New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-08-09
Fortitude Of Americans when Wounded.


About twelve years since was for some time in
professional attendance on veteran General officer
of the U. 5. Army, treating him Or a neuralgia OF
long standing which he suffered in the locality of an
old wound (cured thirty years previously received
by him from fragment of British bOmshell in one of
the great engagements Of the war OF 1SI2-'l5. To
relieve the tedum of his confinement while IN pro-
cess Of cure, (Which proved to be complete and per
manent) l passed most OF my leisure ume IN ms
room, in conversation with him on great historical
events in which he had borne distinguished part
Among other topics which [ presented to interest
him. was that Of the battle in which he received the
wound mentioned and at my earnest request ne
gave me clear and graphic narrative OF the battle
of Fort Erie August 1914. In the course OF it, speak
ing Of the night attack of the enemy on the Amer
can lines, be stated that when he heard the first
firing on his extreme right and galloped in the dreC
ti0n Of the sound he heard groans and screams as OF
wounded men, and therefore knew Immediately that
the British had the worst of it. l naturally inter
rupted him with inquiry as to any dstinguishable
difference between the American and British style of
groaning His answer, (giyen in tone expressive
OF a half surprise that should be ignorant of fact
long familiar to him and others) in these words,
The Americans never groan when they are wounded
in battle"
was struck with this remarkable but unrecorded
fact in the natural history and moral physiology of
the Anglo-Amertcan race, and Immediately pushed
my inquiries further to ascertain how extensive were
the observations upon which the broad general state
ment was made. The Major.General assured me that
it was Uniform observation of his throughout the
sixty battles Of his nearly fifty years of military SER
vice, and that when his mind was first impressed with
it, he took opportunities to compare his own Obser-
walton and experience with that of many of the nu-
meTOus surviving high officers of the Revolutionary
army, and that they informed him that they had
habtually noticed the same high trait of silent fort
tude in their soldiers when wounded in the bat
| ties Of the war of independence. 1t had been con-
irmed TO him in many instapee; that he regarded
it as estahlishesfdET, beyond doubt; and l felt
Gnu2g49ed to receive it as'such. now for the first
-.t,lt
for the purpose of inviting investigation or even con
tradiCtiOH If it can be furnished by American officers
who have been under fire and seen their men wounded
But let me observe that require the investigation
to be limited wholly and strictly to the conduct OF
those who are or were Americans by blood and breed
The conduct of Irishmen, or Germans or English
men, or Scotchmen serving in the American army is
a wholly different affair." 1t is hardly to be expected
or supposed that the mere color OF the flag uader
which they march can change their physical and
moral natures to such degree as to make them full
and true Americans in this particular We know
that when wounded in the service of their native
countries they do groan horribly and scream loudly
| Hon. George Bancroft, whose researches into
| American history are known not only to his own
country but to the world, has read my statement Of
this fact, and prohounces it valuable, and novel
well as interesting to him.
Intelligent readers, familiar with the earlier his
tory Of the American race in this country, will be
naturally and strongly reminded of the impressive
coincidence Of possession of this trait by the two
L
that have occupied this soil. The moral influence OF
the ahOrlgines upon their European supplanters and
dispaCers was not strong enough to satisfy the in
qairer that their example contagious in this re-
spect. The whites were little inclined to admire or
initiate their Indian foes in any particular Still the
descriptions of early writers Indian character and
customs (suCh as HeckWelder and COlden) may have
operated to kinde in young readers emulation of
the iron apathy of their savage neighbors. Border
traditions and stories of frontier and forest warfare
may have operated in the same way on the minds
and feelings Of young hunters who were subsequently
| soldiers.
Without going into phiosophic inquiry as to the
causes Of this striking trait possessed il common by
the two consecutive American races, may now ven
ture to suggest that there is in climate air. soil and
| other natural phenomena and causes a great mower
| manitestly and often exercised on the mental and
moral constitution of the same or different races of
men in different localities. The trying extremes of
heat and cold in this region the sudden changes of
temperature and moisture etc, ETC. continually sub
ect the inhabitants to necessity OF enduring de-
gree Of pain and distress unknown in almost every
country and province of Europe.
| These agencies not only directly; by producing the
habit of enduring discomfort and actual bodily suffer.
! ing, but indirectly, by their moral effect upon the
| temper and spirit to make the white American rs
stenly and coldly apathetc as the foe,defying and
Vengeance-provoking savage whose immobility under
torture equaed only by his mereiless cruelty in
| ntiicting it when occasion served.
! There IS marked and mysterious resemblance be-
| tween the aboriginal red Americans and the Euro
pehn race lnaG succeeded IN possession OF this part
| the continent In many respects, both morally and
| physically, the white American Of New York and
New England is more like the American Indian than
he is like an Englishman any other European type
or stock. There are few if any, native New Workers
who cannot distinguish an Engishman from an Amer.
lean at the first glance in most instances and in any
of doubt the first utterance that gives his tone
of voice. settles the question The Anglo Americans
are Of rmer fibre, less rotund FORM and sharper out
line of face and figure than the English or North
Europeans.
Their weight is greater in proportion to their bulk
and their muscular force is greater in like ratio
The white Americans have much of the vindctive-
ness, long memory OF injuries and benefits, patience
and cautious reserve of their darker predecessors.
The power and pride Of enduring physical and
mental pain without complaint expression of suf-
fering is therefore but one of the traits Of of the
aborigineso by those who have succeeded to their
lands inherited have not time now to show how
from like causes (such as climate SOIL air etc) these
like and common effects were produced on the two
wholly different and uncOgnate races successfully in
habitng this region. The subject may receive further
attention at some other time
N mn d,