The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-07-17
A SOLDIERS FEELINGS IN BATTLE.

A SOLDIERS FEELINGS IN BATTLE.
Our citizen soldiers inexperienced in the
battle field. will find the must terrible mo-
meats just before the combat begins. A snl-
dier in his narration Of personal adventures
in the Mexican war. in +" Howe's Achieve
ments OF Americans" gives some interesting
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, did not see single man OF The
enemy move; they stood like statues.
We remained quiet with two exceptions;
Gen. Taylor, followed by his staff, rode from
lett 10 right ala slow pace VIII his leg thrown
over like woman, and as iet passed each
regiment, he spoke words OF encouragement
knew not what he said to 1sthers, but when
he came to where we stood. he looked -teadl-
ly atus; suppose, to see what effect the
novel circumstance in which we were placed
had upon US, and, ashe gazed, he ssld " Fae
bayonei, n,y brave cocks! The 6ayoaet is the
thing +" The other occasion was that OF
Lieut.. Blake, ol the engineers, who yolun-
teered to gallop along the enemy's ilne, m
front Of both armies, and count their guns;
So close did he go that he might have been
shat hundred tunes. One Of the officers
Of the eRemy, doubtless thinking he had some
communication TO make, rode out To meet
hun; Blake. however, paid no attention. 10
him, but rode on, and then returned and fe-
ported to Taylor.
u Thus stood these two bellIgerent armies,
face to face. What were the feelings ot tlnse
thousands! How many Thoughts aud fears
were crowded Into those few moments! look
at our men clanmy sweat is settled all
over faces slightly pale, not from cowardiy
tear, but from an awful sense Of peril, com
blned with determination not to finch IRON
duty. These are The moments whea true
soldiers resign themselves to their fate, and
console themselves with the reflection that
whatever NAV belall them they will act with
honor; these are the moments when the sD-
snlu,e coward suffers mprr than death-when.
II not certain that he would be shot IN his
trucks, lie would turn aud flee. Fighting is
very hard work the man VIM has passed
through two hour's fight has lived through
/ a great amount Of mental and physical labor
At the end ol battle, always found that
had perspired So proiusely as to wet through
e all nv thick wooden clothlng, and when had
got cool, was aS sure as II | had been beat
en- all over with club. When the battle
= commences, the feelings undergo change
I Reader. did you ever see your house on hire
| lf 81. IL was then you rushed into great dan.
: ger il was then YOU went over places, climb
4 ing over walls, lifting heavy loads, which sol
II a.utaF
d mems you then have experienced some o
Y the excitement of soldier iu hattie. ] at
ways knew nv danger-ihat at uny monen
{. wss liable to be killed, vet such was ~
Is excitement, that ! never realized It. Al
Il men are not alike. Some are perfectly wall
: Or crazy; Others are 50 prusrated By lea
e that they are completely unnersed--an a@
!. lul sinking and relaxation of all their raff'
! gics takes place. awful 10 behold /; ihey ,refn
L Bile like an aspen. .lins into bitches and coz.
!. ert places. CRY like children, aud are toI,li y
!, lnsensible I, shame--dead 10 every rmntiot
" but the overwhelming fear Of instant dealt
e We had few of such N our army.
v As the Two aimies were facing each Other
!. il was remarkable 10 see the GOODNESS ni mi
!. men. There they stool. chewing bits ni bis
Ir cult, aud talking about the Mexlctns--soiit
: wondering IL they would fght; Otlers allow
.r ing that they would, and ike demons. &c
| | kept ny eye on the artillery of tie cnemt
% and happened to be looking toward the8i
!. right wing. when suddenly wlrttr curl .
Il smoke sprang up IRON one Of t'cir gun'. al,
+. then saw tie dust iy some distance 10 itaa
d where the ball struck lnstantl. another
, and then another rich curl uf smnke aruse
,e succeeded by booming sound, aud tnr .ito
u c.me crashing toward Us. The tneny hre
r. very rapidly, and their balls knnekrd IL
e dust about Us ~ all directions-snmc wen
/. over our heads. others struck the gfJuud il
lrpnt aud bounded away.
i. Oar batteries nov went to work. and pour
e ed in upna them perfect Storm oi lt"n
Il Lieutenant Churchill and his men began vii
|, their eighteen Founders, and when the hfs
Il was fired, u made such l0ui tepnri tHd
y our men gave spontaneous shut. whteR
' seemed 10 inspire Us with reGescd cnItl'
e dence. could hear every word the Lieu
IL tenant said 10 his men. When the hrst -"
Ie fired, he watched the bali, SAYING l"'
e high. men try another too low men tft
{. sgain--the third tine Is the charm iH'
IN thrd shot vas hted. and sas wut NY ""t
eyes the dreadful effect Of that and The l"i'
5. losing shots That's It my boys! shout
II Ell ChurshiII. Jumping op about t"a iett
81 you have Them HuW Weep her at that and
,e so they 1a. aud every shot tore complete
Al lanes ihroogh the eusn,'s lines bot the,
u s,opd /, ,uaUlullg. The fall chorus ~ the
: battle aow ragged twenty three pieces el
- artillery belchrd lorth their iron hail.
M ~, wrre ordered to lie down - the sfass
y J, a,oid The shot this puzzled tie rnent,
y snJ thsy could not bring their gens to sear
anon US. making nnr loss ser, small. Vi.
Il ~ were the narrow esrapes; "nc nall came
Or within six inches Of NV left side. HE tdfee
/, Of the shot was tremendous; hurse's body
!, vas 80 obstacle Il all a man's les was