The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-03
A Soldiers Emotion iu Battle,


O.
Our citizen soldiers, inexperienced in the
battle field, will find the most terrible mo-
ments just before the combat beeins. A
4 soldier in his narration Of personal adven-
lures in The Mexican war, in 'lIowe's Achiev-
mcnts Of Americans, gives some interesting
/ items on this head in his description of the
battle of Palo alto, the opening battle Of
/ the war. + Aae H 80 aaa5 Sos
] When all was ready, both armies stood
I still for about twenty minutes. each waiting
/ for the other to begin the work ofdeath, and
during this time 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
left to right at slow pace, with his leg
thrown over Ikea woman, and as he passed
each regiment, he spoke words OF encour-
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
whichwe were placed had upon US, and as
he gazed, he said ''7he eJay6net, n'y Aardy
cocks ! the bayonet IS The thing 1.-THE other
occasion was that Of Lieut. Blake, of the En-
gineefs, who volunteered to gallop along the
encmys line, in front of both armies. anu
count their guns !; and so close did he 90
that he might bave been shot hundred
times. One of the officers of the enemy,'
doubtless thinking he had some communica-
| ton to make, rode out to meet him ; Blake,
however, paid no attention to him, but rode
on, and thca Ts.urned and reported to
Taylor. sf Eea K
| Thus stood those two beiigerent 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 ! a clammy sweat is settled
all over faces slightly pa1e, not from coward
| ly fear, but from an awful sense ofperil, com
bined with determination not to finch from
duty. These are the moments in which sruc.
soldiers resign themselves to their fate, and
console themselves with the reflection tat
whatever may befall them they viii act With
honor. these are the moments when the
absolute coward suffers more than death
when, if not certain he would be shot in his
tracks, he would turn and flee. Fighting is
very hard work ; the man who has passed
through two hours fight, has lived through
a great amount ofmental and physical labor,
At the end of a battle | always found that
had perspired so prorusely as to wet through
all my thick yoolen clothing, and when
had got cool was as sore as if | had been
beaten all over with a club. When the bat
tie commences the feelings undergo change.
R, ader did you ever see your house on fire
| if 50, it was then you rushed into great dan
ger; it was then you went over palaces,
climbed over walls, lifted heavy loads, which
you never could have done in you cooler
moments; you then have experienced some
of the excitement Of soldier in battle.
always knew my danger-that at any mo
ment was liable to be killed, yet such was
my excitement that never fully realized it.
! All men are not alike some are cool others
are so prostrated with fear that they are
completely unnerved-an awful sinking and
relaxations of all their energies takes place,
awful to behold they tremble ike aspen
slink INTO ditched and covert places, cry
/ dead to every emotion but the overwhelming
fear of instant death. We had few, and
but a 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 bis
cults, and talking about the Meyicans some
wondering if they would fight others allow
ing that they would, and like demons, ETC.
kept my eye on the artillery Of the enemy,
and happened to be looking toward their
right wing when suddenly white curl
ofsmoke sprang up there from one Of their
guns, and then saw the dust fly same dis
tance in front, where the ball struck In
stantly another, and then another rich curl
of smoke arose, succeeded by booming
sound, and the shot came crashing toward
us The enemy fired very rapidly, and their
balls knocked the dust about US in all direc-
lonesome went over our heads, others
struck the ground in front and bounded
faway
4 Our batteries now went to work. and poured
in upon them perfect storm of iron I; Lieut..
Churchill and his men began with their eight
cen Founders, and when the first was fred,
it made such loud report that our men gave
a spontaneous shout, which seemed to in
spire us with renewed confidence. / could
hear every word the Lieutenant said TO his
men. When the first shot was fired, he
watched the bah, saying, "Too high, men !;
try another !n--" too low, men try again
the third time is the charm p The third shot
was fired, and saw with my own eyes the
dreadful effect of that and the following shots.
"Thats it, my boys y shouted Churchill,
Jumping up about two feet /; "you have them
now keep at that y and so they did, and
every shot tore complete lanes through the
enemy's lines but they stood it manfully.
| The full chorus Of battle now ragged twenty
three pieces of artillery belched forth their
| iron hail.
! We were ordered to lie down in the grass
| to avoid the shot this puzzled the enemy,
and they could not bring their guns to bear