Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-06

mepts lust before the combat begins. Asol- q
dier,in his narration Of personal adventures
III the Mexican war published in "Hoioss
Achievements Of America" gives some interest.
ing items on this head in his description o.
The battle Of Palo Alto, the opening Iattle Of ]
war. T
When all was ready both armies stood still
for about twenty minutes, each waiting tor
the other to begiR the work Of death, aud Is
during this time, did not see single man OF
the enemy move; they stood like statues
We remained quiet with two EXCEPTIONS
General Taylor, followed by his stah, rode
from LETT 10 right at a slow pace, with his leg
thrown over ikea woman, aud as he passed
each regiment, be spoke words OF encourage
ment. know not what he said 20 the others,
but when he came up to where We stood, he
looked steadily at US, suppose, to see
what effect the novel circumstances in which
we were placed had upon us, and, as be gaSed,
be said: "TAe 6gyoHst my hearty cocks ihe
bayonst Is ihs thiRgP The other occasion
was that of Lieutenant Blake, one OF the en-
pineers, who volunteered TO gallOp along the
euemy's line, in front Of both armies, and |
count their guns; and 80 close did he go that |
he might have been shot hundred times.
One Of the officers of the enemy, doubtless
thinking be had some communication to
make, rode ont to meet him Blake, however,
paid no attention to him, but rode on, and
then returned and reported to Taylor
Thus stood those two bellig5rent armies,
facs. 10 face. What were the feelings Of those
thousands How many thoughts and tears
were crowded into those few momentsl LOOK
, at our men q clammy sweat IS settled al
i over faces slightly pale, not nom coWardiy
lear, but from an awful sense OF peril, e0m-
E bined with a determination not to hlnca from
1 duty. These are the moments in which true
] soldiers resign themselves to their iaie, ana
4 console themselves with the rehechon lnaI
e whatever NAV befall themsthey will act with
q honor; these are the moments when tne aoso-
e lutte coward suffers more than death-When,
= n not certain he would be shot in bis tracks,
i he would turn and fee. Fighting Is very
4 hard work the man who has passed throngn
Y a two hours ight, has lived through great
e amount of mental and physical labor: AT
Of the end of battle always found that1 had
u perspired so profnsely as to wet through a.,
lf NV thick wOolen clothing, and when had
ID goteooI. I was as sore as If had been beat
ir en- ali over with q club. When the battle
commences the feelings undergo a change. :
Reader, did you ever see your mouse on IRE
if so. it was then you rushed into great dan
lg GER: II was then you went over places
M climbed over walls, lifted heavy loads, which
Q YOU never could have done in your cooler
moments; YOU then have experienced some
y of the excitement of q soldier in battle
q : always knew my dapger-that at any mo-
ment / was liable to be killed, yet such wai
y nv excitement that i never fully realized II
TT TT Al men are not alike; some are cooli some
y. .s are perfectly wild or crazy; others are So
:. !: prostrated by fear that they are completei!
~ lnpueryed--ap awful sinking and relaxation
:. of all their energies takes place, awful 70 De
I hold; they trsmbie like an aspen, sllnk int
"a bitches and covert places, cry like children
y and are totally insensible to shanle-dead
~ every emotion but the overwhelming fear 0
81 instant death. We had few, and but few
,Iv of such in our srmy.
~, ! As theftWo armies were facing each othei
-. il was remarkable to see the coolness OF ou
~ men; there they stood chewing bits of bus
s emit and talking about the Mexicsns-som
81 wondering if they would fight; Others allow
,el- @ ing that they would, and like demons, etc.
-. kept my eye on the artillery OF the enemy
" W and happened to be looking toward the
N. 'ns right-wing, when suddenly q white curl {
tEs u9 smoke sprFae ap there from one Of the
'o guns. and then l saw the dust fly some dis
.nu w. lance In front, where the ball struck. II
~ stantlv another. and then another rich Gu
~ of smoke arose, succeeded by q boonin
u sound, and the shot came crashing tOWar
s1 a. us. The enemy fred very rapidly, and the
iUi ~ halls knocked the dust about US in all dire
q lonesome went over our heads, othel
,'-. struck the ground in front and boundt
tiI1 aEay.
!. - Our batteries now went to work. ar
- poured in upon them perfect storm of irar
lieutenant Churchill and his men bega
a. with their eighteen Founders, and when Il
en-. first was fred, it made such a loud repo
had that our men gave spontaneous shou
which seemed to inspire Us with renewS
confidence. l could hear every word u
!. lieutenant said to his men. When the tr
ON shot was fred, he watched the ball, sayin
les "Too high, men; try anotherP-" too loV
left men; try again-the third time IS the charm
,rts The third shot was fred, and saw with n
lies own eyes the dreadful effect of that and Il
and following Shots. That's it, my boys
and shouted Churchill, jumping up about !"
oek feet; you have them now keep her at tina
Jol and so they did, and every shot tore compile
1ies lanes through the enGmys lines; but ths
,m. stood il manfully. The full Chorus of bait
,er- now RACED; tWelty-three pieces Of artllleT
Jol belched forth their iron hail.
veil We were ordered to lie down IN the gra
to avoid the shot: this puzzled the enem
, of and they could not bring their guns to be-
ON upon US, making our loss very small. Mar
iur- were the narrow escai es; one ball can
OPS within six inches of my left side. The for
ste, Of the shot was tremendous; a horses boo
our was no obstacle at all mans leg was
out mere pipe stem. l watched the shot as
iter struck the roots of the grass, and it was q
was tonishing how the dust few. In about g
had hour the grass caught on FIRE, and the elout
ter of smoke shut out the opposing armies fro
nd view. We had not as yet lost man fro
our regiment. In the obscurity the eneU
aer. changed their line, and the eighteen-poun
-om ers, supported by orr regiment, took ne
position on a little rise Of ground. As '
t to moved on to the spot, a six-pound shot ca
mp, ried away the lower jaw of Capt. Page, 81
two then took off a mans head on the right,
clean as With a knife The blood Of pO
not Page was the first blood l saw; be "
ght. knocked down in the grass, and as be e
AL deayored to raise himself, be presented SUI
sa CHASTITY spectacle that sickly, fainting Sc
be- sation came over me, and the memory
rrv, that night / shall carry with me to q
)hio dying day. A little later, Major RinEgo
om- was mortally wounded at his battery; 50
him Just after it. The shot had torn away
% portion of the flesh of his thighs its for
was tremendous, cutting off both his pistC
It Of at the locks, and also the Withers of his hOr
aye "a splendid steed, which was killed to !
al hard, but without avail, to bit our sglgntsl
B Of FOUNDERS. The battle continued until mig
/ for put an end to the scene We oivOuaek
where we were, and laid on our arms J
MED slept, however, but little, thinking We mig
for be attacked in our sleep. rla
We The enemy had been very severely handle
d to owing 70 the superiority Of our artillery.
the The gunners went into it more like butch'
mer- than military men; each stripped of his co