View single post by Hellcat
 Posted: Fri Jan 12th, 2007 03:38 am
PM Quote Reply Full Topic
Hellcat
Person


Joined: Tue Nov 15th, 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 679
Status: 
Offline
Mana: 
 Ok, so we all know about the Battle of Gettysburg. The Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac clashed at the town of Gettysburg from July 1st to July 3rd of 1863 with Gen. Meade's army being the victor. But for the wounded on the field there was a third and unwelcome "army" at Gettysburg. I only recently learned of this army in Michael Sanders's More Strange Tales of the Civil War.

In the book Sanders reprints the words of one Lt. Barzilia (Berzila) Inman of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Inman, who served in Company F of the regiment, was injured on the second day of fighting at the  Wheatfield and would not be removed from the field until the July 4th. On the night of the second he encoutered the third army, a group of hogs who ended up feeding on the wounded and the dead.


 
That night a number of stray hogs came to where I lay and commenced rooting and tearing at the dead men around me. Finally one fellow that in the darkness looked of enormous size approached and attempted to poke me---grunting loudly the while. Several others also came up, when waiting my chance, I jammed my sword into his belly, which made him set up a prolonged, sharp cry. By constant vigilance and keeping from sleeping I contrived to fight the mosters off till daylight.
 

To be honest, until I picked up this book I'd never before given thought to what the wounded and the dying had to face on a battlefield beyond fellow soldiers. And maybe buzzards. Now I'm not sure I won't look at the varios battles and wonder what additional "army" visited the field once the fighting died down there.

Last edited on Fri Jan 12th, 2007 03:56 am by Hellcat