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