Gettysburg Redux by John R. Stuart

Author:John R. Stuart [Stuart, John R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JOHN R. STUART
Published: 2012-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Lutheran Seminary - Midnight

The entire Lutheran Seminary had by this time been converted into a field hospital. All together there were four hospitals around the battlefield, but the school was the largest and contained the majority of the wounded. Every room within the religious school now either housed the wounded or was being used as an operating theatre. It was a large sprawling complex, yet it could not contain the vast numbers of men that required medical attention. The hallways overflowed with men, both Rebel and Union doctors had been working around the clock and most were collapsing from fatigue. Yet they continued, knowing that there was always the chance that they could save another life. Slaves of the Confederate army and captured Yankee negroes were employed as gravediggers; excavating mass graves for the unidentified and single graves for men lucky enough to have their names somewhere on their bodies. The work continued into the night, shovels biting deep into the rich soil.

James Longstreet pulled Traveller to a stop on a low hill beside the Seminary building. A row of torches and lanterns outlined the work of the gravediggers, their shovels rising and falling as they worked. Beside the long shallow grave was a stack of corpses, arms and legs twisted grotesquely in the flickering light of the torches. Hundreds of dead men, the grim toll of the previous day’s work. James kneed Traveller into motion as a party of slaves approached the grave. They stopped at the pit’s edge and backed the two-wheeled cart they were pushing to the grave. With a grunt, they tipped the cart up and into the hole tumbled amputated arms and legs. James averted his eyes and rode past; he swallowed down the acrid taste of bile and spat with disgust.

The wind had freshened and the cool breeze was welcome. However, with the wind came the nauseating stench of the dead corpses still lying on the battlefield. Miles to the south lightning touched down, the light reflecting off the dark rain clouds overhead. James touched Traveller with his spurs pushing the horse to greater speed. He was anxious now to complete his visit to the hospital and return to his tent before the rain arrived. Longstreet tied the reins to the gate and walked quickly up the flagstone walkway which was lined with wounded. Most slept where they lay, some were moaning softly. There was nothing James Longstreet could do for these men; there was little anyone could do for them. All Longstreet could do was try to find a rapid conclusion to the fighting and therefore limit the number of future dead and wounded.

The corridor of the main building was crammed with men and Longstreet hurried past them. There was only one guard stationed at Lee's door and he saluted and opened the door for Longstreet. Lee's room was dimly illuminated with a lantern. His condition had not changed, and he remained deep in a coma. As Longstreet sat in the chair

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