第 23 节
作者:
蝴蝶的出走 更新:2022-08-21 16:41 字数:9321
Confederate horse did not take any part in the battle of Bull Run。
Had they been aware of the utter stampede of the Northern troops;
they could safely have pressed forward in hot pursuit as far as
Washington; but being numerically so inferior to the Federal
cavalry; and in ignorance that the Northern infantry had become a
mere panic…stricken mob; it would have been imprudent in the
extreme for such a handful of cavalry to undertake the pursuit of
an army。
Many of the Confederates were of opinion that this decisive
victory would be the end of the war; and that the North; seeing
that the South was able as well as willing to defend the position it
had taken up; would abandon the idea of coercing it into
submission。 This hope was speedily dissipated。 The North was
indeed alike astonished and disappointed at the defeat of their
army by a greatly inferior force; but instead of abandoning the
struggle; they set to work to retrieve the disaster; and to place in
the field a force which would; they believed; prove irresistible。
Vincent Wingfield saw but little of the battle at Bull Run。 As they
were impatiently waiting the order to charge while the desperate
conflict between Jackson's brigade and the enemy was at its
fiercest; a shell from one of the Federal batteries burst a few
yards in front of the troop; and one of the pieces striking Vincent
on the side hurled him insensible from his horse。 He was at once
lifted and carried by Dan and some of the other men…servants; who
had been told off for this duty; to the rear; where the surgeons were
busily engaged in dressing the wounds of the men who straggled
back from the front。 While the conflict lasted those unable to walk
lay where they fell; for no provision had at present been made for
ambulance corps; and not a single man capable of firing a musket
could be spared from the ranks。 The tears were flowing copiously
down Dan's cheeks as he stood by while the surgeons examined
Vincent's wound。
〃Is he dead; sah?〃 he sobbed as they lifted him up from his
stooping position。
〃Dead 。〃 the surgeon repeated。 〃Can't you see he is breathing; and
did you not hear him groan when I examined his side? He is a
long way from being a dead man yet。 Some of his ribs are broken;
and he has had a very nasty blow; but I do not think there is any
cause for anxiety about him。 Pour a little wine down his throat;
and sprinkle his face with water。 Raise his head and put a coat
under it; and when he opens his eyes and begins to recover; don't
let him move。 Then you can cut up the side of his jacket and down
the sleeve; so as to get it off that side altogether。 Cut his shirt
open; and bathe the wound with some water and bit of rag of any
sort; it is not likely to bleed much。 When it has stopped bleeding
put a pad of linen upon it; and keep it wet。 When we can spare
time we will bandage it properly。〃
But it was not until late at night that the time could be spared for
attending to Vincent; for the surgeons were overwhelmed with
work; and the most serious cases were; as far as possible; first
attended to。 He had soon recovered consciousness。 At first he
looked with a feeling of bewilderment at Dan; who was copiously
sprinkling his face with water; sobbing loudly while he did so。 As
soon as the negro perceived that his master had opened his eyes he
gave a cry of delight。
〃Tank de Lord; Marse Vincent; dis child tought you dead and gone
for sure。〃
〃What's the matter; Dan? What has happened?〃 Vincent said;
trying to move; and then stopping suddenly with a cry of pain。
〃You knocked off your horse; sah; wid one Qf shells Qf dem
cussed Yanks。〃
〃Am I badly hurt; Dan?〃
〃Berry bad; sah; great piece of flesh pretty nigh as big as my hand
come out oh your side; and doctor says some of de ribs broken。
But de doctor not seem to make much oh it; he hard sort oh man
dat。 Say you get all right again。 No time to tend to you now。
Hurry away just as if you some poor white trash instead of Massa
Wingfield oh do Orangery。〃
Vincent smiled faintly。
〃It doesn't make much difference what a man is in a surgeon's eyes;
Dan; the question is how badly he is hurt; and what can be done
for him? Well; thank God it's no worse。 Wildfire was not hurt; I
hope?〃
〃No; sab; he is standing tied up by dat tree。 Now; sah; do doctor
say me cut your jacket off and have de wound。〃
〃All right; Dan; but be a little careful with the water; you seem to
be pretty near drowning me as it is。 Just wipe my face and hair;
and get the handkerchief from the pocket of my jacket; and open
the shirt collar and put the handkerchief inside round my neck。
How is the battle going on? The roar seems louder than ever。〃
Dan went forward to the crest a of slight rise of the ground whence
he could look down upon the field of battle; and made haste to
return。
〃Can't see berry well; sah; too much smoke。 But dey in do same
place still。〃
〃Look round; Dan; and see if there are any fresh troops coming
up。〃
〃Yes; sah; lot of men coming ober de hill behind。〃
〃That's all right; Dan。 Now you can see about this bathing my
side。〃
As soon as the battle was over Major Ashley rode up to where
Vincent and five or six of his comrades of the cavalry were lying
wounded。
〃How are you getting on; lads? Pretty well I hope?〃 he asked the
surgeon as he dismounted。
〃First rate; major;〃 one of the men answered。 〃We all of us took a
turn as soon as we heard that the Yanks were whipped。〃
〃Yes; we have thrashed them handsomely;〃 the major said。 〃Ah;
Wingfield; I am glad to see you are alive。 I thought when you fell
it was all over with you。〃
〃I am not much hurt; sir;〃 Vincent replied。 〃A flesh wound and
some ribs are broken; I hear; but they won't be long mending I
hope。〃
〃It's a nasty wound to look at;〃 the major said; as Dan lifted the
pad of wet linen。 〃But with youth and health you will soon get
round it; never fear。〃
〃Ah; my poor lad; yours is a worse case;〃 he said as he bent over a
young fellow who was lying a few paces from Vincent。
〃It's all up with me; major;〃 he replied faintly; 〃the doctor said he
could do nothing for me。 But I don't mind; now we have beaten
them。 You will send a line to the old people; major; won't you;
and say I died doing my duty? I've got two brothers; and I expect
they will send one on to take my place。〃
〃I will write to them; my lad;〃 the major said; 〃and tell them all
about you。〃 He could give the lad no false hopes; for already a
gray shade was stealing over the white face; and the end was close
at hand; in a few minutes he ceased to breathe。
Late in the evening the surgeons; having attended to more urgent
cases; came round。 Vincent's wound was now more carefully
examined than before; but the result was the same。 Three of the
ribs were badly fractured; but there was no serious danger。
〃You will want quiet and good nursing for some time; my lad;〃 the
principal surgeon said。 〃There will be a train of wounded going
off for Richmond the first thing in the morning; and you shall go
by it。 You had better get a door; lads;〃 he said to some of the
troopers who had come across from the spot where the cavalry
were bivouacked to see how their comrades were getting on; 〃and
carry him down and put him in the train。 One has just been sent
off; and another will be made up at once; so that the wounded can
be put in it as they are taken down。 Now I will bandage the wound;
and it will not want any more attention until you get home。〃
A wad of lint was placed upon the wound and bandaged tightly
round the body。
Remember you have got to he perfectly quiet; and not attempt to
move till the bones have knit。 I am afraid that they are badly
fractured; and will require some time to heal up again。〃
A door was fetched from an out…house near; and Vincent and two
of his comrades; who were also ordered to be sent to the rear; were
one by one carried down to the nearest point on the railway; where
a train stood ready to receive them; and they were then laid on the
seats。
All night the wounded kept arriving; and by morning the train was
packed as full as it would hold; and with two or three surgeons in
charge started for Richmond。 Dan was permitted to accompany
the train; at Vincent's urgent request; in the character of doctor's
assistant; and he went about distributing water to the wounded; and
assisting the surgeons in moving such us required it。
It was night before the train reached Richmond。 A number of
people were at the station to receive it; for as soon as the news of
the battle had been received; preparations had been made for the
reception of the wounded; several public buildings had been
converted into hospitals; and numbers of the citizens had come
forward with offers to take one or