The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-02

have Overrated the dangers OF battles.
Here for five hours we were exchanging
cannon balls, and Mimic bullets, and bayO-
net thrusts, and sabre strokes, and literally
there is nobody hurt"-the loss in killed
and wounded on our side being but about
one in two hundred of those engaged.
These are my impressions. Are they not
the counterpart of all first experiences in
the battlefield
SENSATIONS IN BATTLE.
A friend asks me the feelings of a non.
combatant, under fire. Were you ever
caught in the open fields, when heavy thun.
der storm was raging? Ii you have, and
had no special fear, you have nevertheless
entertained an opinion that possibly light.
ming might strike where you was standing.
For three quarters of an hour, that l was
under fre-and there was almost continu-
Gus thunder of six pounders-I could real
ize no special danger, but only an ill defined
thought that possibly some of those flying
missiles might come where l stood in the
way. On comparing views with others
situated like myself-encOuntering the same
opportunities, and with similar purposes
| find that they had the same sensation, so
that | may fairly assume that the mass of
men under fire have little or no thought for
personal consequences, and that cOwardice
is not a normal characteristic of the human
race. If it is, a half dozen editors and cor
respondents, to my certain knowledge are
EXCEPTIONS
sHERMANs BATTERY.
Capt Ayres, of Sherman's battery, was
ordered to bring his pieces to the point,
which he did. | have read Of GOODNESS in
battle, but never before of perfect picture
of calm courage as Captain Ayres present.
ed as his battery filed around the house.
Detecting MIR. Raymond and myself in the
group, he stopped and shook bands with as
much cordiaity as if We were guests await
ing his arrival at home, and then gall0ped
after his guns, with CHEEKY good day. In
less than two minutes after, he was sighting
a Parrot gun, and returning the compile
ment of rifled shot with which we had been
saIuted la quick succession followed gun
alter gun-the rebels replying promptly
and with apparent good VIII.
A SCENE OF THE BATTLE.
Suddenly we heard dropping shots in the
brush; every one stood eager, feeling that
the struggle was commencing; the scattered
shots became quicker around that fatal knoll
ard in the deep brush, and at length con-
tinuous roll OF muSketry was heard, followed
by the most excited yelIs and cries. a cry
for "ambulances y now sounded out, and
couples of men could be seen coming out OF
the wood occasionally, supporting a third
Our excitement on the hill grew intense
We saw the lines on the right drawing
nearer the little bill covered with wood, but
they seemed almost as nothing, compared
with the numbers that rolled out that inces.
SAINT fire Of musketry. "Oh, Heavens for
the Brigade at Centre7ile ~ we exclaimed
the gallant Sixty ninth, and the Seventy
ninth, and the Ohio men--but they were
three miles away. why the ID don't
our artillery give them shot ?" some one
exclaims. just then a Chaplain of a
Northern regiment rushes out of the wood
and turns and fires tacice with bis
rifle into the brush where are
no volunteers, and runs towards US almos,
out of mind. "Oh, the woods are full o.
the dead and wounded" he says. Now g
hOwitzer is sent down the hill, and the reg.
ular cavalry. though the latter can do little
against the concealed foe. The cannon i;
led into the bushes, and we hear it thunder
ing away among the trees. The MIME bull
lets begin to fly over our heads; but the I'm
wearied reporters make notes, an artis
sketches the conflict cOolIy, when suddenly
with long, whisting "whirr!" which NJ
one who once hears will ever torget,a roun(
shot aimed at our group from the hill OPP
posite went crashing through the deserted
house behind US. Pell nell rushed thu
whole party up the hill to get behind thu
trees. The regular cavalry broke aud run
and nearly trampled Mr.. Raymond to tn,
earth as he stood quietly taking notes al
cool as if he was at his own table two o
the men were endorsed, and they all stopped
in little hollow just beyond in the opel
ground. Whr-r-r whistled the cannon
balls over our heads. ooh, God d-n you
don't run, don't run--lie down, men !
shouted mounted officer, to company o
pioneers that were scattering rather fast.
SCENE IN CoNGREss-MR. CRITTENDEN
The scene presented by the Senate ant
1ouSe vi Representatives Is luuescrlDaUle
The gloom hung like pail over bot
Houses, and no one seemed to have tn,
heart to transact the public business. N
one seemed to feel this more intensel
than MIR. Crittenden, of Kentucky. Whel
he rose on Monday morning he asked
"WelI, what further news?" He had gon
to bed under the delusion that the Fedora
army had triumphed. ave are routed
utterly routed" was the reply to his ques
ton. The old man started back in aston
ishment, and when the facts were brough
before him he went back, sat down, and put
ting his head down upon his hands, burs
into tears. l saw him that night, and Their