Litchfield enquirer., 1861-08-08
A SOLDIERS EMOTION IN BATTLE.

Our citizen soldiers inexperienced in the bat tle-feld will find the most terrible moments just before the combat begins. A soldier in his mar ration of personal adventures in the Mexican war published in "IIowe.s e.sAAchievements of Americans gives some interesting items on this head in his description of the battle of Palo Alto, the opening battle of the war.
 Thus stood those two belligerent armies face to face. What were the feelings of those thou sands! How many thoughts and fears were crowded into those few moments! Look at our men :. clainmy sweat is settled all over faces slightly pale not from cowardly fear, but from an awful sense of peril combined with deter imitation not to finch from duty. These are the moments in which true soldiers resign them selves to their fate and console themselves with the reflection that whatever may befall them they will act with hoEor these are the moments when the absolute coward suffers more than death-when if not certain to be shot in his tracks, he would turn and flee. Fighting is very hard work the man who has passed through a two hours fight has lived through great amount of physical labor. At the end of battle l all ways found that had perspired profusely as to wet through all my thick woolen clothing and when got cool was as sore as ifI had been beaten all over with club. When the battle commences the feelings undergoa change. Rea- der did you ever see your house on fire? If so it was then you rushed into great danger: it was then you went over places climbed over walls, lifted heavy loads, which you never could have done in your cooler moments; you then have experienced some of the excitement of a soldier in battle. always knew my danger that at any moment was liable to be killed, yet such was my excitement that never fully real ized it. All men are not alike some are cool ; some are perfectly wild and crazy others are SO prostrated by fear that they are completely un. nerved-an awful sinking aud relaxation of their energies takes place awful to behold they trem- ble like an aspen slink into ditches and covert places cry like children and are totally insensible to shame-dead to every emotion but the over whelming fear of instant death. We had few, and but few of such in our army.
 As the two armies were facing each other it was remarkable to see the coolness of our men ; there they stood, chewing bits of biscuit and talking about the Mexicans-some wondering if they would fight; others allowing that they would and like demons &c. I kept my eye on the artillery of the enemy and happened to be looking towards their right-wing when suddenly a white curl of smoke sprang up from one of their guns, and then I saw the dust fly some distance in front where the ball struck Instant another, and then another rich curl of smoke
 dosc SuCCeeueu ny UOOMtny SOuilu anu Lne shot came crashing towards us. The enemy
 fired very rapidly and their balls knocked the dust about us in all directions-some went over our heads, others struck the ground in front and bounded away.
 Our batteries now went to work and poured in upon them perfect storm of iron; Leuten- ant Churchill and his men began with their eighteen pounders and when the first was fired it made such loud report that our men gave a spontaneous shout which seemed to inspire us with renewed confidence. l could hear every word the lieutenant said to his men. When the first shot was fired he watched the ball, say ing, "Too high men try another !'-"too low men try again-the third time is the charm " The third shot was fired and saw with my own eyes the dreadful effect of that and the following shots. "That's :t my boys!" shouted Churchill, jumping about two feet ''you have them now :! keep her at that ;" and so they did, and every shot tore complete lanes through the enemys lines-Merican War.