The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-08-21
Ube felitima democrat.
FORTITUDE OF AMERICANS WHEN
WOUNDED

suffered III the locality oil an oIu Wounu (curcu ,
thirty years previously received by him from
a fragment of British bombshcll in one OF the
great engagements Of the war OF lSl2'l5 To
relieve the tedum of his confinement while i'll
process of II cure (Which proved to be complete
and permanently passed most of my leisure
time in his room. in conversation with him on
great historical events in which he had borne
a distinguished part Among other topics
which presented to interest him, was that of
the battle in which he received the wound men.
toned and at my earnest request he gave me
clear and graphic narrative of the battle OF
Fort Erie, August 1911. In the course of it,
speaking Of the night attack of the enemy on
the American lines, he stated that when he
heard the first firing on his extreme right, and
galloped in the direction of the sound, he
heard groans and screams as of wounded men,
and therefore knew Immediately that the Brit
ish had the worst of it. | naturally interrupt
ed him with an inquiry as to any distinguish
able difference between the American and Brit
sh style ofgroaning. His answer, (givcn in I
a tone expressive of half surprise that should
be ignorant Of fact long familiar to him and
others was in these words. THE Americans
never gronn when they are wounded in battle"
was struck with this remarkable but unre.
corded fact in the natural history and moral
physiology of the Anglo American race and
Immediately pushed my inquiries further to as
certain how extensive were the observations
upon which the broad general statement was
made. The Maior.G aSsnred me that it
was uniform observation Of his throughout
the sixty battles of his nearly fifty years of mil
itasy service, and that when his mind was first
impressed with it, he took opportunities to
compare his own observation and experience
tl,, ,,ivi,,
high officers of the Revolutionary army, and
that they informed him that they had habtu-
ally noticed the same high trait of silent forti.
tude in their own soldiers when wounded in the
battles Of the war Of independence 1t had
been confirmed to him in so many instances,
that he regarded it as an established fact, be
yond Il doubt; and ! felt compelled to receive
it as such | now for the first time put it on
record and publicly announce it, partly for the
purpose OF inviting investigation or even con-
tradiction. 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 inves-
tigation to be limited wholly and strictly to
the conduct of those who are or were Amcri-
cans by blood and breed.
The conduct Of Irishmen, or Germans, or
Englishmen, or Scotchmcn serving in the Amer
ican army is a wholly different affair II is
hardly to be expected or supposed that the
mere color of the flag under which they march
can change their physical and moral natures to
snch 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 in
to American history are kown not only to his
own country, but to the world, hes read nay
statement of this fact, and pronounces it yalu-
able, and novel as well as interesting to him.
Intelligent readers, familiar with the earlier
history Of the American race in this country
will be naturally and strongly reminded of the
impressive coincidence ofposScssion Of this trait
by the two successive races $50 different in or
igin and character) that have occupied this
soil The influence Oft the aborigines upon their
European snpplantcrs and displaccrs was not
strong enough to satisfy the inquirer that their
example was contagious in this respect. The
whites were little inclined to admire or initiate
their Indian foes in any particular Still, the
description OF early writers on Indian charac-
ter and customs (such as iIeckwclder and Col
DEM may have operated to kindle in young
readers an emulation of the iron apathy of their
savage ncighbors. Border traditions and sto-
ries of frontier and forest warfare may have
operated in the same way Oh the minds and
feelings of young hunters who were subsequent
ly soldiers.
Without going into philosophic inquiry as
to the causes Of this striking trait possessed in
common by the two consecutive American ra-
ces, may now venture to suggest that there
Is IN climate, air soil and other natural phe-
nomena and causes, a great power manifestly
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 subject the inhabitants to necessi
ty of enduring degree of pain and distress un
known in almost every country and province
of Europe.
These agencies, not only directly, by produ.
cling the habit of enduring discomfort and ac
tual bodily suffering, but indirectly, by their
moral effect upon the temper and spirit to make
the white American as sternly and coldly ap,
athletic as the foe-defying and vengeance provo