Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
A Soldiers Emotion in Battle.

Our citizen soldiers, inexperienced in the |
battle field, will find the most terrible mo-
ments just before the combat begins. A SOL |
dier in his narration ofpersonal adventures in I
the Mexican war, published in 'Hoye'S |
Achievements of Americans gives some in
teresting items on this head in his description |
of the Battle of Palo Alto, the opening battle |
of the war.
When all was ready, both armies stood |
still for about twenty minutes, each waiting |
for the other to begin the work of death, and
during this time did not see single man
of the enemy move they stood like stat
ueS. 5s
We remained quiet with two exceptions i:
Gen. Taylor, followed by his staff, rode
from left to right at slow pace, with his leg
thrown over like woman, and as he passed
each regiment, he spoke words Of encourage
ment. | know not what he said to 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 he
gazed, he said: The bayonet, my hardy
cocks the bayonet is the thing 2 The other
occasion was that of Lieut.. Blake, Of the
Engineers, who volunteered to gallop along
! the enemy'S line, in front of both armies, and
count thir guns and so close did he go that
he might have been shot hundred times.
Que of the officers of the enemy. doubtless
thinking he had some communication temake,
rode out to meet him. Blake. however paid
no attention to him, but rode on, and. then
returned and reported to Taylor.
Thus stood those two belligerent armies,
face to face What were the feelings of
those thousands How many thoughts
and fears were crowded into those few
moments Look at our men,i clammy
sweat is settled all over faces slightly pale,
not from cowardly fear, but from an awful
sense of peril, combined with determination
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 honor these are
the moments when the absolute coward suf-
fers more than death-when if not certain
he would be shot in his tracks, he would turn
and fee Fighting is very hard work the
man who has passed through two hours
fight has lived through a great
tai and physical labour. At the end of a
battle | always found that L had, perspired
so profusely as to wet all through my thick
,, woolen clothing, and whenIi had got cool,
was as sore as if / hady been beaten all
over with a club. When, the. battle COIN
mences the feelings undergoa change. -Rea-
der, did you ever see your house on fire !? il
: so, it was then yolrushed into great danger
! it was then youi 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 ofa soldier in battle. | always
knew my danger~-that at any moment j was
! liable to.be killed, yet such was my excite
! ment that Inegersfully realized il All mer
: are not alike some are cool soEae are per-
Z fectly wild or crazy other are sop Drostrat
: ed with fear that they are completely un
: nerved-an awful sinking and relaxation o
all their energies takessplace, awfulto b. bold
they tremhle Ike an aspen, stink into .ditches
and covert places, cry like childrn, and ar'
= totally insensible 10 shame-dead to every
J, emotion bet the. overwhelming fear of instan
e DEATH. We had few, and bat a. few Of sucf
. incur army. sf5 ~ ~ - a9
!, As the two armies were facing each other
5 it was remarkablet to see the coolnsss Of GU
men sthere they stood chewing bits Of bis
gd cults, and taking about the Mexicaps-som
i wondering athey would fight; others allow
;. ing that they would, and like demons, etc
ID kept my eye on the artillery of the enem
le and happened to be looking toward thei
le right wing when suddenly white curl {
" smoke sprang up there from one of, the