William Russell
In the Civil War, compassion was shown from even the enemy. William Russell, a Confederate soldier in the 26th Virginia Infantry, shares his thoughts and shows such compassion in the aftermath of the Battle of Petersburg in his diary, "After everything became quiet I walked down...to see the sight. It was the most awful scene my eyes ever beheld, the inside of this mine, which had formed a kind of basin about 40 feet deep and about 150 feet in circumference. This large hole in the ground was literally covered with the white and black Yankee dead. It was an awful scene beyond description." The thoughts of Russell shows that the enemy can still show sorrow and compassion. The fact that Russell goes out of his way "to see the sight" even after "everything became quiet" proves the compassion shown by him his genuine and he is truly sad to see such an "awful scene beyond description". His fellow soldiers did not care about those that had died, but even the enemy can show sorrow and grief as is evident from the actions of William Russell. Because that Russell believes that even his own moves are "the most awful scene my eyes ever beheld" it proves that the enemy is able to recompense and regret their own acts of violence. Enemies can still shown compassion, even during the midst of war.
http://m.progress-index.com/article/20150926/news/150929739
http://m.progress-index.com/article/20150926/news/150929739