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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 [Firs [232] Lines —— -0.1 —— Norm PgEn [232] 6 : “thousands of souls have been called to sudden judgement” May–July 1863  In January 1863, Hooker was named commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Burnside. During long preparations for action, Lincoln advised Hooker to direct his efforts at Lee’s army rather than attempt yet another overland campaign to capture Richmond. Hooker moved across the Rappahannock in late April and engaged Lee at Chancellorsville. On 2 May, in the course of this battle, Confederate forces under Jackson made a surprise flanking movement that caused a rout. Union losses continued, and on 4 May Hooker withdrew his forces back across the river. Once again, Twichell found himself working among the wounded. House near United States Ford. Stafford Co., Va. May 9th 1863. Dear Ned, My present situation is probably in many respects more singular and interesting than any in which I have been placed since I entered the army. I am here with only one attendant (a private of the 12th New Hampshire) in charge of thirteen wounded Confederate prisoners. During the night of Tuesday our forces recrossed the Rappahannock. The wounded were all brought over the afternoon before and disposed in the various houses available on this side [of] the river. I had been employed in their care and transportation till at dark I established myself at this place, set up my tent and waited for the returning troops. It was a cold rainy night. Hundreds of poor, helpless fellows were huddled together both out and indoors. Many, it was utterly impossible to put under any sort of shelter. We passed nearly the whole night in arranging them on their stretchers in circles about such fires as we could make in the 232 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 [233] Lines —— 0.0 —— Norm PgEn [233] storm. The ground was perfectly fluid and some lay in the mud. Such suffering I never witnessed. The lacerated bodies, drained of their blood, were keenly sensitive to the cold and wet, and I saw more than one armless, legless man shaking and shuddering with a violence heartrending to behold. All their clothes were soaked, a dry blanket was not to be found; warm drinks and fires were all the means we had for combating the evils of the situation. Fast as ambulances could be procured they were loaded and sent on, only to suffer yet more from jolting over horrid roads. At daylight the troops began to pass. The drenched, weary columns marched by in appearance anything but gay soldiers. By noon so many of the wounded were removed that we were able to place what remained under some sort of cover, tent, barn or out-house—though very inadequate for purposes of comfort. Our regiment passed in the course of the forenoon. I went out and told the Colonel that I should remain with the wounded, even if captured. Three surgeons beside myself were assigned by Dr. Sim (Medical Director of 3rd Corps) to stay. That same night they all left, on various pretences. The last one accompanied a train of ambulances which removed all but fifty of the patients, and I was left alone in charge with three attendants. The desertion of these Surgeons was an outrage. Cowardice and laziness were the chief causes of it. They were afraid of being taken and wanted to shirk duty. Thursday noon more ambulances returned and took away all but the present fourteen Confederates. Two of my attendants also left at that time. Since the Surgeons left, two of my charge have died, both Federals. The first was a mere boy, shot in the side. He had been apparently doing well, having been able to get up and walk about a little. Suddenly he grew weak, lay down and called for me. He wanted to be raised up. I lifted him, he sat a minute, then fell over and died immediately. None of us knew his name or regiment. I searched his pockets for some clue in vain, and we had...

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