical to hope for such -self-devotion. Two recent facts especially have just confirmed this. -They occurred during the war in the East and closely relate to our -subject. - -While Sisters of Charity were nursing the wounded and sick of the -French army in the Crimea, into the Russian and English armies, there -came, from the north and west, two groups of self-devoted women nurses. - -The Grand Duchess Helen Pavlovna, of Russia, born, Princess Charlotte, -of Wurttemberg, widow of the Grand Duke Michael, having enlisted -nearly three hundred ladies of St. Petersburg and Moscow, to serve as -nurses in the Russian hospitals of the Crimea; she provided them with -everything necessary, and these saintly women were blessed by thousands -of soldiers. - -In England, Miss Florence Nightingale, having received a pressing -appeal from Lord Sidney Herbert, Secretary of War of the British -Empire, inviting her to go to the aid of the English soldiers in the -Orient, this lady did not hesitate to expose herself personally by -great self-devotion. In November, 1854, she went to Constantinople and -Scutari with thirty-seven English ladies, who, immediately on arrival -gave their attention to nursing the great number of men, wounded in -the battle of Inkerman. In 1855 Miss Stanley, having come to take part -in her labor with fifty new companions, made it possible for Miss -Nightingale to go to Balaklava to inspect the hospitals there. The -picture of Miss Florence Nightingale, during the night, going through -the vast wards of the military hospitals with a small lamp in her -hand, noting the condition of each sick man, will never be obliterated -from the hearts of the men, who were the objects or the witnesses of -her admirable beneficence, and the memory of it will be engraven in -history. - -Of the multitude of similar good works, ancient or modern, the greater -number of which have remained unknown and without fame, how many have -been in vain, because they were isolated and were not supported by -a united action, which would have wisely joined them together for a -common aim. - -If voluntary hospital workers could have been found in Castiglione on -the twenty-fourth, the twenty-fifth, and the twenty-sixth of June, and -also in Brescia, Mantua, and Verona, how much good they might have done. - -How many human beings they might have saved from death during that -fatal Friday night, when moans and heartrending supplications escaped -from the breasts of thousands of the wounded, who were enduring the -most acute pains and tormented by the inexpressible suffering of thirst. - -If Prince von Isenburg had been rescued sooner, by compassionate hands, -from the blood-soaked field on which he was lying unconscious, he -would not have been obliged to suffer for several years from wounds -aggravated by long neglect; if the sight of his riderless horse had not -brought about his discovery among the corpses, he would have perished -for lack of help with so many other wounded, who also were creatures of -God, and whose death would be equally cruel for their families. - -Those good old women, those beautiful young girls of Castiglione could -not save the lives of many of those whom they nursed! Besides them were -needed experienced men, skillful, decided, previously trained to act -with order and harmony, the only means of preventing the accidents, -which complicate the wounds and make them mortal. - -If there could have been a sufficient number of assistants to remove -the wounded quickly from the plains of Medole, from the ravines of San -Martin, on the slopes of Mount Fontana, or on the hills of Solferino, -there would not have been left during long hours of terrible fear -that poor bersaglier, that Uhlan, or that Zouave, who tried to raise -himself, in spite of cruel suffering, to gesticulate in vain for -someone to send a litter for him. Finally, the risk of burying the -living with the dead would have been avoided. - -Better means of transportation would have made it possible to avoid in -the case of the light infantryman of the Guard the terrible amputation -which he had to undergo in Brescia, because of the lack of proper care -during the journey from the battle-field to Castiglione. - -The sight of those young cripples, deprived of an arm, or a leg, -returning sadly to their homes, does it not call forth remorse that -there was not more effort made before to avert the evil consequences of -the wounds, which, often could have been cured by timely aid? - -Would those dead, deserted in the hospitals of Castiglione, or in -those of Brescia, many of whom could not make themselves understood, -on account of the difference of language, have gasped out their last -breath with curses and blasphemies, if they had had near them some -compassionate soul to listen to them and console them? - -In spite of the official aid, in spite of the zeal of the cities of -Lombardy, much remained to be done, although in no other war has been -seen so great a display of charity; it was nevertheless unequal to the -extent of the help that was needed. - -It is not the paid employee, whom disgust drives away, whom fatigue -makes unfeeling, unsympathetic and lazy who can fulfil such a noble -task. Immediate help is needed, for that which can to-day save the -wounded will not save him to-morrow; the loss of time causes gangrene, -which leads to death. One must have volunteer nurses, previously -trained, accustomed to the work, officially recognized by the -commanding officers of the armies, so that they may be facilitated in -their mission. - -These nurses should not only find their place on the battle-field, but -also in the hospitals, where the long weeks pass away painfully for -the wounded, without family and without friends. During this short -Italian war, there were soldiers who were attacked with home-sickness -to such a degree that, without other illness and without wounds, they -died. On the other hand, the Italians, and this is comprehensible, -showed scarcely any interest in the wounded of the allied army, and -still less for the suffering Austrians. It is true, courageous women -were found in Italy, whose patience and perseverance never wearied; -but, unfortunately, in the end they could be easily counted; the -contagious fevers drove many persons away, and the nurses and servants -did not respond for any length of time, to that which might have been -expected of them. The personnel of the military hospitals is always -insufficient; and, if it were doubled or tripled, it would still be -insufficient. We must call on the public, it is not possible, it never -will be possible to avoid that. Only by this co-operation can one hope -to lessen the sufferings of war. - -An appeal must be made, a petition presented to the men of all -countries, of all classes, to the influential of this world, as well as -to the most modest artisan, since all can, in one way or another, each -in his own sphere, and according to his strength, co-operate in some -measure in this good work. - -This appeal is addressed to women as well as to men, to the queen, -to the princess seated on the steps of the throne, as well as to the -humble orphaned and charitable maid-servant or the poor widow alone in -the world, who desires to consecrate her last strength to the good of -others. - -It is addressed to the general, to the marshal, the Minister of War, as -well as to the writer and the man of letters, who, by his publications, -can plead with ability for the cause, thereby interesting all mankind, -each nation, each country, each family even, since no one can say for -certain that he is exempt from the dangers of war. - -If an Austrian general and a French general, after having fought -one against another at Solferino, could, soon afterwards, finding -themselves seated side by side at the hospitable table of the King -of Prussia, converse amicably one with the other, what would have -prevented them from considering and discussing a question so worthy of -their interest and attention? - -During the grand manoeuvers at Cologne, in 1861, King William of -Prussia invited to dinner, in Benrath Castle, near Dusseldorf, the -officers of the different nations, who were sent there by their -governments. Before going to the table the King took by the hand -General Forey and General Baumgarten: "Now that you are friends," he -said to them, smiling, "sit there, beside one another, and chat." Forey -was the victor of Montebello, and Baumgarten was his adversary. - -On extraordinary occasions, such as those which assembled at Cologne, -at Chalons, or elsewhere, eminent men of the military art of different -nations, is it not to be desired that they will profit by this kind -of congress to formulate some international, sacred, and accepted -principle which, once agreed upon and ratified, would serve as the -foundation for societies for aid for the wounded in the different -countries of Europe? It is still more important to agree upon and adopt -in advance these measures, because when hostilities have commenced, -the belligerents are ill-disposed one towards the other, and will not -consider these questions, except from the exclusive point of view of -their own interests. - -Are not small congresses called together of scientists, jurists, -medical men, agriculturists, statisticians, and economists, who meet -expressly in order to consider questions of much less importance? Are -there not international societies which are occupied with questions of -charity and public utility? Cannot men, in like manner, meet to solve a -problem as important as that of caring for the victims of war? - -Humanity and civilization surely demand the accomplishment of such a -work. It is a duty, to the fulfilment of which every good man, and -every person possessing any influence owes his assistance. - -What prince, what ruler, would refuse his support to these societies, -and would not be glad to give the soldiers of his army the full -assurance that they will be immediately and properly nursed in case -they should be wounded? - -With permanent societies, such as I propose, the chance of waste and -the injudicious distribution of money and supplies would often be -avoided. During the war in the East an enormous quantity of lint, -prepared by Russian ladies, was sent from St. Petersburg to the Crimea; -but the packages, instead of reaching the hospitals to which they were -sent, arrived at paper mills which used it all for their own industry. - -By perfecting the means of transportation, by preventing the accidents -during the journey from the battle-field to the hospital, many -amputations will be avoided, and the burden of the governments, which -pension the injured will be proportionately lessened. - -These societies, by their permanent existence, could also render great -service at the time of epidemics, floods, great fires, and other -unexpected catastrophes; the humane motive which would have created -them would instigate them to act on all occasions in which their labors -could be exercised. - -This work will necessitate the devotion of a certain number of persons, -but it will never lack money in time of war. Each one will bring his -offering or his compassion in response to the appeals which will be -made by the committee. A nation will not remain indifferent when its -children are fighting for its defense. The difficulty is not there; -but the problem rests entirely in the serious preparation, in all -countries, of a work of this kind, that is, in the creation of these -societies. - -In order to establish these committees at the head of the societies, -all that is necessary is a little good-will on the part of some -honorable and persevering persons. The committees, animated by an -international spirit of charity, would create corps of nurses in a -latent state, a sort of staff. The committees of the different nations, -although independent of one another, will know how to understand and -correspond with each other, to convene in congress and, in event of -war, to act for the good of all. - -If the terrible instruments of destruction now possessed by the nations -seem to shorten wars, will not, on the other hand, the battles be -more deadly? And in this century, when the unexpected plays such an -important role, may not war bring about the most sudden and unforseen -results? - -Are there not, in these considerations alone, more than sufficient -reasons for us not to allow ourselves to be taken unawares? - - - - -Transcriber's Notes - -Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired. - -Inconsistent hyphenation fixed. - -P. 25: monastary -> monastery. - -P. 71: transportation of ammunitions -> transportation of ammunition. - -P. 87: manouvers -> manoeuvers. - -P. 89: catastrophies -> catastrophes. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Origin of the Red Cross, by Henry Dunant - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS *** - -***** This file should be named 50968-8.txt or 50968-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/6/50968/ - -Produced by Bryan Ness, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Origin of the Red Cross - "Un souvenir de Solferino" - -Author: Henry Dunant - -Translator: Mrs. David H. Wright - -Release Date: January 19, 2016 [EBook #50968] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS *** - - - - -Produced by Bryan Ness, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" width="600" height="943" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 860px;"> -<img src="images/portrait.jpg" width="860" height="900" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Jean Henri Dunant</span></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> - -<h1><i>The</i> ORIGIN <i>of the</i> RED CROSS</h1> - -<p class="center spaced space-above"> -"<i>Un Souvenir de Solferino</i>"<br /> -<small>BY</small><br /> -<big>HENRI DUNANT</big><br /> -<br /> -<small>Translated from the French by</small><br /> -MRS. DAVID H. WRIGHT,<br /> -<small>of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American<br /> -Red Cross, Independence Hall.<br /> -Philadelphia, Pa.</small><br /> -<br /> -1911<br /> -THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.<br /> -PHILADELPHIA, PA.<br /> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"> -<small> -Copyright, 1911,<br /> -By <span class="smcap">Mrs. David H. Wright</span>.<br /> -</small> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"> -AMERICAN RED CROSS.<br /> -<span class="smcap">Washington</span>, D. C., November 9, 1910.<br /> -<br /> -</div> -<p> -Mrs. David H. Wright,<br /> -<br /> -Philadelphia, Pa.<br /> -<br /> -<span class="smcap">Dear Mrs. Wright:</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>I appreciate and thank you for your courtesy in -dedicating to me, as President of the American Red -Cross, this recent translation of Henri Dunant's "Un -Souvenir de Solferino."</p> - -<p>Whoever calls attention of the people to the sufferings -and misery caused by war so that men realizing -its results become loath to undertake it, performs a -public service.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<img src="images/signature.jpg" width="600" height="164" alt="" /> -<div class="caption">William Howard Taft<br /> -<i>President American Red Cross.</i><br /></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><big><i>EDITOR'S NOTE</i></big></div> - -<p><i>So far as is known, this book of such far-reaching -influence has never before been -translated or published in English.</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><big>PREFACE</big></div> - -<p><i>Henri Dunant, the famous author of "A -Souvenir of Solferino," was born in Geneva -in 1828.</i></p> - -<p><i>The instruction and philanthropic principles -received by him in his youth, together -with his natural energy and power of organization, -were a good foundation for the unfolding -of the ideas and inclinations which -led to his fertile acts.</i></p> - -<p><i>In 1859 occurred the event which definitely -impelled him to a course of action -which did not discontinue during his whole -life. A course of action for the mitigation -of the sufferings caused by war, or from a -broader point of view, for the commencement -of the reign of peace.</i></p> - -<p><i>This event was the battle of Solferino, -when he first organized, in Castiglione, corps -of volunteers to search for and nurse the -wounded.</i></p> - -<p><i>Having thus started the idea of a permanent -organization of these voluntary -bands of compassionate workers, and also -of an international treaty agreement in regard -to the wounded, he presented himself</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> -<i>to Marshal MacMahon and afterwards to -Napoleon III, who became interested in the -project of Dunant and immediately ordered -his army no longer to make prisoners of the -physicians and nurses of the enemy.</i></p> - -<p><i>Soon Dunant organized an Aid Committee -in Geneva, and shortly afterwards he -published his "Souvenir of Solferino," which -was enthusiastically received and greatly -applauded.</i></p> - -<p><i>He met, however, opposition and obstacles, -principally from the French Minister of -War.</i></p> - -<p><i>The philanthropic ideas of this book were -received with interest by many European -sovereigns with whom Dunant had intercourse, -either by correspondence or by conversation; -he always propagated persistently -his ideas in regard to the organization of a -national permanent committee for the -wounded, his International Treaty, and the -neutralization of those injured in war (he -developed in separate works his ideas which -were outlined only in the "Souvenir").</i></p> - -<p><i>The Geneva Society of Public Utility -created a commission for the purpose of -studying the question. Meanwhile Dunant -had the opportunity to speak with the King -of Saxony, and to persuade representatives</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span> -<i>of some other countries to take up the question -with their respective sovereigns.</i></p> - -<p><i>Dunant interested the governments so -much in his project that various nations sent -delegates to the International Conference, -which was held in Geneva, in 1863, when it -was decided to establish a National Committee, -and when the desire was expressed -that the neutralization of the physicians, -nurses and injured should be provided by -treaty, and for the adoption of a distinctive -and uniform international emblem and flag -for the hospital corps, and the unanimous -thanks of this Conference were extended to -Dunant.</i></p> - -<p><i>To consider this subject, a diplomatic International -Congress was held in 1864, at -Geneva, by invitation of the Swiss Federate -Counsel. The treaty there drafted accepted -the projects of Dunant and the formation -of Volunteer Aid Societies, later called Red -Cross Societies, was recommended by the -Convention to the signatory powers.</i></p> - -<p><i>In the further development of the ideas -of Dunant The Hague Conference, in 1899, -extended the provisions of the Treaty of -Geneva to naval warfare.</i></p> - -<p><i>Thus, a single individual, inspired with the -sentiment of kindness and compassion for</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> -<i>his fellow-creatures, by his own untiring -energy attained the realization of his ideas, -and aided in the progress of mankind toward -peace.</i></p> - -<p><i>Thus, truly all men, and above all, the -workers for peace, owe to this laborer -merited and everlasting gratitude and remembrance.</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>The recompense, however, arrived late.</i></p> - -<p><i>In the zealous propaganda, for which, during -four years, he edited pamphlets and -articles in all languages, and traveled continuously -through the whole of Europe, -Dunant spent everything that he possessed, -and, for many years, nothing more was -heard of the modest and good man, to whom -the approval of his conscience was all sufficient.</i></p> - -<p><i>At last, in 1897, he was discovered in the -Swiss village of Heiden, where he was living -in misery, in a "Home" for old men, with -almost no means other than a small pension -received from the Empress of Russia.</i></p> - -<p><i>The Baroness von Suttner sent at that -time to the press of the whole world, and -especially to those interested in International -Peace, an appeal to raise a contribution of -money to ease his last years. In 1901, when</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span> -<i>the Nobel-Peace-Prize, valued at 208,000 -francs, was awarded for the first time, it -was divided between Henri Dunant and -Frederick Passy.</i></p> - -<p><i>It is true that many peace workers did -not approve of this decision of the Nobel -Committee. They said in opposition, that -the projects of Dunant not only were not -pacific, but could even have the contrary -effect. To lessen the terrors of war is really, -according to them, to destroy the most effective -means of turning men from it, and -consequently tended to prolong the duration -of its reign. One of the chief representatives -of this idea, Signor H. H. Fried, said that -the Geneva Convention was only a small -concession by the governments to the new -idea that is fighting against war.</i></p> - -<p><i>Without doubt, they do not approve of the -humane plan of Dunant, on the contrary, -they think that it is not essentially peace-making; -that it should not be recompensed -by the first peace prize, and that it is dangerous -to confuse pacification with simple humanitarianism.</i></p> - -<p><i>The contrary opinion is shown by the following -words, written by Signor Ruyssin, -in the review "Peace by Right," at the time -when Dunant received his prize:</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>"His glory has grown each year in proportion -to all the lessening of suffering which -his work has accomplished, to all the lives -which it saves, and to all the self-devotion -to which it gives birth.</i></p> - -<p><i>"Henri Dunant has decreased the abomination -of war; Frederick Passy fought to -make it impossible. One has accomplished -more; the other has created more remote, -but brighter hopes. One has harvested already; -the other sows for the future harvest; -and so it would be arbitrary and unjust to -compare such dissimilar lines of work, both -equally meritorious. The accomplishment of -the wishes of Nobel rightly placed identical -crowns on the heads of two old men who -employed their lives in fighting against -war."</i></p> - -<p><i>This disagreement is interesting in that -it shows the contrary judgment to which different -zealous peace workers were led in regard -to the project of Dunant.</i></p> - -<p><i>Whatever may be the conclusion of the -reader, about the relation between it and the -peace propaganda, he will certainly be of -the opinion that "A Souvenir of Solferino," -showing the abominations of war, is a useful -instrument of the propaganda, and that -the name of Dunant should be blessed, as</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span> -<i>that of one of the most self-devoted benefactors -of mankind.</i></p> - -<p><i>Henri Dunant died at Heiden, Switzerland, -on October the thirty-first, 1910.</i> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"><big>THE ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS</big><br /></div> - -<p>The bloody victory of Magenta opened the -gates of Milan to the French Army, which -the towns of Pavia, Lodi and Cremona welcomed -enthusiastically.</p> - -<p>The Austrians, abandoning the lines of the -Adda, the Oglio, and the Chiese, gathered -their forces on the bank of the River Mincio, -at whose head the young and courageous -Emperor Joseph placed himself.</p> - -<p>The King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel, -arrived on the seventeenth of June, 1859, -at Brescia, where, with great joy, the inhabitants -welcomed him, seeing in the son of -Charles Albert a saviour and a hero. During -the next day the French Emperor entered -the same town amid the enthusiastic -cries of the people, happy to show their -gratitude to the monarch who came to help -them gain their independence.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-first of June, Napoleon III -and Victor Emmanuel II left Brescia, from -which place their armies had departed during -the previous day. On the twenty-second -they occupied Lonato, Castenedolo and Montechiaro.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -On the evening of the twenty-third -Napoleon, who was commander-in-chief, -published strict orders for the army -of the King of Sardinia, encamped at Desenzano, -and forming the left flank of the allied -armies, to proceed early the following day -to Pozzelengo.</p> - -<p>Marshal Baraguey d'Hilliers was ordered -to march on Solferino; Marshal MacMahon, -Duke de Magenta, on Cavriana; General Neil -was to proceed to Guidizzolo; Marshal Canrobert -to Medole; Marshal Regnaud de Saint-Jean -d'Angley, with the Imperial Guard, to -Castiglione.</p> - -<p>These united forces amounted to 150,000 -men, with 400 cannon.</p> - -<p>The Austrian Emperor had at his disposition, -in the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, -nine army corps, amounting in all to 250,000 -men, comprising the garrison of Verona and -Mantua. The effective force prepared to -enter the line of battle consisted of seven -corps, some 170,000 men, supported by 500 -cannon.</p> - -<p>The headquarters of the Emperor Francis -Joseph had been moved from Verona to Villafranca, -then to Valeggio. On the evening -of the twenty-third the Austrian troops received -the order to recross the River Mincio<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -during the night to Peschiera, Salionze, -Valeggio, Ferri, Goito and Mantua. The -main part of the army took up its position -from Pozzolengo to Guidizzolo, in order to -attack the enemy between the Rivers Mincio -and Chiese.</p> - -<p>The Austrian forces formed two armies. -The first having as Commander-in-chief -Count Wimpffen, under whose orders were -the corps commanded by Field Marshals -Prince Edmund Schwarzenberg, Count -Schaffgotsche and Baron Veigl, also the -cavalry division of Count Zeidewitz. This -composed the left flank. It was stationed in -the neighborhood of Volta, Guidizzolo, Medole -and Castel-Gioffredo.</p> - -<p>The second army was commanded by -Count Schlick, having under his orders the -Field Marshals Count Clam-Gallas, Count -Stadion, Baron Zobel and Cavalier Benedek, -as well as the cavalry division of Count -Mensdorf. This composed the right flank. -It occupied Cavriana, Pozzolengo and San -Martino.</p> - -<p>Thus, on the morning of the twenty-fourth, -the Austrians occupied all the heights between -Pozzolengo, Solferino, Cavriana and -Guidizzolo. They ranged their artillery in -series of breastworks, forming the center of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -the attacking line, which permitted their -right and left flanks to fall back upon these -fortified heights which they believed to be -unconquerable.</p> - -<p>The two belligerent armies, although -marching one against the other, did not expect -such a sudden meeting. Austria, misinformed, -supposed that only a part of the -allied army had crossed the Chiese River. -On their side the confederates did not expect -this attack in return, and did not believe -that they would find themselves so soon before -the army of the Austrian Emperor. -The reconnoitering, the observations and the -reports of the scouts, and those made from -the fire balloons during the day of the -twenty-third showed no signs of such an imminent -encounter.</p> - -<p>The collision of the armies of Austria and -Franco-Sardinia on Friday, the twenty-fourth -of June, 1859, was, therefore, unexpected, -although the combatants on both -sides conjectured that a great battle was -near.</p> - -<p>The Austrian army, already fatigued by -the difficult march during the night of the -twenty-third and twenty-fourth, had to support -from the earliest dawn the attack of -the enemies' armies and to suffer from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -intensely hot weather as well as from hunger -and thirst, for, except a double ration of -brandy, the greater number of the Austrians -were unable to take any food.</p> - -<p>The French troops already in movement -before daybreak had had nothing but coffee. -Therefore, this exhaustion of the soldiers, -and above all, of the unfortunate wounded, -was extreme at the end of this very bloody -battle, which lasted more than fifteen hours.</p> - -<p>Both armies are awake.</p> - -<p>Three hundred thousand men are standing -face to face. The line of battle is ten miles -long.</p> - -<p>Already at three o'clock in the morning, -corps commanded by Marshals Baraguey d'Hilliers and MacMahon are commencing to -move on Solferino and Cavriana.</p> - -<p>Hardly have the advance columns passed -Castiglione when they themselves are in the -presence of the first posts of the Austrians, -who dispute the ground.</p> - -<p>On all sides bugles are playing the charges -and the drums are sounding.</p> - -<p>The Emperor Napoleon who passed the -night at Montechiaro hastens rapidly to Castiglione.</p> - -<p>By six o'clock a furious fire has commenced.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Austrians march in a compact mass in -perfect order along the open roads. In the -air are flying their black and yellow standards, -on which are embroidered the ancient -Imperial arms.</p> - -<p>The day is very clear. The Italian sun -makes the brilliant equipments of the dragoons, -the lancers and the cuirassiers of the -French army glitter brightly.</p> - -<p>At the commencement of the engagement -the Emperor Francis Joseph, together with -his entire staff, leaves headquarters in order -to go to Volta. He is accompanied by the -Archdukes of the House of Lorraine, among -whom are the Grand Duke of Tuscany and -the Duke of Modena.</p> - -<p>In the midst of the difficulties of a field -unknown to the French army the first meeting -takes place. It has to make its way -through plantations of mulberry trees, interlaced -by climbing vines, which form almost -impassable barriers.</p> - -<p>The earth is cut by great dried up trenches -which the horses have to leap, and by long -walls with broad foundations which they -have to climb.</p> - -<p>From the hills the Austrians pour on the -enemy a constant hail of shot and shell. With -the smoke of the cannon's continual discharge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -the rain of bullets is ploughing up -the earth and dust into thousands of missiles.</p> - -<p>The French hurl themselves upon these -strongly fortified places in spite of the firing -of the batteries which falls upon the earth -with redoubled force.</p> - -<p>During the burning heat of noon the battle -everywhere becomes more and more furious.</p> - -<p>Column after column throw themselves -one against the other with the force of a -devastating torrent.</p> - -<p>A number of French regiments surround -masses of Austrian troops, but, like iron -walls, these resist and at first remain unshaken.</p> - -<p>Entire divisions throw their knapsacks to -the earth in order to rush at the enemy with -fixed bayonets.</p> - -<p>If a battalion is driven away another replaces -it; each hill, each height, each rocky -eminence becomes a theatre for an obstinate -struggle.</p> - -<p>On the heights, as well as in the ravines, -the dead lie piled up. The Austrians and the -allied armies march one against the other, -killing each other above the blood-covered -corpses, butchering with gunshots, crushing -each other's skulls or disemboweling with -the sword or bayonet. No cessation in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -conflict, no quarter given. The wounded are -defending themselves to the last. It is -butchery by madmen drunk with blood.</p> - -<p>Sometimes the fighting becomes more terrible -on account of the arrival of rushing, -galloping cavalry. The horses, more compassionate -than their riders, seek in vain -to step over the victims of this butchery, but -their iron hoofs crush the dead and dying. -With the neighing of the horses are mingled -blasphemies, cries of rage, shrieks of pain -and despair.</p> - -<p>The artillery, at full speed, follows the -cavalry which has cut a way through the -corpses and the wounded lying in confusion -on the ground. A jaw-bone of one of these -last is torn away; the head of another is -battered in; the breast of a third is crushed. -Limbs are broken and bruised; the field is -covered with human remains; the earth is -soaked with blood.</p> - -<p>The French troops, with fiery ardor, scale -the steep hills and rocky declivities in spite -of shot and shell.</p> - -<p>Hardly does some harassed and profusely -perspiring company capture a hill and reach -its summit, when it falls like an avalanche -on the Austrians, overthrows, repulses and -pursues them to the depths of the hollows.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the Austrians regain the advantage. -Ambuscaded behind the houses, the churches -and the walls of Medole, Solferino and Cavriana, -they heroically fight on and very nearly -win the victory.</p> - -<p>The unending combat rages incessantly -and in every place with fury. Nothing stops, -nothing interrupts the butchery. They are -killing one another by the hundreds. Every -foot of ground is carried at the bayonet's -point, every post disputed foot by foot. -From the hands of the enemy are taken -villages, house after house, farm after farm, -each is the theatre of a siege. Doors, windows -and courts are abattoirs.</p> - -<p>A rain of cannon balls is sending death -to the distant reserves of Austria. If these -desert the field they yield it only step by -step, and soon recommence action. Their -ranks are ceaselessly reforming. On the -plains the wind raises the dust, which flies -over the roads like dense clouds, darkening -the day and blinding the fighters.</p> - -<p>The French cavalry flings itself on the -Austrian cavalry; uhlans and hussars slash -furiously at each other with their swords.</p> - -<p>The rage is so great that in some places, -after the exhaustion of the cartridges and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -the breaking of the muskets, they fight with -fists and beat one another with stones.</p> - -<p>The strongest positions are captured, lost, -and recaptured, to be lost again. Everywhere -men are falling mutilated, riddled -with bullets, covered with wounds.</p> - -<p>In the midst of these endless combats, -these massacres, blasphemies arise in different -tongues, telling of the diverse nationalities -of the men, many of whom are obliged -to become homicides in their twentieth year.</p> - -<p>The soldiers of the Sardinian King, defending -and attacking with fervor, continue -their skirmishes from early morning. The -hills of San Martino, Roccolo, Madonno della -Scoperta are captured and recaptured five -or six times. Their Generals Mollard, La -Marmora, Della Rocca, Durando, Fanti, -Cialdini, Cucchiari, de Sonnoz, with all -kinds and all grades of officers help the king -before whose eyes lie the wounded Generals -Cedale, Perrier and Arnoldi.</p> - -<p>The French Emperor orders that the corps -of Baraguey d'Hilliers and MacMahon, together -with the Imperial Guard, attack at -the same time the fortress of San Cassiano -and occupy Solferino.</p> - -<p>But the brave Austrians make the allied -army pay dearly for its success....<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -One of its heroes, Prince Aleksandro de Hessen, -after fighting with great courage at -San Cassiano defends against repeated attacks, -the three heights of Mount Fontana.... -At Guidizzolo, Prince Charles of -Windischraetz, braves certain death in seeking -to recapture under a hail of balls Casa -Nova. Mortally wounded, he still commands, -supported and carried by his brave soldiers, -who vainly make for him a rampart of their -own bodies.</p> - -<p>Marshal Baraguey d'Hilliers finally enters -the town of Solferino, courageously defended -by Baron Stadion.</p> - -<p>The sky is darkened, dense clouds cover -the horizon. A furious wind is rising. It -carries away the broken branches of the -trees. A cold rain, driven by the tempest, -a veritable cloud-burst, drenches the combatants, -exhausted from hunger and fatigue, -while dust, hail and smoke are blinding the -soldiers forced to fight also the elements.</p> - -<p>The army of the Emperor Francis Joseph -retreats. Throughout the entire action the -chief of the House of Hapsburg shows admirable -tranquillity and self-control.</p> - -<p>During the capture of Cavriana the Austrian -Emperor finds himself, together with -Baron Schlick and the Prince of Nassau, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -the adjacent heights, Madonna della Pieve, -opposite a church surrounded by cypress -trees. Towards evening, the Austrian center -having yielded and the left flank not daring -to hope to force the position of the allies, the -general retreat is decided. In this grave -moment, Emperor Francis Joseph, around -whom rained balls and bullets during the -whole day, goes with a part of his staff to -Volta, while the Archdukes and the hereditary -Grand Duke of Tuscany returned to -Valeggio.</p> - -<p>The Austrian officers fought like lions. -Some, through despair, let themselves die, -but sold their lives dearly. The greater -number rejoin their regiments covered with -the blood of their own wounds or with that -of the enemy. To their bravery should be -rendered merited praise.</p> - -<p>... Guidizzolo remains occupied -by the Austrians until ten o'clock in the evening.... -The roads are covered with -army wagons, carts and reserve artillery. -The transport vans are saved by the rapid -construction of improvised bridges. The -first Austrian wounded consisting of men -slightly injured, commence to enter Villafranca. -The more seriously wounded follow -them. Austrian physicians and their assistants<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -rapidly bandage the wounds, give some -nourishment to the wounded and send them -by railroad trains to Verona, where the embarrassment -is becoming terrible.</p> - -<p>Although during its retreat the Austrian -army tries to carry away all the wounded -which it could transport (and with what -great suffering!), nevertheless, thousands remain -lying on the ground moistened with -their blood.</p> - -<p>The allied army is in possession of the conquered -field.</p> - -<p>Near the close of the day when the evening -shadows creep over this vast field of -carnage, more than one officer, more than -one French soldier, seek here and there a -comrade, a compatriot, or a friend, when -he finds the wounded friend, he kneels beside, -trying to restore him to consciousness, wiping -away the blood, bandaging the wounds -as well as he can, wrapping a handkerchief -around the broken limb, but rarely can he -secure water for the suffering man.</p> - -<p>How many silent tears were shed during -this sad night, when all false pride, all human -regard were set aside.</p> - -<p>During the battle, hospitals for the -wounded established in nearby farmhouses, -churches, monasteries, in the open air, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -the shade of trees receive the wounded -officers and non-commissioned officers, who -are hastily given treatment. After these -comes the turn of the soldiers, when that is -possible. Those of the latter who are still -able to walk find their way to the field hospitals. -The others are carried on litters and -stretchers, weakened as they are by loss of -blood, by pain, by continued lack of food, -and by the mental and moral shock they have -experienced. During the battle a pennant -fixed on an elevation marks the station for -the wounded and the field hospitals of the -fighting regiments. Unfortunately, only a -few of the soldiers know the color of the hospital -pennant or that of the hospital flag of -the enemy, for the colors differ with the -different nations. The bombs fall upon them, -sparing neither physicians, nor wounded, -nor wagons loaded with bread, wine, meat -or lint.</p> - -<p>The heights which extend from Castiglione -to Volta, sparkle with thousands of fires, -which are fed by pieces of Austrian gun-wagons -and by huge branches of trees, -broken by the tempest or by cannon balls. -The soldiers dry their dripping clothes; then, -overcome by fatigue and exhaustion, they fall -asleep on the stones or on the ground.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - -<p>What terrible episodes! What touching -scenes! What disillusionments!</p> - -<p>There are battalions without food, companies -lacking almost every necessity, because -of the loss of the knapsacks. Water -also is lacking, but their thirst is so intense -that officers and soldiers resort to slimy and -even bloody pools. Everywhere the wounded -are begging for water.</p> - -<p>Through the silence of the night are heard -groans, stifled cries of anguish and pain, -and heartrending voices calling for help.</p> - -<p>Who will ever be able to paint the agonies -of this horrible night!</p> - -<p>The sun on the twenty-fifth of June, 1859, -shines above one of the most frightful sights -imaginable. The battle-field is everywhere -covered with corpses of men and horses. -They appear as if sown along the roads, in -the hollows, the thickets and the fields, above -all, near the village of Solferino.</p> - -<p>The fields ready for the harvest are ruined, -the grain trodden down, the fences overturned, -the orchards destroyed.</p> - -<p>Here and there one finds pools of blood.</p> - -<p>The villages are deserted. They bear -traces of bullets, of bombs and shells and -grenades.</p> - -<p>The houses whose walls have been pierced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -with bullets and are gaping widely, are -shaken and ruined.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants, of whom the greater -number have passed almost twenty hours in -the refuge of their cellars, without light or -food, are commencing to come out. The look -of stupor of these poor peasants bears testimony -to the long terror they have endured.</p> - -<p>The ground is covered with all kinds of -debris, broken pieces of arms, articles of -equipments and blood-stained clothing.</p> - -<p>The miserable wounded gathered up during -the day are pale, livid and inert.</p> - -<p>Some, principally those seriously injured, -have a vacant look, they seem not to understand -what is said to them. They turn their -staring eyes toward those who bring them -help.</p> - -<p>Others, in a dangerous state of nervous -shock, are shaking with convulsive tremblings.</p> - -<p>Still others, with uncovered wounds, -where inflammation has already appeared, -seem frenzied with pain; they beg that someone -may end their sufferings, and, with -drawn faces, writhe in the last torments of -agony.</p> - -<p>Elsewhere, poor fellows are prostrated on -the ground by bullets and bursting shells.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -Their arms and legs have been fractured by -the cannon wheels that have passed over -them.</p> - -<p>The shock of the cylindrical ball shatters -the bones, so that the wound it causes is always -very dangerous. The bursting of shells -and the conical balls make extremely painful -fractures, the internal injury being terrible. -Every kind of pieces of bone, of earth, of -lead, of clothing, of equipments, of shoes, -aggravate and irritate the wounds of the -patients and increase their sufferings.</p> - -<p>Those who cross this vast field of yesterday's -battle meet at every step, in the midst -of a confusion without parallel, inexpressible -despair and suffering of every kind.</p> - -<p>Some of the battalions which had taken off -their knapsacks during the battle, at last -find them again, but they have been robbed -of all their contents. During the night, vagabonds -have stolen everything. A grave loss -to the poor men whose linen and uniforms -are stained and torn. Not only do they find -themselves deprived of their clothing, but -even their smallest savings, all their fortune -as well as of the treasures dear to them; -small family mementoes given by mothers, -sisters and sweethearts.</p> - -<p>In several places the dead are stripped of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -their clothing by the thieves, who do not always -spare the wounded who are still living.</p> - -<p>Besides these painful sights are others still -more dramatic.</p> - -<p>Here the old, retired General Le Breton -wanders, seeking his son-in-law, the -wounded General Douay, who has left his -daughter, Madame Douay, in the midst of -the tumult of war, in a state of the most -cruel uneasiness. There, Colonel de Maleville, -shot at Casa Nova, expires. Here, it is -Colonel de Genlis, whose dangerous wound -causes a burning fever. There, Lieutenant -de Selve of the artillery, only a few weeks -out of Saint Cyr, has his right arm amputated -on the battle-field, where he was -wounded.</p> - -<p>I help care for a poor sergeant-major of -the Vincennes Chasseurs, both of whose legs -are pierced through with balls. I meet him -again in the Brescia Hospital; but he will -die crossing Mount Cenis.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant de Guiseul, who was believed -dead, is picked up on the spot, where, having -fallen with his standard, he was lying in a -swoon. The courageous sub-lieutenant -Fournier, of the flying-guard, gravely -wounded, finishes in his twentieth year a -military career commenced in his tenth year<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -by voluntarily enlisting in the foreign legion. -They bury the Commander de Pontgibaud, -who died during the night, and the young -Count de Saint Paer, who had attained the -rank of major hardly seven days before. -General Auger, of the artillery, is carried to -the field hospital of Casa Morino. His left -shoulder has been shattered by a six-inch -shell, part of which remained imbedded for -twenty-four hours in the interior of the -muscles of the armpit. Carried to Castiglione -he is attacked with gangrene, and dies -as a result of the disarticulation of the arm. -General de Ladmirault and General Dieu, -both gravely wounded, also arrived at Castiglione.</p> - -<p>The lack of water becomes greater and -greater. The sun is burning, the ditches are -dried up. The soldiers have only brackish -and unwholesome water to appease their -thirst. Where even the least little stream -or spring trickling drop by drop is found, -guards with loaded guns have great difficulty -in preserving this water for the most urgent -needs.</p> - -<p>Wounded horses, who have lost their riders, -and have wandered during the whole -night, drag themselves to their comrades, -from whom they seem to beg for help. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -are put out of their agony by a bullet. One -of these noble chargers comes alone into the -midst of a French company. The rich saddle-bag, -fastened to the saddle, shows that it -belongs to Prince von Isenberg. Afterwards, -the wounded Prince himself is found; but -careful nursing during a serious illness will -allow him to return to Germany, where his -family, in ignorance of the truth, have believed -him dead and have mourned for him.</p> - -<p>Among the dead some have peaceful faces; -these are the men who were struck suddenly -and died at once. But those who did not -perish immediately have their limbs rigid -and twisted in agony, their bodies are covered -with dirt; their hands clutch the earth, -their eyes are open and staring, a convulsive -contraction has uncovered their clenched -teeth.</p> - -<p>Three days and three nights are passed in -burying the dead who are left on the battle-field.</p> - -<p>On so large a field, many of the corpses -hidden in the ditches, covered by the thickets -or by some uneveness of the ground are -discovered very late. They, as well as the -dead horses, emit a fetid stench.</p> - -<p>In the French army a number of soldiers -from each company are detailed to recognize<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -and bury the dead. As far as possible soldiers -of the same corps must pick up their -fellow-members. They write down the number -stamped on the clothing of the dead. -Then, aided in this painful duty by paid -Lombardy peasants, they put the corpses in -a common grave. Unfortunately, it is possible -that, because of the unavoidable rapidity -in this labor, and because of the carelessness -and inattention of the paid workmen, -more than one living man is buried with the -dead.</p> - -<p>The letters, papers, orders, money, -watches found on the officers are sent to -their families, but the great number of the -interred bodies make the faithful accomplishment -of this task impossible.</p> - -<p>A son, the idol of his parents, educated -and cared for during many years by a loving -mother who was uneasy at the very -slightest indisposition. A brilliant officer, -beloved by his family, having left at home -his wife and children. A young soldier who -has just left his betrothed and his mother, -sisters and old father; there he lies in the -mud and in the dust, soaked in his own blood. -Because of the wound in his head his face -has become unrecognizable. He is in agony, -he expires in cruel suffering, and his body,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -black, swollen, hideous, thrown in a shallow -grave, is covered with a little lime and earth. -The birds of prey will not respect his feet -and hands protruding from the muddy -ground of the slope which serves him as a -tomb. Someone will come back, will carry -more earth there and, perhaps, will put up -a wooden cross above the place where his -body rests, and that will be all.</p> - -<p>The corpses of the Austrians, clothed in -mud-stained cloaks, torn linen jackets, white -tunics stained with blood are strewn by -thousands on the hills and plains of Medole. -Clouds of crows fly over the bodies in hopes -of having them for prey.</p> - -<p>By hundreds they are crowded into a great -common grave.</p> - -<p>Once out of the line of fire, Austrian soldiers, -slightly wounded, young first-year recruits, -throw themselves on the ground from -fatigue and inanition, then weakened by -loss of blood, they die miserably from exhaustion -and hunger.</p> - -<p>Unhappy mothers in Austria, Hungary -and Bohemia, your sorrow will be great -when you learn that your children died in -the enemy's country, without care, without -help, and without consolation!</p> - -<p>The lot of the Austrian prisoners-of-war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -is very sad. Led like simple cattle, they are -sent in a crowd, with a strong guard, to -Brescia, where they at last find repose, if -not a kind welcome.</p> - -<p>Some French soldiers wish to do violence -to the Hungarian captives whom they take -for Croates, adding furiously that those -"Glued-pantalooners," as they called them, -always killed the wounded. I succeeded in -tearing from their hands these unfortunate, -trembling captives.</p> - -<p>On the battle-field many Austrians are -permitted to keep their swords. They have -the same food as the French officers. Some -troops of the allied army fraternally divide -their biscuits with the famished prisoners. -Some even take the wounded on their backs -and carry them to the ambulances. Near me -the lieutenant of the guard bandages with -his white handkerchief the head of a Tyrolese -which was scarcely covered with old, -torn, and dirty linen.</p> - -<p>During the previous day at the height -of the battle, Commandant de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, -the fearless African hunter, -threw himself upon a squad of Hungarians; -but his horse having been pierced through -with balls, he himself was struck by two -shots and made prisoner by the Hungarians.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -Learning that wounded La Rochefoucauld -had been captured by the soldiers, the Austrian -Emperor ordered that he be treated -with great kindness and given the best care.</p> - -<p>The commissary continue to pick up the -wounded. These, bandaged or not, are carried -by mules or wheelbarrows and litters -to the field hospitals in the villages and -towns near the place where they fell.</p> - -<p>In these towns, churches, monasteries, -houses, parks, courts, streets and promenades -are transformed into improvised hospitals.</p> - -<p>In Carpenedolo, Castel-Goffredo, Medole, -Guidizzolo, Volta and neighboring places are -arriving many of the wounded. But the -greater number are carried to Castiglione, -where the least mutilated have already succeeded -in dragging themselves.</p> - -<p>Behold the long procession of vehicles of -the Commissary Department, loaded with -soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers -of all grades mixed together; cavalry-men, -infantry, artillerymen, bleeding, -fatigued, lacerated, covered with dust. Each -jolt of the wagons which carry them imposing -on them new suffering.</p> - -<p>Then the mules come trotting in, their -gait drawing, each instant, bitter cries from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -the throats of the unfortunate wounded -whom they are bearing.</p> - -<p>Many die during the transportation.</p> - -<p>Their corpses are put on the sides of the -roads. To others is left the duty of burying -them. These dead are enscribed, "Disappeared."</p> - -<p>The wounded are sent to Castiglione. -From there they are carried on to the hospitals -in Brescia, Cremona, Bergama, Milan, -and other cities of Lombardy, where they -will receive the regular care and will submit -to the necessary amputations. But as the -means of transportation are very scarce, -they are obliged to wait several days in -Castiglione. This city, where the confusion -surpasses all imagination, soon becomes for -the French and Austrians a vast temporary -hospital.</p> - -<p>On the day of battle the field-hospital of -headquarters is established there. Chests of -lint are unpacked, dressings for wounds and -medicate necessities are prepared. The inhabitants -give everything that they can get -ready—coverings, linens, mattresses and -straw.</p> - -<p>The Hospital of Castiglione, the monastery, -the Barracks of San Luigi, the Church -of the Capucines, the stations of the police,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -the churches of Maggiore, San Giuseppe, -Santa Rosalie, are filled with the wounded -lying crowded on the straw.</p> - -<p>Straw is also arranged for them in the -courts and in the public parks. Plank roofs -are quickly put up and linen is stretched to -protect them from the hot sun.</p> - -<p>The private dwellings are soon converted -into hospitals. Officers and soldiers are there -received by the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>Some of these last run through the streets -anxiously searching for a physician for their -guests. Later, others, in consternation, go -and come through the city, insistently begging -that someone take away from their -houses the corpses with which they do not -know what to do.</p> - -<p>A number of French surgeons, having remained -in Castiglione, aided by young Italian -physicians and by hospital orderlies, dress -and bandage the wounds.</p> - -<p>But all this is very insufficient.</p> - -<p>The number of convoys of wounded becomes -so great during Saturday that the administration, -the citizens and the few soldiers -left in Castiglione are incapable of -caring for so much misery.</p> - -<p>Then, melancholy scenes occur. There is -water; there is food; and nevertheless the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -wounded are dying of hunger and thirst. -There is much lint, but not enough hands to -put it on the wounds! The greater number -of the army of physicians must go to Cavriana; -the hospital orderlies make mistakes, -and hands are lacking at this critical moment.</p> - -<p>A voluntary service, good or bad, must be -organized. But this is difficult in the midst -of such disorder, to which is added a panic -of the Castiglionians, which results in aggravating -the misery of the wounded. This -panic is caused by a very insignificant circumstance.</p> - -<p>As each corps of the French army had -recovered itself, after taking up its position, -on the day after the battle, convoys of prisoners -were formed who were sent to Brescia, -through Castiglione and Montechiaro. The -inhabitants took one band of captives coming -from Cavriana escorted by hussars, for the -Austrian army returning in force. Alarm -was given by the frightened peasants, by the -assistant conductors of the baggage, by -itinerant merchants who follow the troops -in a campaign.</p> - -<p>Immediately all the houses are closed, the -inhabitants barricading themselves in their -homes, burning the tri-color flags which had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -adorned their windows, hiding themselves -in the cellars or the attics. Some run into -the fields with their wives and children -carrying with them their most valuable possessions. -Others, less frightened and more -sagacious, remain at home, but take in the -first Austrian wounded upon whom they lay -their hands and overwhelm them with kindness -and care.</p> - -<p>In the streets, on the roads, blocked by -wagonloads of wounded, by convoys of supplies, -are rapid transport wagons, horses flying -in all directions, amid cries of fear, of -anger and of pain. Baggage wagons are -overturned, bread and biscuits fall into the -gutter. The drivers detach the horses, -dashing away with hanging bridles on the -road to Brescia, spreading the alarm as they -go. They collide with carts of provisions -and convoys of wounded. These latter, trodden -under foot and frenzied with terror, beg -to be taken with them. In the city some of -them deaf to all orders tear away their bandages, -go staggering out of the churches, into -the streets where they are jostled and bruised -and finally fall from exhaustion and pain.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>What agonies! What suffering during the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -days of June twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth and -twenty-seventh!</p> - -<p>Wounds poisoned by heat, by dust and by -lack of water and care, have become intensely -painful.</p> - -<p>Suffocating stenches pollute the air in -spite of efforts to keep in good condition -these local hospitals.</p> - -<p>Every quarter of an hour the convoys sent -to Castiglione are bringing new loads of -wounded. The insufficiency in the number -of assistants, of hospital orderlies, of servants -is cruelly felt.</p> - -<p>In spite of the activity of the Commissary -Department, which is organizing transportation -to Brescia by means of ox-carts; in spite -of the spontaneous care of the inhabitants -of Castiglione, who transport the sick, the -departures are much less numerous than the -arrivals, and the crowding grows unceasingly -greater.</p> - -<p>On the stone floors of the churches of -Castiglione are placed, side by side, men of -every nation. French, Germans, Slavs and -Arabs are temporarily crowded to the most -remote part of the chapels. Many have no -longer the strength to move themselves and -cannot move or stir in the narrow space -where they are lying. Oaths, blasphemies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -and cries which can be interpreted by no expression, -are sounding beneath the arches of -the sanctuaries.</p> - -<p>"Ah, sir, how I suffer!" say to me some -of these poor fellows. "We are abandoned, -left to die miserably, and yet we fought -bravely!" They can get no rest, in spite of -the nights they have passed in sleeplessness -and long-endured fatigue. In their distress -they beg for help which is not given. Some, -in despair, roll in convulsions which will -end in tetanus and death. Others, believing -that the cold water poured on their festered -wounds produce worms, which appear in -great numbers, refuse to have the bandages -moistened. Others still, whose wounds were -dressed at the improvised hospitals on the -battle-fields, are given no further attention -during the halt they are obliged to make in -Castiglione, and as these bandages are very -tight, in view of the roughness of the transportation -and have not been changed, they -are suffering veritable tortures.</p> - -<p>These, whose faces are black with flies, -with which the air is infested and which -cling to their wounds, cast on all sides distracted -glances. But no one notices. On -these, the cloaks, shirts, flesh and blood form -a compact mass that cannot be removed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> - -<p>Here, lies a soldier totally disfigured; his -tongue hanging far out of his broken jaws. -He stirs and wishes to rise. I moisten his -dried palate and hardened tongue. Seizing a -handful of lint I soak it in a bucket and -squeeze the water from this improvised -sponge in the formless opening which is in -the place of his mouth.</p> - -<p>There, is an unfortunate man a part of -whose face, the nose, lips and chin have -been cut away by the stroke of a sword. Incapable -of speech, half blind, he makes signs -with his hands, and by that heartrending -pantomime, accompanied by guttural sounds, -draws attention to himself. I give him a -drink by dropping gently on his blood-covered -face a little pure water.</p> - -<p>A third, with a cleft head, expires, his -blood spreading over the stone floor of the -church. He presents a horrible sight. His -companions in misfortune push him with -their feet, for he incommodes the passage. -I protect his last moments and cover with a -handkerchief his poor head which he still -feebly moves.</p> - -<p>Although every house has become an infirmary, -and every family has dedicated itself -to nursing the wounded officers, that it -has gathered in, nevertheless I succeed by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -Sunday morning in collecting a certain number -of women of the people, who assist, as -best they can, in the efforts made to help so -many thousands of wounded men who are -without succor. Food must be given, and -above all, drink, to the men who literally are -dying from hunger and thirst. Wounds must -be bandaged, blood-stained bodies, covered -all over with dirt and vermin, must be -washed, and all this must be done in the extremely -hot weather, in the midst of the -suffocating, nauseating stench, and of groans -and cries of pain.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, a little group of volunteers -is formed. I organize, well as I can, aid in -the section which seems to be the most without -care, and I choose one of the churches of -Castiglione, called Chiesa Maggiore.</p> - -<p>Nearly five hundred soldiers are crowded -together on the straw, about one hundred -others, suffering and groaning, are lying in -the public park before the church.</p> - -<p>In the church the women of Lombardy go -from one to the other with jars and pitchers -full of clear water, which serves to appease -the thirst and to bathe the wounds. Some -of these improvised nurses are good-hearted -old women, others are charming young girls. -Their gentleness, goodness, compassion, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -their attentive care restores a little courage -to the wounded.</p> - -<p>The boys of the neighborhood come and -go between the church and the nearby -springs with buckets, pitchers and jars.</p> - -<p>The distribution of water is followed by -that of bouillon and soup, of which the servants -of the Commissary Department are -obliged to cook a marvelous quantity.</p> - -<p>Thick bundles of lint are placed here and -there. Everyone can use it freely; but -bandages, linen and shirts are lacking, and -one can hardly procure the most necessary -articles. I purchase, however, some new -shirts by the aid of those kind-hearted -women who have already given all their old -linen; and, on Monday, early in the morning, -I send my coachman to Brescia to bring -back supplies. He returns after some hours -with his cabriolet loaded with sponges, linen, -pins, cigars, tobacco, camomile, mallow, sambuca, -oranges, sugar and lemons.</p> - -<p>This makes it possible to give refreshing -lemonade, wash the wounds with mallow-water, -put on warm compresses and renew -the material of the bandages.</p> - -<p>In the meantime we have gained some recruits, -who help us. The first is an old naval -officer, then some English tourists, who, desiring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -to see everything, have entered the -church, and whom we keep almost by force. -Two other Englishmen, on the contrary, -show themselves desirous to help. They distribute -cigars to the Austrians. An Italian -priest, three or four travelers, a Swiss merchant -from Neuchatel, a Parisian journalist, -who afterwards takes charge of the relief in -the adjacent church, and some officers whose -company has received orders to remain in -Castiglione, also aid us.</p> - -<p>But soon some of those voluntary nurses -go away, not being able to bear the sight of -this suffering. The priest follows their example, -but he reappears, however, with delicate -kindness to make us smell aromatic -herbs and bottles of salts. A tourist, oppressed -at the sight of these living debris, -swooned from emotion. The merchant from -Neuchatel perseveres for two days, bandaging -wounds and writing for the dying letters -of farewell to their families. We are obliged -to quiet the compassionate excitement of a -Belgian, fearing that he will have an attack -of burning fever.</p> - -<p>Some men of the detachment, left to garrison -the city, try to help their comrades, but -cannot endure the sight which breaks down -their courage, striking too keenly upon their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -imagination. Nevertheless, a corporal of the -engineer corps, wounded at Magenta, almost -restored to health and about to return to his -battalion, but whose orders leave him a few -days of liberty, aids us with courage and -perseverance.</p> - -<p>The French Commissary, remaining in -Castiglione, finally grants, on my insistence, -authority to utilize for service in the hospitals, -some healthy prisoners, and three or -four Austrian physicians who aid the efforts -of the few surgeons left in Castiglione.</p> - -<p>A German physician remaining voluntarily -on the battle-field to care for the soldiers, -dedicates himself to the injured of -both armies. After three days the Commissary -sends him back to Mantua to rejoin his -compatriots.</p> - -<p>"Do not leave me to die," exclaim some of -these agonized men seizing my hand in despair, -but their death is not long delayed.</p> - -<p>"Ah, sir, if you would write to my father, -that he might console my poor mother!" said -to me, with tears in his eyes, a corporal -named Mazuet, scarcely twenty years old. I -noted down the address of his parents and -a few minutes later he had ceased to live. -The parents, who dwelt on rue d'Alger, in -Lyons, and of whom this young man, enlisted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -as a volunteer, was the only son, received no -other information about their child than that -which I sent to them. He very probably, -like so many others, has been enscribed, -"disappeared."</p> - -<p>An old sergeant, decorated with many -chevrons, repeated with profound melancholy -and an air of conviction full of bitterness: -"If someone had cared for me sooner, -I should have lived, whereas, this evening I -will die." That evening he died.</p> - -<p>"I do not want to die! I do not want to -die!" cries, with savage energy, a grenadier -of the guard, full of strength and health -three days before, but who, mortally -wounded, and feeling sure that his minutes -are irrevocably numbered, fights against this -dark certainty. I talk to him, he listens to -me, and this man, calmed, soothed, consoled, -finally resigns himself to die with the simplicity -of a child.</p> - -<p>In the back of the church, on the steps of -an altar, a Chasseur d'Afrique lies on straw. -Three balls have struck him, one on the right -side, one on the left shoulder, the third remained -in the right leg. It is Sunday, and -he asserts that he has eaten nothing since -Friday. He is covered with dried mud -flecked with blood, his clothing is torn; his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -shirt is in tatters. After I had washed his -wounds, given him a little bouillon and wrapped -him in covers, he put my hand to his lips -with an expression of unspeakable gratitude. -Later we were able to send him to a better -hospital.</p> - -<p>At the entrance of the church is a Hungarian -who cries unceasingly, calling in -heartrending tones for a physician. His -back and his shoulders, ploughed with grapeshot, -appear as if torn by iron hooks and are -one mass of quivering, raw flesh. The rest -of his body is swollen, green and black—horrible. -He can neither lie down nor sit up. -I dip some packages of lint in cool water and -try to make a cushion for him, but gangrene -soon carries him off.</p> - -<p>A little further on lies a dying Zouave -who is weeping bitter tears, and we console -him as if he were a little child. The preceding -fatigue, the lack of food and repose, -the intensity of the pain, the fear of dying -without help, excites even in these brave soldiers -a nervous sensibility which betrays -itself by sobs. One of their chief thoughts, -when they are not suffering too cruelly, is the -memory of their mother, and the fear of the -grief she will experience on learning of their -fate. On the corpse of a soldier we found,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -hanging from his neck, a medallion containing -the portrait of an aged woman, without -doubt his mother, which with his left hand -he was pressing on his heart.</p> - -<p>In the part nearest the great door of the -church Maggiore lie, now, on straw, enveloped -in covers, about a hundred French non-commissioned -officers and soldiers. They are -ranged in two nearly parallel ranks, between -which one can pass. Their wounds have -been dressed. The distribution of soup has -taken place. They are quiet. They follow -me with their eyes; all heads turn to the -left if I go to the left, to the right when I go -to the right. Sincere thanks are visible on -their astonished faces. "One can easily see -that he is a Parisian," say some. "No," retort -others, "he seems to be a Southerner." -"Truly, sir, are you not from Bordeaux?" -asks a third, and each wishes that I might be -from his city or province. I met afterwards -some of these wounded men, who had become -crippled invalids. Recognizing me, they -stopped to express their gratitude because -I had nursed them in Castiglione. "We -called you 'the gentleman in white,'" said -one, in his picturesque language, "for you -were always dressed entirely in white. It -is true the weather did not fail to be hot."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> - -<p>The resignation of the poor soldiers was -often touching; they suffered without complaint, -they died humbly and silently.</p> - -<p>On the other side of the church, some -wounded Austrian prisoners fear to receive -care which they distrust. They angrily tear -off their bandages, opening their bleeding -wounds. Others remain silent, dejected, impassive. -But the greater number are far -from being insensible to kindness and their -faces express their thanks. One of them, -about nineteen years of age, who with forty -of his compatriots is pushed into the deep -recesses of the church, has been without food -for two days. He has lost one eye, he trembles -with fever, he is scarcely able to speak -or to drink a little bouillon. Our nursing revives -him; twenty-four hours later when we -are able to send him to Brescia, he leaves us -with sorrow, almost with despair, pressing -to his lips the hands of the good-hearted -women of Castiglione, whom he entreats not -to abandon him.</p> - -<p>Another prisoner, a prey to a burning -fever, draws attention to himself. He is not -yet twenty years of age and his hair is already -perfectly white; it became white during -the battle, as his wounded comrades near -whom he lies assure us.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<p>The women of Castiglione, seeing that I -make no distinction in nationality, imitate -my example, showing the same kindness to -all these men of such different origin and -who are to them all equally strangers. "Tutti -Fratelli," they repeat with compassion. "All -are brothers."</p> - -<p>Honor to these compassionate women, to -these young girls of Castiglione! As devoted -as they are modest, they give way neither -before fatigue, nor disgust, nor sacrifice; -nothing repels, wearies or disheartens them.</p> - -<p>For the soldier recommencing the everyday -life of the campaign, after the fatigue -and emotions of a battle like that of Solferino, -the memories of his family become -more strong than ever. That mental state is -vividly described by the following lines from -an officer writing from Volta to his brother -in France:</p> - -<p>"You cannot imagine how the soldiers are -moved when they catch sight of the baggage-master -who distributes the letters to the -army; because he brings to us, understand, -news from France, from our native land, -from our parents, from our friends. Each -one listens, watches, and stretches to him -eager hands. The happy men, who receive -a letter—open it hurriedly and devour it immediately;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -the rest, deprived of this happiness, -depart with heavy heart and isolate -themselves in order to think about those so -far away.</p> - -<p>"Sometimes a name is called to which there -is no response. The men glance at each -other, they question among themselves, they -wait. 'Dead,' murmurs a voice, and the -baggage-master files the letter away and returns -it unopened to the writer. They had -rejoiced when they sent it, and had said to -one another. 'He will be happy to receive -it!' When they see it returned, their poor -hearts will break."</p> - -<p>The streets of Castiglione are quieter; -the deaths and the departures have left -vacancies.</p> - -<p>In spite of the arrival of new wagons full -of wounded, order, little by little, is established -and regular attendance commences.</p> - -<p>The convoys from Castiglione to Brescia -are more frequent. They consist principally -of hospital wagons and heavy carts which, -constantly carrying, to the French Commissary -Department, gun supplies, and provisions, -go back empty to Brescia.</p> - -<p>They are drawn by oxen, walking slowly -under the fierce sun and through the thick -dust in which the pedestrian sinks to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -ankles. These uncomfortable wagons are -covered with branches of trees which very -imperfectly protect from the rays of the -coming sun. The wounded, piled up, one -may say, one upon another. It is difficult to -imagine the torments of this long ride.</p> - -<p>In these wagons some groan, others call -for their mother; there are the ravings and -delirium of fever, sometimes curses and -blasphemies.</p> - -<p>The least interest shown to these unhappy -men, a kind salutation, gives them pleasure -and they return it at once with expressions -of gratitude.</p> - -<p>In all the villages along the road leading -to Brescia, the women sitting before their -doors, silently prepare lint. The Communal -authorities have had prepared, drinks, bread -and nourishment. When a convoy arrives -the women of the village go to the wagons, -wash the wounds, renew the lint compresses, -which they moisten with fresh water. They -pour spoonfuls of bouillon, wine or lemonade -in the mouths of those who have not the -strength to raise their heads or extend their -arms.</p> - -<p>In Montechiaro, three small hospitals are -under the care of the women of the people, -who nurse with as much wisdom as kindheartedness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -In Guidizzolo, about one thousand -invalids are placed in a large castle. In -Volta, some hundreds of Austrians are received -in an old monastery which has been -transformed into barracks. In Cavriana, -they establish in the church a number of -Hungarians who had been forty-eight hours -without help. In the field-hospital of the -headquarters, chloroform is used in operating; -this produces, in the Austrians, almost -immediate insensibility, and in the French -nervous contractions, accompanied by exaltation -before unconsciousness results.</p> - -<p>The people of Cavriana are entirely without -provisions; the soldiers of the guard feed -them by sharing with them their rations and -their mess; the country has been laid waste, -and almost everything edible, cattle, garden -produce, etc., has been sold to the Austrian -troops. The French army has campaign -food in abundance, but only with difficulty -can it procure the butter, meat and vegetables -necessary for the ordinary food of -soldiers.</p> - -<p>The wounded of the Sardinian army, who -have been transported to Desenzano, Rivoltella, -Lonato, and Pozzolenzo, are in conditions -less disadvantageous than the French -and Austrians temporarily established in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -Castiglione—Desenzano and Rivoltella not -having been occupied at a few days interval -by two different armies. Food is still to be -found there; the hospitals are better kept -and the inhabitants, less troubled, actively -support the nursing service. The sick are -sent to Brescia in good carts provided with -thick beds of hay. They are protected from -the sun by arches of interlaced foliage which -support a strong linen cover.</p> - -<p>The feeling that one has of his own insufficiency -in such solemn circumstances, is an -inexpressible suffering. It is extremely painful -to feel that you cannot help all those who -lie before you, because of their great number, -or aid those who appeal to you with supplications. -Long hours pass before you -reach the most unfortunate. You are stopped -by one, petitioned by another, all equally -worthy of pity. Embarrassed at each step -by the multitude of miserable sufferers who -press about you, who surround you, who beg -support and help. Then, why turn to the left, -while on the right are so many men who will -soon die without a word of consolation, -without even a single glass of water to appease -their burning thirst? The thought of -the importance of one human life that one -might be able to save; the desire to alleviate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -the tortures of so many unfortunate and to -restore their courage, the forced and unceasing -activity which one imposes on himself -in such moments, gives a supreme energy, a -thirst to carry help to the greatest number -possible. One becomes no longer moved by -the thousand scenes of this terrible tragedy, -one passes, with indifference, before the most -hideously disfigured corpses and glances almost -coldly at sights, so much more horrible -than those already described, that the pen -refuses absolutely to depict them; but it happens, -sometimes, that the heart suddenly -breaks, struck all at once by a poignant sadness -at the sight of a single incident, an -isolated fact, an unexpected detail, which -goes directly to the soul, draws out our sympathy, -moves the most impressionable cords -of our being and brings a realization of the -whole horror of this tragedy.</p> - -<p>Worn out with fatigue, but unable to sleep, -I have my little carriage harnessed on the -afternoon of Monday, the twenty-seventh, -and go away about 6 o'clock to breathe in the -open air the freshness of the evening and to -find a little repose by escaping, for a moment, -from the dismal sights which surround me -on every side in Castiglione.</p> - -<p>It was a favorable time, for no movement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -of the troops had been ordered during the -day.</p> - -<p>Calm had succeeded the terrible agitation -of the previous days. Here and there are -visible pools of dried blood which redden the -battle-field. One meets newly turned earth, -white with freshly strewn lime, indicating -the place where repose the victims of the -twenty-fourth.</p> - -<p>At Solferino, whose square tower has -proudly dominated for some centuries that -country, where for the third time have just -met two of the greatest powers of modern -days, one still picks up much debris which -covers, even in the cemeteries, the crosses -and the bloody stones of the tombs. The -ground is strewn with swords, guns, haversacks, -cartridge boxes, tin boxes, shakos, helmets -and belts. Almost everything is twisted, -torn and broken.</p> - -<p>I arrive at Cavriana at about 9 o'clock in -the evening.</p> - -<p>The train of war surrounding the headquarters -of the Emperor of France is an -imposing sight.</p> - -<p>I seek the Marshal, Duke of Magenta, with -whom I am personally acquainted.</p> - -<p>Not knowing exactly where his army corps -is encamped, I stop my little carriage on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -park opposite the house occupied, since Friday -evening, by the Emperor Napoleon. I -find myself suddenly in the midst of a group -of generals, sitting on straw chairs and -wooden stools, smoking their cigars and inhaling -the fresh air before the improvised -palace of the Sovereign.</p> - -<p>While I inquire about the location of Marshal -MacMahon, several generals, very suspicious -of my arrival, question the corporal, -wounded at Magenta, who begged permission -to accompany me on this excursion -through the armies as his rank would ensure -me safe conduct. Sitting beside the coachman, -he gives me, in a certain degree, official -character. The generals desire to know who -I am and to discover the object of the mission -with which they suppose I am charged, -for they cannot imagine that a simple traveler -would dare to risk himself alone in the -midst of the camps at such a time.</p> - -<p>The corporal, who knows nothing, remains -impenetrable, while he replies respectfully to -their questions. Their curiosity increases -considerably when they see me leave for -Borghetto where the Duke of Magenta is.</p> - -<p>The second corps, commanded by the Marshal, -has been moved from Cavriana to Castellaro, -which is at a distance of five kilometers;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -its divisions are encamped on the -right and left of the road leading from Castellaro -to Monzambano. The Marshal, himself, -with his staff, occupies Borghetto.</p> - -<p>Although the night has arrived, we continue -our way. The fires of the bivouac, fed -by whole trees, and the lighted tents of the -officers, present a picturesque appearance. -The last murmurings of a sleeping, yet -watchful, camp soothes a little my excited -imagination. Under this beautiful star-lit -sky, a solemn silence at last takes the place of -the noises and emotions of the preceding -days. I breathe with delight the pure sweet -air of a splendid Italian night.</p> - -<p>Having obtained only incomplete information, -we mistake our way and follow a road -leading to Volta. We are about to fall into -the army corps of General Neil, made Marshal -three days before, which is encamped -on the outskirts of the town.</p> - -<p>My Italian coachman is so frightened at -the idea of being very near the Austrian -lines that, more than once, I am obliged to -take the reins from his hands and give them -to the corporal seated beside him on the box. -The poor man had run away from Mantua -several days before to save himself from the -Austrian service, taking refuge in Brescia,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -he hired out as a coachman. His fears grow -greater on hearing the discharge of a distant -gun, fired by someone who disappears in the -underbrush. After the retreat of the Austrian -army, many of the deserters hid themselves -in the cellars of the houses of the villages, -abandoned by their owners and partially -plundered. In order not to be captured, -they, at first, ate and drank in those underground -retreats, then, being at the end of -their resources and pressed by hunger, but -well armed, they ventured out at night.</p> - -<p>The unhappy and terrified Mantuan can -no longer guide his horse. He constantly -turns his head, he casts affrighted glances at -all the thickets along the road, at all the -hedges and hovels, fearing, any moment, to -see emerge some hidden Austrians.</p> - -<p>His fears increase at every turn of the -road and he almost swoons, when, in the -silence of the night we are surprised with a -shot from a guard, whom we do not see on -account of the darkness. His terror knows -no limit when we almost collide with a large, -wide open umbrella which we vaguely catch -sight of at the side of the road near a path -leading to Volta. That poor umbrella, riddled -with bullets and balls was, probably, a -part of the baggage of some canteen-woman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -who had lost it during the storm of the -twenty-fourth.</p> - -<p>We were retracing the road to reach -Borghetto. It was after 11 o'clock. We -were making the horse gallop and our modest -vehicle rolled across the space, almost without -noise, on to the Strato Cavallara, when -cries of "Who goes there? Who goes there? -Who goes there? or I fire," came like a bolt -from the mouth of an invisible sentinel. -"France," replies immediately a loud voice, -which adds, in giving his rank: "Corporal -in the First Engineer Corps, Company Seventh." -"Go on," is the reply. Without this -presence of mind of the corporal we would -have received a shot almost in the face.</p> - -<p>Finally, at a quarter before twelve we -reach, without other adventure, the first -houses of Borghetto.</p> - -<p>All is dark and silent. However, a light -shines on the ground floor of a house on the -principal street, where are at work in a low -room the accounting officers. Although embarrassed -in their work and very much -astonished at our appearance at such an -hour, they treat us very kindly. A paymaster, -Signor Outrey, gives me a cordial invitation -to be his guest. His orderly brings a -mattress on which I throw myself, completely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -dressed, to rest for several hours, -after drinking some excellent bouillon, which -seems to me the more delicious as I am -hungry and for several days have eaten nothing -even passable. I can sleep quietly, not -being, as in Castiglione, suffocated with -fetid exhalations and tormented with the -flies, which though satiated with corpses, -attack also the living.</p> - -<p>The corporal and the driver settled themselves -simply in the carriage, remaining in -the street, but the unfortunate Mantuan, always -in great terror, could not shut his eyes -during the whole night and the next day he -was more dead than alive.</p> - -<p>Tuesday, the twenty-eighth, at six in the -morning I was received most kindly by Marshal -MacMahon. At ten o'clock I was on the -way to Cavriana. Soon after I entered the -modest house, since historic, for there was -lodged the Emperor Napoleon.</p> - -<p>At three o'clock in the afternoon I found -myself once more in the midst of the -wounded of Castiglione, who expressed their -joy at seeing me again.</p> - -<p>The thirtieth of June I was in Brescia.</p> - -<p>This city, so charming and picturesque, is -transformed, not into a large temporary -shelter for the wounded like Castiglione, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -into a vast hospital. Its two cathedrals, its -palaces, its churches, its monasteries, its colleges, -its barracks, in a word all its buildings -receive the victims of Solferino.</p> - -<p>Fifteen thousand beds, of some sort, have -been improvised in forty-eight hours. The -inhabitants have done more than was ever -done before under similar circumstances.</p> - -<p>In the centre of the city the old basilica, -"il Duomo recchio," contains a thousand -wounded. The people come to them in -crowds, women of every class bring them -quantities of oranges, jellies, biscuits and -delicacies. The humblest widow or the poorest -little old woman believes that she must -present her tribute of sympathy and her -modest offering.</p> - -<p>Similar scenes occur in the new cathedral, -a magnificent temple of white marble, where -the wounded are taken by the hundreds. It -is the same in forty other buildings, churches -or hospitals which contain nearly twenty -thousand wounded.</p> - -<p>The municipality of Brescia understood -the extraordinary duty imposed upon it by -such grave circumstances. With a permanent -existence it associates with itself the -best men of the town, who bring to it eager -co-operation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> - -<p>In opening a monastery, a school, a church, -the municipality created, in a few hours, as -if by magic, hospitals with hundreds of beds, -vast kitchens, improvised laundries for linen -and everything that would be necessary.</p> - -<p>These measures were taken with so much -courage that, after a few days, one was able -to admire the good order and regular management -of these hurriedly arranged hospitals. -The population of Brescia, which -was forty thousand, was suddenly almost -doubled by the great number of wounded and -sick. The physicians, numbering one hundred -and forty, displayed great self-devotion -during the whole duration of their fatiguing -service. They were helped by the medical -students and some volunteers. Aid committees -being organized, a special commission -was appointed to receive donations of bedding, -linen and provisions of all kinds; another -commission administered the depot or -central store house.</p> - -<p>In the large rooms of the hospitals, the -officers are ordinarily separated from the soldiers. -The Austrians are not mixed with -the allies. The series of beds are all alike, -on the shelf above the bed of each soldier, -his uniform and military cap indicate to -which branch of the service he belongs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> - -<p>They have commenced to refuse permission -for the crowd to enter, it embarrasses -and hinders the nurses.</p> - -<p>At the side of soldiers, with resigned faces, -are others who murmur and complain. The -idea of an amputation scarcely frightens the -French soldier, because of his careless nature, -but he is impatient and irritable; the -Austrian, of a less thoughtless disposition, -is more inclined to be melancholy in his -isolation.</p> - -<p>I find in these hospital wards some of our -wounded from Castiglione. They are better -cared for now, but their torments are not -ended.</p> - -<p>Here, is one of the heroes of the Imperial -Flying Guard, wounded at Solferino. Shot -in the leg, he passed several days at Castiglione, -where I dressed his wounds for the -first time. He is stretched on a straw mattress; -the expression of his face denotes -profound suffering; his eyes are hollow and -shining; his great pallor gives evidence that -purulent fever has set in to complicate and -increase the gravity of his condition; his lips -are dry; his voice trembles; the assurance of -the brave man has given place to fear and -timidity; care even unnerves him; he is -afraid to have any one approach his poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -injured leg which the gangrene has already -attacked.</p> - -<p>A French surgeon, who makes the amputations, -passes by his bed; the sick man, -whose touch is like burning iron, seizes his -hand and presses it in his own.</p> - -<p>"Do not hurt me! My suffering is terrible!" -he cries.</p> - -<p>But one must act, and without delay. -Twenty other wounded must be operated on -during the same morning, and one hundred -and fifty are waiting for bandages. One has -not time to pity a single case nor to await -the end of his hesitation. The surgeon, cool -and resolute, replies: "Let me do it." Then -he rapidly lifts the covering. The broken leg -is swollen double its natural size; from three -places flows a quantity of fetid pus, purple -stains prove that as an artery has been -broken, the sole remedy, if there is one, is -amputation.</p> - -<p>Amputation! Terrible word for this poor -young man, who sees before him no other -alternative than an immediate death or the -miserable life of a cripple.</p> - -<p>He has no time to prepare himself for the -last decision, and trembling with anguish, -he cries out in despair: "Oh! What are you -going to do?" The surgeon does not reply.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -"Nurse, carry him away, make haste!" he -says. But a heartrending cry bursts from -that panting breast; the unskilled nurse has -seized the motionless, yet sensitive, leg much -too near the wound; the broken bones penetrating -the flesh, has caused new torments to -the soldier whose hanging leg shakes with -the jolts of the transportation to the operating -room.</p> - -<p>Fearful procession! It seems as if one -were leading a victim to death.</p> - -<p>He lies finally on the operating table. -Nearby, on another table, a linen covers the -instruments. The surgeon, occupied with his -work, hears and sees only his operation. A -young army doctor holds the arms of the -patient, while the nurse seizes the healthy -leg and draws the invalid to the edge of the -table. At this the frightened man shrieks: -"Do not let me fall!" and he seizes convulsively -in his arms the young physician, ready -to support him and who pale from emotion -is himself almost equally distressed.</p> - -<p>The operator, one knee on the floor and his -hand armed with the terrible knife, places -his arm about the gangrenous limb and cuts -the skin all around. A piercing cry sounds -through the hospital. The young physician, -face to face, with the tormented man can see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -on his contracted features every detail of his -atrocious agony.</p> - -<p>"Courage," he says, in a low tone to the -soldier, whose hands he feels gripping his -back, "two minutes more and you will be -saved."</p> - -<p>The doctor stands up again; he separates -the skin from the muscles which it covers, -leaving them bare; as he draws back the skin -he cuts away the flesh, then returning to the -attack, with a vigorous turn, he cuts away -every muscle to the bone; a torrent of blood -gushes out of the arteries, just opened, covering -the operator and flowing down on to -the floor.</p> - -<p>Calm and expressionless, the rough operator -does not speak a word; but, suddenly, in -the midst of the silence reigning in the room, -he turns in anger to the awkward nurse, reproaching -him for not knowing how to press -on the arteries. This latter, inexperienced, -did not know how to prevent the hemorrhage -by applying his thumb properly on the -bleeding arteries.</p> - -<p>The wounded man, overcome by suffering, -articulates feebly, "Oh! it is enough, let me -die!" and a cold sweat runs down his face.</p> - -<p>But he must bear it still another minute,—a -minute which seems an eternity.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> - -<p>The young physician, ever full of sympathy, -counts the seconds as he watches sometimes -the operating surgeon, sometimes the -patient, whose courage he tries to sustain, -saying to him: "Only one minute more!"</p> - -<p>Indeed, the moment for the saw has come -and already one hears the grinding of the -steel as it penetrates the living bone, separating -from the body the member half -gangrenous.</p> - -<p>But the pain has been too great for that -weak, exhausted body; the groans have -ceased, for the sick man has swooned. The -surgeon, who is no longer guided by his cries -and his groans, fearing that this silence may -be that of death, looks at him uneasily to -assure himself that he has not expired.</p> - -<p>The restoratives, held in reserve, succeed, -with difficulty, in reviving his dull, half-closed, -vacant eyes. The dying man, however, -seems to return to life, he is weak and -shattered, but at least his greatest sufferings -are over.</p> - -<p>Imagine such an operation on an Austrian, -understanding neither Italian nor French -and letting himself be led like a sheep or an -ox to slaughter without being able to exchange -one word with his well-meaning tormentors! -The French meet everywhere with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -sympathy; they are flattered, pampered, encouraged; -when one speaks to them about the -battle of Solferino, they brighten up and -discuss it: That memory, full of glory for -them; drawing their thoughts elsewhere -than on themselves, lessens a little their unhappiness. -But the Austrians have not this -good fortune. In the hospitals where they -are crowded, I insist upon seeing them and -almost by force enter their rooms. With -what gratitude these good men welcome my -words of consolation and the gift of a little -tobacco! On their resigned faces is depicted -a lively gratitude, which they do not know -how to express. Their looks tell more than -any word of thanks.</p> - -<p>Some of them possess two or three paper -florins, a small fortune for them, but they -cannot change this modest value for coins.</p> - -<p>The officers particularly show hearty appreciation -of the attentions bestowed upon -them. In the hospital where he is lodged, -Prince von Isenburg occupies with another -German prince, a comfortable little room.</p> - -<p>During several successive days I distribute, -without distinction of nationality, -tobacco, pipes and cigars in the churches and -hospitals where the odor of the tobacco lessens -a little the nauseous stench produced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -by the crowding of so many patients in -suffocating places. Besides that, it is a distraction, -a means of dispelling the fears of -the wounded before the amputation of a -member; not a few are operated on with a -pipe in the mouth, and some die smoking.</p> - -<p>Finally all the supply of tobacco in Brescia -is exhausted. It must be brought from -Milan.</p> - -<p>An eminent inhabitant of Brescia, Signor -Carlo Borghetti, takes me in his carriage, -from hospital to hospital. He helps me to -distribute my modest gifts of tobacco, arranged -by the merchants in thousands of -little bags that are carried by willing soldiers -in very large baskets.</p> - -<p>Everywhere I am well received. Only a -doctor of Lombardy, named Calini, will not -allow the distribution of cigars in the hospital -San Luca, which is confided to his care. -In other places the physicians, on the contrary, -show themselves almost as grateful as -their patients. But wishing to try once more -at San Luca, I visit again that hospital and -succeed in making a large distribution of -cigars, to the great joy the poor wounded, -whom I had innocently made suffer the -torments of Tantalus.</p> - -<p>During the course of my investigations I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -penetrate into a series of rooms forming the -second floor of a large monastery, a kind of -labyrinth of which the ground and the first -floors are full of the sick. I find in one of the -upper rooms four or five wounded and feverish -patients, in another ten or fifteen, in a -third about twenty, all neglected (this is -very excusable; there were so many wounded, -everywhere), complaining bitterly of not -having seen a nurse for several hours and -begging insistently that someone bring them -bouillon in place of cold water which they -have for their only drink. At the end of an -interminable corridor, in a little isolated -room, is dying absolutely alone, motionless -on a mattress, a young corporal attacked -with tetanus. Although he seems full of life -as his eyes are wide open, he hears and understands -nothing and remains neglected.</p> - -<p>Many of the soldiers beg me to write to -their relatives, some to their captains, who -replace in their eyes their absent families.</p> - -<p>In the hospital of Saint Clement, a lady of -Brescia, Countess Bronna, occupies herself, -with saintly self-abnegation, in nursing -those who have had limbs amputated. The -French soldiers speak of her with enthusiasm, -the most repellant details do not stop -her. "Sono madre!" she says to me with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -simplicity: "I am a mother!" These words -well express her devotion as complete as -motherly.</p> - -<p>In the hospital San Gaetano, a Franciscan -monk, distinguishes himself by his zeal and -kindness to the sick. A convalescent Piedmontese, -speaking French and Italian, translates -the petitions of the French soldiers to -the Lombardy physicians. They keep him as -interpreter.</p> - -<p>In a neighboring hospital chloroform is -used. Some patients are chloroformed with -difficulty, accidents result and sometimes it -is in vain that they try to revive a man who -a few minutes before was speaking.</p> - -<p>I am stopped many times on the street by -kind people who beg me to come to their -homes, for a minute, to act as interpreter to -the wounded French officers, lodged in their -houses, surrounded by the best care, but -whose language they do not understand. -The invalids, excited and uneasy, are irritated -at not being understood, to the great -distress of the family whose sympathetic -kindness is received with the bad humour -that fever and suffering often call forth. One -of them, whom an Italian physician desires -to bleed, imagining that they wish to amputate -him, resists with all his strength, overheating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -himself and doing himself much -harm. A few words of explanation in their -mother tongue, in the midst of this lamentable -confusion, alone succeed in calming and -tranquilizing these invalids of Solferino.</p> - -<p>With what patience the inhabitants of -Brescia devote themselves to these who have -sacrificed themselves in order to deliver them -from a foreign rule! They feel a real grief -when their charge dies. These adopted families -religiously follow to the cemetery, accompanying -to its last resting place, the -coffin of the French officer, their guest of a -few days, for whom they weep as for a -friend, a relative or a son, but whose name, -perhaps, they do not know.</p> - -<p>During the night the soldiers, who have -died in the hospitals, are interred. Their -names and numbers are noted down, which -was rarely done in Castiglione. For example, -the parents of Corporal Mazuet, aided -by me in the Chiesa Maggiore and who lived -in Lyons, 3 Rue d'Alger, never received -other information about their son than that -which I sent them.</p> - -<p>All the cities of Lombardy considered it -due to their honor to share in the distribution -of the wounded.</p> - -<p>In Bergamo and Cremona special commisions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -organized in haste are aided by auxiliary -committees of devoted ladies. In one -of the hospitals of Cremona an Italian -physician having said: "We keep the good -things for our friends of the allied army, -but we give to our enemies only what is -absolutely necessary, and if they die, so much -the worse for them!" A lady, directing one -of the hospitals of that city, hastened to -disapprove of these barbarous words, saying -that she always took the same care of Austrians, -French and Sardinians, not wishing -to make any difference between friends and -enemies, "for," she said, "Our Lord Jesus -Christ made no distinction between men -when it was a question of doing them good."</p> - -<p>In Cremona, as everywhere else, the -French physicians regret their insufficient -number. "I cannot, without profound sorrow," -said Dr. Sonrier, "think of a small -room of twenty-five beds assigned, in Cremona, -to the most dangerously wounded Austrians. -I see again their faces, emaciated -and wan, with complexion pallid from exhaustion -and blood poisoning, begging with -heartrending gestures, accompanied by pitiful -cries, for one last favor, the amputation -of a limb (which they had hoped to save),<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -to end an intolerable agony of which we are -forced to remain powerless spectators."</p> - -<p>Besides the group of courageous and indefatigable -surgeons, whose names I would like -to be able to cite (for, certainly, if to kill men -is a title to glory, to nurse them and cure -them, often at the risk of one's own life, -merits indeed esteem and gratitude), medical -students hasten from Bologna, Pisa and -other Italian cities. A Canadian surgeon, -Dr. Norman Bettun, professor of anatomy in -Toronto, comes to assist these devoted men. -Besides the people of Lombardy, French, -Swiss and Belgian tourists seek to render -themselves useful, but their efforts had to be -limited to the distribution of oranges, ices, -coffee, lemonade and tobacco.</p> - -<p>In Plaisance, whose three hospitals are administered -by private individuals, and by -ladies serving as nurses, one of these last, a -young lady, supplicated by her family to -renounce her intention to pass her days in -the hospital, on account of the contagious -fevers there, continued her labors so willingly -and with such kindness that she was -greatly esteemed by all the soldiers. "She -enlivens the hospital," they said.</p> - -<p>How valuable, in the cities of Lombardy, -would have been some hundreds of voluntary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -nurses, devoted, experienced and, above all, -previously instructed! They would have rallied -around themselves the meagre band of -assistants and the scattered forces. Not -only was time lacking to those who were -capable of counselling and guiding; but the -necessary knowledge and experience was not -possessed by the greater number of those -who could offer only personal devotion, -which was insufficient and often useless. -What, indeed, in spite of their good will, -could a handful of persons do in such urgent -need? After some weeks the compassionate -enthusiasm began to cool and the people, as -inexperienced as they were injudicious in -their kindness, sometimes brought improper -food to the wounded, so that it was necessary -to deny them entrance to the churches and -hospitals.</p> - -<p>Many persons, who would have consented -to pass one or two hours a day with the sick, -gave up their intention, because a special permission -was necessary, which could only be -obtained by petitioning the authorities. -Strangers disposed to help met with all kinds -of unexpected hindrances, of a nature to discourage -them. But voluntary hospital workers, -well chosen and capable, sent by societies -with the sanction of the governments and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -respected because of an agreement between -the belligerents, would have surmounted the -difficulties and done incomparably more good.</p> - -<p>During the first eight days after the battle -the wounded, of whom the physicians said, in -low tones, when passing by their beds and -shaking their heads: "There is nothing more -to be done," received no more attention and -died neglected. And is not this very natural -when the scarcity of the nurses is compared -with the enormous number of the wounded? -An inexorable and cruel logic insists that -these unfortunate men should be left to -perish without further care and without having -given to them the precious time that -must be reserved for the soldiers who could -be cured. They were numerous, however, -and not deaf, those unfortunate men on -whom was passed such pitiless judgment! -Soon they perceive their deserted condition -and with a broken and embittered heart gasp -out the last breath while no one notices.</p> - -<p>The death of many a one among them is -rendered more sad and bitter by the proximity, -on a cot by his side, of a young soldier, -slightly wounded, whose foolish jokes leave -him neither peace nor tranquillity. On the -other side, one of his companions in misery -has just died; and, he dying, must see and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -hear the funeral ceremony, much too rapidly -performed, which shows him in advance his -own. Finally, about to die, he sees men, -profiting by his weakness, search his knapsack -and steal what they desire.</p> - -<p>For that dying man there have been, lying -in the postoffice for eight days, letters from -his family; if he could have had them, they -would have been to him a great consolation; -he has entreated the nurses to bring them -that he may read them before his last hour, -but they replied unkindly, that they had not -time as there was so much else to do.</p> - -<p>Better would it have been for you, poor -martyr, if you had perished, struck dead on -the field of butchery, in the midst of -the splendid abomination which men call -"Glory!" Your name, at least, would not -have been forgotten, if you had fallen near -your colonel defending the flag of your regiment. -It would almost have been better for -you had you been buried alive by the peasants -commissioned for that purpose, when -you, unconscious, were carried from the hill -of the Cypresses, from the foot of the tower -of Solferino or from the plains of Medole. -Your agony would not have been long. Now, -it is a succession of miseries that you must -endure, it is no longer the field of honor that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -is presented to you, but cold death with all its -terrors, and the word "disappeared" for a -funeral oration.</p> - -<p>What has become of the love of glory -which electrified this brave soldier at the -commencement of the campaign and during -that day at Solferino, when, risking his own -life, he so courageously attempted to take the -lives of his fellow-creatures, whose blood he -ran, with such light feet, to shed? Where is -the irresistible allurement? Where the contagious -enthusiasm, increased by the odor of -powder, by the flourish of trumpets and by -the sound of military music, by the noise of -cannon and the whistling of bullets which -hide the view of danger, suffering and death.</p> - -<p>In these many hospitals of Lombardy may -be seen at what price is bought that which -men so proudly call "Glory," and how dearly -this glory costs.</p> - -<p>The battle of Solferino is the only one during -our century to be compared by the magnitude -of its losses with the battles of -Moscow, Leipzig and Waterloo.</p> - -<p>As a consequence of the twenty-fourth of -June, 1859, it has been calculated that there -were in killed and wounded, in the Austrian -and Franco-Sardinian Armies, three field-marshals, -nine generals, fifteen hundred and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -sixty-six officers of all grades, of whom six -hundred and thirty were Austrians and nine -hundred and thirty-six allies, and about -forty thousand soldiers and non-commissioned -officers.</p> - -<p>Besides that, from the fifteenth of June to -the thirty-first of August, there were in the -hospitals of Brescia, according to the official -statistics, nineteen thousand six hundred -and sixty-five patients with fever and other -illnesses, of whom more than nineteen thousand -belonged to the Franco-Sardinian -Army.</p> - -<p>On their side, the Austrians had at least -twenty thousand sick soldiers in Venice, beside -ten thousand wounded, who, after Solferino, -were sent to Verona, where the overcrowded -hospitals were finally attacked by -gangrene and typhus fever.</p> - -<p>Consequently, to the forty thousand killed -and wounded on the twenty-fourth of June, -must be added more than forty thousand sick -with fever or dying from illness caused by -the excessive fatigue experienced on the day -of the battle or during the days which preceded -and succeeded it or from the pernicious -effects of the tropical temperature of the -plains of Lombardy, or, finally, from the -imprudence of these soldiers themselves.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>If one does not consider the military point -of view, the battle of Solferino was then, -from the point of humanity a European -catastrophe.</p> - -<p>The transportation of the wounded from -Brescia to Milan, which takes place during -the night because of the torrid heat of the -day, presents a dramatic sight with its trains -loaded with crippled soldiers arriving at the -station filled with crowds of people.</p> - -<p>Lighted by the pale flare of the tar torches, -the mass of men seems to hold its breath to -listen to the groans and the stifled complaints -which reach their ears.</p> - -<p>The Austrians, in their retreat, having -torn up several places on the railroad between -Milan and Brescia—this road was restored -for use by the first days of July, for -the transportation of ammunition, of supplies -and of food sent to the allied army—the -evacuation of the hospitals in Brescia was in -this way facilitated.</p> - -<p>At each station, long and narrow -sheds have been constructed to receive the -wounded. These, when taken from the cars, -are placed on mattresses, arranged in a line -one after the other. Under these sheds are -set up tables covered with bread, soup, lemonade, -wine, water, lint, linen and bandages.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -Torches, carried by the young men of the -place where the convoy stops, light the darkness. -The citizens of Lombardy hasten to -present their tribute of gratitude to the conquerors -of Solferino; in respectful silence -they bandage the wounded whom they have -lifted carefully out of the cars to place them -on the beds made ready for their use. The -women of the country offer refreshing -drinks, and food of all kinds, which they -distribute on the cars to those who must go -on to Milan.</p> - -<p>In this city, where about a thousand -wounded have arrived every night for several -nights in succession, the martyrs of Solferino -are received with great kindness. No -longer are rose leaves scattered from the -flag-ornamented balconies of the luxurious -palaces of the Milanese aristocracy, on shining -epaulets and on striped gold and enameled -orders, by beautiful and graceful ladies -whom exaltation and enthusiasm rendered -still more beautiful. To-day, in their gratitude, -they shed tears of compassion which -are interpreted by devotion and sacrifice.</p> - -<p>Every family possessing a carriage, goes -to the station to transport the wounded. The -number of equipages sent by the people of -Milan probably exceeds five hundred. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -finest carriages as well as the most modest -carts are sent every evening to Porto Tosca, -where stands the railroad station for Venice. -The Italian ladies consider it an honor to -themselves to place in their rich carriages, -which they have provided with mattresses, -sheets and pillows, the guests assigned to -them and who are accompanied by the -greatest noblemen of Lombardy, aided in -this work by their not less considerate -servants.</p> - -<p>The people applaud the passage of these -men, famed because of their suffering. They -respectfully uncover their heads. They follow -the slow march of the convoy with -torches illuminating the sad faces of the -wounded, who try to smile. They accompany -them to the door of the hospitable palace, -where awaits them the most devoted care.</p> - -<p>Every family wishes to receive the French -wounded and, by all sorts of kindness, try to -lessen the sadness caused by distance from -home, from parents and from friends.</p> - -<p>But after a few days the greater number -of the inhabitants of Milan are obliged to remove -to the hospitals the wounded whom -they have received in their houses. The administration -desires to avoid too great scattering -of the nursing and any increase of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -fatigue for the physicians. Before Solferino, -the hospitals of this city contained about nine -thousand wounded from preceding battles.</p> - -<p>Great Milanese ladies watch beside the bed -of the simple soldier, of whom they become -the guardian angels. Countess Verri, -née Borroméo, Madame Uboldi de Capei, -Madame Boselli, Madame Sala-Taverna, -Countess Taverna and many others, forgetting -their luxurious habits, pass whole -months by these beds of suffering. Some of -these ladies are mothers, whose mourning -garments testify to a recent and sorrowful -loss. One of them said: "The war robbed -me of my oldest son; he died eight months -ago, from a shot received while fighting with -the French Army at Sebastopol. When I -knew that the French wounded were coming -to Milan and that I could nurse them, I felt -that God was sending me His first consolation."</p> - -<p>Countess Verri-Borroméo, president of the -Central Aid Committee, has charge of the -great depot for linens and lint. In spite of -her advanced age she devotes many hours a -day to reading to the sick.</p> - -<p>All the palaces contain wounded. That of -the Borroméo family has received three hundred. -The Superior of the Ursulines, Sister<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -Marina Videmari, has converted her convent -into a hospital and serves in it with her companions. -This convent-hospital is a model -of order and cleanliness.</p> - -<p>The Marchioness Pallavicini-Trivulzio, -who presides over the great Turin Committee -with admirable devotion and self-forgetfulness, -collects the donations from different -cities and countries; thanks to her activity -the depot in Milan, situated contrada San -Paolo, remains always well provided.</p> - -<p>Some weeks later, in the streets of Milan, -there were seen passing a few companies of -convalescent French soldiers sadly returning -to France. Some have their arms in slings, -others are supported by crutches or bear -marks of wounds. Their uniforms are well -worn and torn, but they wear fine linen, -which the rich men of Lombardy have generously -given them in exchange for their -blood-stained shirts: "Your blood flowed to -defend our country," they said, "and we -wish to keep these memories of it." These -men, not long ago so strong, so robust, now -deprived of an arm or a leg or with head -bandaged, bear their misfortune with resignation. -But, thus incapable of continuing in -the army and earning bread for their -families, they already with bitterness, behold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -themselves, after their return to their native -land, objects of commiseration and pity, a -care to others and to themselves.</p> - -<p>In one of the hospitals of Milan, a sergeant -of the Zouave Guard, with an energetic -and proud face, who has had one leg amputated -and had borne that operation without a -complaint, was seized, some time after, with -extreme sadness, although his health was improving -and his recovery rapidly taking -place. This sadness, increasing daily, was -incomprehensible. A Sister of Charity, perceiving -tears in his eyes, questioned so insistently -that he at last confessed that he -was the sole support of his aged and infirm -mother to whom he used to send each month -five francs of his pay. He added that, being -unable to help her, this poor woman must be -in great need of money. The Sister of -Charity, touched with compassion, gave him -five francs, the value of which was immediately -sent to France. When the directress -of the hospital wished to make him another -gift, he would not accept it, and said to her -thankfully: "Keep this money for others -who need it more than I; as for my mother, -I hope next month to send her her usual -allowance, for I count on soon being able to -work."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> - -<p>A lady of Milan, bearing an illustrious -name, placed at the disposition of the -wounded one of her palaces, with one hundred -and fifty beds. Among the soldiers, -lodged in this magnificent mansion, was a -grenadier of the Seventieth Regiment of the -French Infantry, who, having undergone an -operation, was in danger of death. The -lady, trying to console him, spoke to him of -his family. He told her that he was the only -son of poor peasants in the Department of -Gers, and that he was very sad at leaving -his parents in misery, for he alone -provided for their maintenance. He added -that his greatest consolation would be to -kiss his mother before he died. Saying -nothing to him of her project, the noble -lady suddenly decides to leave Milan, takes -the train, reaches the Departments of Gers, -near the family, whose address she has procured, -takes possession of the mother of the -wounded man. After having left a large sum -of money for the infirm old father, she brings -the humble villager with her to Milan; and -six days after the confession of the grenadier, -the son kisses his mother, weeping and -blessing his benefactress.</p> - -<p>But why recall so many pitiful and melancholy -scenes and thus arouse such painful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -emotions? Why relate, with complaisance, -these lamentable details and dwell upon these -distressing pictures?</p> - -<p>To this very natural question we reply -with another question.</p> - -<p>Would it not be possible to establish in -every country of Europe, Aid Societies, -whose aim would be to provide, during war, -volunteer nurses for the wounded, without -distinction of nationality?</p> - -<p>As they wish us to give up the desires and -hopes of the Societies of the Friends of -Peace, the beautiful dreams of the Abbot of -Saint Pierre and of Count Sellon; as men -continue to kill each other without personal -enmity, and as the height of glory in war -is to exterminate the greatest number -possible; as they still dare to say, as did -Count Joseph de Maistre, that "war is divine"; -as they invent every day with a perseverence -worthy of a better aim, instruments -of destruction more and more terrible, and -as the inventors of these death-dealing engines -are encouraged by all the European -governments—who arm themselves in emulation -one of another—why not profit from a -moment of comparative calm and tranquillity -in order to settle the question which we have -just raised, and which is of such great importance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -from the double point of view of -humanity and Christianity.</p> - -<p>Once presented to the consideration of -every man, this theme will probably call -forth opinions and writings from more competent -persons; but, first, must not this idea, -presented to the different branches of the -great European family, hold the attention -and conquer the sympathies of all those who -possess an elevated soul and a heart capable -of being moved by the suffering of their -fellow-men?</p> - -<p>Such is the purpose for which this book -has been written.</p> - -<p>Societies of this kind, once created, with a -permanent existence, would be found all -ready at the time of war. They should obtain -the favor of the authorities of countries -where they are created, and beg, in case of -war, from the sovereigns of the belligerent -powers the permission and the facilities -necessary to carry out their purpose. These -societies should include in their own and -each country, as members of the central committee, -the most honorable and esteemed -men.</p> - -<p>The moment of the commencement of war, -the committee would call on those persons -who desire to dedicate themselves, for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -time being, to this work, which will consist -in helping and nursing, under the guidance -of experienced physicians, the wounded, first -on the battle-field, then in the field and regular -hospitals.</p> - -<p>Spontaneous devotion is not as rare as one -might think. Many persons, sure of being -able to do some good, helped and facilitated -by a Superior Committee, would certainly -go, and others, at their own expense, would -undertake a task so essentially beneficent. -During our selfish century what an attraction -for the generous-hearted and for chivalrous -characters to brave the same danger -as the soldier with an entirely voluntary mission -of peace and consolation.</p> - -<p>History proves that it is in no way chimerical -to hope for such self-devotion. Two -recent facts especially have just confirmed -this. They occurred during the war in the -East and closely relate to our subject.</p> - -<p>While Sisters of Charity were nursing the -wounded and sick of the French army in -the Crimea, into the Russian and English -armies, there came, from the north and west, -two groups of self-devoted women nurses.</p> - -<p>The Grand Duchess Helen Pavlovna, of -Russia, born, Princess Charlotte, of Wurttemberg, -widow of the Grand Duke Michael,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -having enlisted nearly three hundred ladies -of St. Petersburg and Moscow, to serve as -nurses in the Russian hospitals of the Crimea; -she provided them with everything -necessary, and these saintly women were -blessed by thousands of soldiers.</p> - -<p>In England, Miss Florence Nightingale, -having received a pressing appeal from Lord -Sidney Herbert, Secretary of War of the -British Empire, inviting her to go to the aid -of the English soldiers in the Orient, this -lady did not hesitate to expose herself personally -by great self-devotion. In November, -1854, she went to Constantinople and Scutari -with thirty-seven English ladies, who, -immediately on arrival gave their attention -to nursing the great number of men, -wounded in the battle of Inkerman. In 1855 -Miss Stanley, having come to take part in her -labor with fifty new companions, made it -possible for Miss Nightingale to go to Balaklava -to inspect the hospitals there. The picture -of Miss Florence Nightingale, during -the night, going through the vast wards of -the military hospitals with a small lamp in -her hand, noting the condition of each sick -man, will never be obliterated from the -hearts of the men, who were the objects or -the witnesses of her admirable beneficence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -and the memory of it will be engraven in -history.</p> - -<p>Of the multitude of similar good works, -ancient or modern, the greater number of -which have remained unknown and without -fame, how many have been in vain, because -they were isolated and were not supported -by a united action, which would have wisely -joined them together for a common aim.</p> - -<p>If voluntary hospital workers could have -been found in Castiglione on the twenty-fourth, -the twenty-fifth, and the twenty-sixth -of June, and also in Brescia, Mantua, -and Verona, how much good they might have -done.</p> - -<p>How many human beings they might have -saved from death during that fatal Friday -night, when moans and heartrending supplications -escaped from the breasts of thousands -of the wounded, who were enduring the -most acute pains and tormented by the inexpressible -suffering of thirst.</p> - -<p>If Prince von Isenburg had been rescued -sooner, by compassionate hands, from the -blood-soaked field on which he was lying unconscious, -he would not have been obliged to -suffer for several years from wounds aggravated -by long neglect; if the sight of his -riderless horse had not brought about his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -discovery among the corpses, he would have -perished for lack of help with so many other -wounded, who also were creatures of God, -and whose death would be equally cruel for -their families.</p> - -<p>Those good old women, those beautiful -young girls of Castiglione could not save the -lives of many of those whom they nursed! -Besides them were needed experienced men, -skillful, decided, previously trained to act -with order and harmony, the only means of -preventing the accidents, which complicate -the wounds and make them mortal.</p> - -<p>If there could have been a sufficient number -of assistants to remove the wounded -quickly from the plains of Medole, from the -ravines of San Martin, on the slopes of -Mount Fontana, or on the hills of Solferino, -there would not have been left during long -hours of terrible fear that poor bersaglier, -that Uhlan, or that Zouave, who tried to raise -himself, in spite of cruel suffering, to gesticulate -in vain for someone to send a litter for -him. Finally, the risk of burying the living -with the dead would have been avoided.</p> - -<p>Better means of transportation would -have made it possible to avoid in the case of -the light infantryman of the Guard the terrible -amputation which he had to undergo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -in Brescia, because of the lack of proper -care during the journey from the battle-field -to Castiglione.</p> - -<p>The sight of those young cripples, deprived -of an arm, or a leg, returning sadly to their -homes, does it not call forth remorse that -there was not more effort made before to -avert the evil consequences of the wounds, -which, often could have been cured by timely -aid?</p> - -<p>Would those dead, deserted in the hospitals -of Castiglione, or in those of Brescia, many -of whom could not make themselves understood, -on account of the difference of language, -have gasped out their last breath with -curses and blasphemies, if they had had near -them some compassionate soul to listen to -them and console them?</p> - -<p>In spite of the official aid, in spite of the -zeal of the cities of Lombardy, much remained -to be done, although in no other war -has been seen so great a display of charity; -it was nevertheless unequal to the extent of -the help that was needed.</p> - -<p>It is not the paid employee, whom disgust -drives away, whom fatigue makes unfeeling, -unsympathetic and lazy who can fulfil -such a noble task. Immediate help is -needed, for that which can to-day save the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -wounded will not save him to-morrow; the -loss of time causes gangrene, which leads to -death. One must have volunteer nurses, previously -trained, accustomed to the work, -officially recognized by the commanding -officers of the armies, so that they may be -facilitated in their mission.</p> - -<p>These nurses should not only find their -place on the battle-field, but also in the hospitals, -where the long weeks pass away painfully -for the wounded, without family and -without friends. During this short Italian -war, there were soldiers who were attacked -with home-sickness to such a degree that, -without other illness and without wounds, -they died. On the other hand, the Italians, -and this is comprehensible, showed scarcely -any interest in the wounded of the allied -army, and still less for the suffering Austrians. -It is true, courageous women were -found in Italy, whose patience and perseverance -never wearied; but, unfortunately, -in the end they could be easily counted; the -contagious fevers drove many persons away, -and the nurses and servants did not respond -for any length of time, to that which might -have been expected of them. The personnel -of the military hospitals is always insufficient; -and, if it were doubled or tripled, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -would still be insufficient. We must call on -the public, it is not possible, it never will be -possible to avoid that. Only by this co-operation -can one hope to lessen the sufferings -of war.</p> - -<p>An appeal must be made, a petition presented -to the men of all countries, of all -classes, to the influential of this world, as -well as to the most modest artisan, since all -can, in one way or another, each in his own -sphere, and according to his strength, co-operate -in some measure in this good work.</p> - -<p>This appeal is addressed to women as well -as to men, to the queen, to the princess seated -on the steps of the throne, as well as to the -humble orphaned and charitable maid-servant -or the poor widow alone in the world, -who desires to consecrate her last strength to -the good of others.</p> - -<p>It is addressed to the general, to the marshal, -the Minister of War, as well as to the -writer and the man of letters, who, by his -publications, can plead with ability for the -cause, thereby interesting all mankind, each -nation, each country, each family even, since -no one can say for certain that he is exempt -from the dangers of war.</p> - -<p>If an Austrian general and a French general, -after having fought one against another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -at Solferino, could, soon afterwards, finding -themselves seated side by side at the hospitable -table of the King of Prussia, converse -amicably one with the other, what would -have prevented them from considering and -discussing a question so worthy of their interest -and attention?</p> - -<p>During the grand manœuvers at Cologne, -in 1861, King William of Prussia invited to -dinner, in Benrath Castle, near Dusseldorf, -the officers of the different nations, who were -sent there by their governments. Before going -to the table the King took by the hand -General Forey and General Baumgarten: -"Now that you are friends," he said to them, -smiling, "sit there, beside one another, and -chat." Forey was the victor of Montebello, -and Baumgarten was his adversary.</p> - -<p>On extraordinary occasions, such as those -which assembled at Cologne, at Chalons, or -elsewhere, eminent men of the military art -of different nations, is it not to be desired -that they will profit by this kind of congress -to formulate some international, sacred, and -accepted principle which, once agreed upon -and ratified, would serve as the foundation -for societies for aid for the wounded in the -different countries of Europe? It is still -more important to agree upon and adopt in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -advance these measures, because when hostilities -have commenced, the belligerents are -ill-disposed one towards the other, and will -not consider these questions, except from -the exclusive point of view of their own -interests.</p> - -<p>Are not small congresses called together of -scientists, jurists, medical men, agriculturists, -statisticians, and economists, who meet -expressly in order to consider questions of -much less importance? Are there not international -societies which are occupied with -questions of charity and public utility? Cannot -men, in like manner, meet to solve a -problem as important as that of caring for -the victims of war?</p> - -<p>Humanity and civilization surely demand -the accomplishment of such a work. It is -a duty, to the fulfilment of which every good -man, and every person possessing any influence -owes his assistance.</p> - -<p>What prince, what ruler, would refuse his -support to these societies, and would not be -glad to give the soldiers of his army the full -assurance that they will be immediately and -properly nursed in case they should be -wounded?</p> - -<p>With permanent societies, such as I propose, -the chance of waste and the injudicious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -distribution of money and supplies would -often be avoided. During the war in the -East an enormous quantity of lint, prepared -by Russian ladies, was sent from St. Petersburg -to the Crimea; but the packages, instead -of reaching the hospitals to which they -were sent, arrived at paper mills which used -it all for their own industry.</p> - -<p>By perfecting the means of transportation, -by preventing the accidents during the -journey from the battle-field to the hospital, -many amputations will be avoided, and the -burden of the governments, which pension -the injured will be proportionately lessened.</p> - -<p>These societies, by their permanent existence, -could also render great service at -the time of epidemics, floods, great fires, and -other unexpected catastrophes; the humane -motive which would have created them -would instigate them to act on all occasions -in which their labors could be exercised.</p> - -<p>This work will necessitate the devotion of -a certain number of persons, but it will never -lack money in time of war. Each one will -bring his offering or his compassion in response -to the appeals which will be made by -the committee. A nation will not remain -indifferent when its children are fighting for -its defense. The difficulty is not there; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -the problem rests entirely in the serious -preparation, in all countries, of a work of -this kind, that is, in the creation of these -societies.</p> - -<p>In order to establish these committees at -the head of the societies, all that is necessary -is a little good-will on the part of some honorable -and persevering persons. The committees, -animated by an international spirit -of charity, would create corps of nurses in -a latent state, a sort of staff. The committees -of the different nations, although independent -of one another, will know how to -understand and correspond with each other, -to convene in congress and, in event of war, -to act for the good of all.</p> - -<p>If the terrible instruments of destruction -now possessed by the nations seem to shorten -wars, will not, on the other hand, the battles -be more deadly? And in this century, when -the unexpected plays such an important role, -may not war bring about the most sudden -and unforseen results?</p> - -<p>Are there not, in these considerations -alone, more than sufficient reasons for us not -to allow ourselves to be taken unawares?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="transnote"> -<div class="center"><big>Transcriber's Notes</big></div> - -<p>Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired.</p> - -<p>Inconsistent hyphenation fixed.</p> - -<p>P. 25: monastary -> monastery.</p> - -<p>P. 71: transportation of ammunitions -> transportation of ammunition.</p> - -<p>P. 87: manouvers -> manœuvers.</p> - -<p>P. 89: catastrophies -> catastrophes.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Origin of the Red Cross, by Henry Dunant - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS *** - -***** This file should be named 50968-h.htm or 50968-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/6/50968/ - -Produced by Bryan Ness, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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