Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-11-10
How a Man feels in Battle,


Soldiers who have been engaged in "lhe dread
full reyelry' Of war are oIten asked how they felt
while performing their duty in the heat OF battle
believe that-allo vance made for all temPera-
ments-here far greater similarity IN the sens
atoms felt ON these occasions than is commonly
supposed; and that, although habit buntS, to
certain extent, the perception of langer, II never
takes of the keennesS of its edge. The impress
s ons OF this hind made upon my mind as fighting
soldier in Mexico are still quite fresh.
The soldiers love of novelty and excitement is
more than counterpoise to all depressing infu
ence; and al no period OF his does his spirit
show itself more buoyant than when he has been
ordered out on a campaign. 1t Is only after he
has endured some oFthe stern realities ofSthe sit
uaton that he begins TO cast a nervous glance or
two upon the road before him. One OF, the most
common and natural OF the apprehension that DIS
turb the young soldier. and one which his first
engagement always finally diSpoSeS OF, Is a'tear
that his faculties may be so paraIyzsd by tue
spectacle Of carnage during an engagement that,
being rendered faint and incapable OF performing
hi duty, tile stain of cOwardce may faint his
character. With his first battle this apprehension
vaniSheS, and he discovers that when Ie IS once
fairly in action the excitement is intense, and his
whole energy is concentrated on the work on
hand. Comrades fall wounded around him md
are scarcely noticed, there is no time for pity,
fear, or anything but action.
am Scutchman by birth, but enlisted into the
! "
to close quarters with the enemy until had been
nearly three months in Mexico. | consequently
experienced portion of that uneasy state OF feel
ing which have just uIeEtlORed before first meet
ing the enemy face 10 face. had become tanml
lar with the sound, and with the fury, too, of snot
and she'll in trenches at Vera Cruz, and was on
easy terms with them. Constant IUmOIs of at.
tackS, med!lated on our rear, had helped also 10
keep the idea of close conflict familiar. IN camp
at Vera Crnz had become acquainted with an old
sold-r Billy Wight, a fellow counlIyman, who
had served in his youth under Wellington, and
been in several engagements without receiving
any serious wounds. He had also fought with the
Indians in the Florida war. | frequently talked
with this comrades on the bect Of my first en-
gagement; and his advice TO me invariably was
that, as soon firing had commenced, should fire
aad load as expeditOMSly as possible, taking good
aim; in which case he assured me tina: should
feel all right after the first few rounds. Poor old
fellow! passed him, as lie sal down, after the
first few rounds at my first battle, Cetro Gordo,
wounded; but he recovered from the wnud, how
ever, aud waSsent home TO receive pension.
We had lain inactive four or five days al Flam
del Rio, few n lies from the enemy's strong Po
sitIon at Cerro Gurdo, when Gen. scott, having
| arrived aud examined as closely possible the
enemy'S strength and post on, at once decided
his plan OF action. In pursuance of his design
Gen. Twiggs, with his division, comprising the
regiment 10 which belonged, was ordered 10 d
bottom Of ravine, and 10 gain commanding 20
silion on the top Of high unfOrtified hill. Ii
while moving down the ravinr, which had en-
partially cleared by our pioneers, and while wait
ing until party OF the rifles should have beat
up suspicious looking lit OF chapaTral in front,
that we began 10 feel that we were on the point
Of meeting wiihthe enemy; but We had no expec
ta;iOn oil anything more than SkrIniSh. A Shot
or two from tie muSkelS OF the enemy was fal!ow-
ed by the cracking of our rifles; md al double
quick lime descended 10 the bottom of steep
hill, partly co"ered with brushwOod, on the lob u
W hich stood body OF the Mexican infantry bust
y engaged in firing down upon us as we came in
sight. Luckily tot us their firing did but little
damage; and, ordered TO charge, We, with loud
hurIah, began running up the hill. When near
the summit we began 10 fire, and the MexicanS
went of Us quickly as our shot, closely pursued by
US up the hill. An effort was made 10y some u
our captains to form their men Iulo companies as
they reachei the top; but they could collect only
a few, and SO9n gave up the attempt. We purSu-
ed the flying MeXicanS down the opposite 0f tile
hill, which was only divided rom Lerro Gorlo by
n Tavine, across which the tntmy'S battery fired
grape among us; while some thousands Of intan
try, cuS cred like bees OIL the top and sides OF CeTrO
Gurio, kept up against anincessant fire Of musk
elry. Our men now began 10 fall last; and it
partly owing 10 the PrOveTba bad firing Of the
AlexIcanS that our small party OF between six and
seven hundreti-iOr the unltt inen:S Of rifles
and artillery did not number IN, rr-waS not ami
hiated AS it was our killed and wounded amount
ed TO about two bundled. The affair lasted be-
t"cO" too mud three hours, and this the first
time OF my meeting the foe face TO face.
found the meeting, after ali, not such terrible
affair US had fhncied. To say that fet no fear
on going into action would lie SerSrleSs boast
dbl teel considerable apprehension on the first
burst, and until heated 10 degree of preternatu-
raj excitement. Alter the first few minutes the
tall OF wounded cOmrade would at the best only
Cause II to be said, "P0or fellow! there's Smith
(Or ThompSon) down. The first whom | saw
wounded III This action was a rifeman. Just as
we reuched the top of the hill he dropped his rife
with cry OF anguish, staggering TO tie rear.
muSket ball had entered his mouth. The horror
imprinted on ms TEXTURES made deep Impression
III Tile at the moment, aud tie recollection Ct it
haunted me long afterwards.
Alter our return TO The bottom Of the hill, f:om
which we had started in pursuit Of the ememv In.
excitement of action having gradually pas, away
we all lelt very tired, and were OH the gruunG
preparing our rest. The grOanS of the wounded
men, who were collected on plot Of grass close
Oy' ana over whom our surgeons were busy during
Tue who:e night distressed us and prevented sleep
tor lew hours AT length fatigue prevailed.
Next morning the regiment 10 which belonged,
together with tile rides and sixth infantry, had the
duty assIgne': TO us Of charging the hill Of CeIru
Gordo. While performing my share OF that duty
again lett the same Intense excitement, swallow
ing up all perception OF personal danger and ma
king me feel as il the ground were air. AS OH the
former occasion, this state gradualy wore OF, aud
was succeeded by feeling OF great lassitude
also observed beth in myself and Others certain
indications of a fullness of The heart, aud an in
clnalion, not easily subLued 10 she'd tears, which
lasted for some time after the action.
Goethe, in his campaign in France, afer pre-.
li'ninary account Of having ridden out 10 battery
on which The French were then playing, fol thu
express purpose of realizing in person the ell. c,
said to be Produced by coming within range oil the
guns during canUnnaLe, has described his sensa
tons (known as tue cannon fevrr) thus:
"In the midst Of these circumstances was soon
abe 10 remark that something unusual was taking
place within me. paid close attention 10 ii,
and still tie sensation can only be described BY
sImiIltude. 1t appeared as il you were in some
extremely hot place, and at the same time quite
penetrated by the heat of it, so that you felt your
selfquite one with the element in which you stoud
The eyes lose nothing of their strength and c!ear
ness; bnt it is as if tie world had a brown red
tint, which makes the situation as well as the
surrounding objects more impressive. was un-