The fighting had been hard and continuous; that was attested by all the sense. The very taste of battle was in the air. All was now over; it remained only to succor the wounded and bury the dead - to "tidy up a bit," as the humorist of a burial squad put it. A good deal of "tidying up" was required. As far as one could see through the forests, among the splintered trees, lay wrecks of men and horses. Among them moved the stretcher-bearers, gathering and carrying away the few who showed signs of life. Most of the wounded had died of neglect while the right to minister to their wants was in dispute. It is an army regulation that the wounded must wait; the best way to care for them is to win the battle, It must be confessed that victory is a distinct advantage to a many requiring attention, but many do not live to avail themselves of it.
- Ambrose Bierce, "The Coup de Grâce," p.11 in The Devil's Dictionary, Tales & Memoirs
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