The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-06-12
A soldiers Gam otlom iM Battle.


tie field will find the most terrible moments
lust before the cosabat begins. soldier in his
narration OF persohel adventures 10 the Mexican
wal, published in stHope's achievements Of Amer
ieans,p gives soma Interesting items on this hand
in his descriptions of the battle Pslo Alto, the
opening OF the wac .....-..-.
When all was seady, both armies stood still
for about twenty minutes, each for the other to
begin the work Of death, and during this time,
did not see q siugle man Of the enemy move;
they stood like statues.
We remained weiet with two exceptiopi Gen.
Fayi0g, s6sfowed BY his stan. rode from left to
right at slow pace, with bis leg thrown over
like a woman, and as he passed each regiment,
he so. ke words of encouragement. 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 circuln-
stances in which we were placed had upon us,
and, as he gazed, he said; "1he bayonet, my har-
IN cocks! the bayonet is the bing" The other
occasion was that OF Lieut.. Blake, OF the engi-
neers, who volunteered 10 gallop along the en-
emy's line, in front Of both armies and count
their guns; and so close did he 60 that he might
have been shot hundred times. One OF the
officer. ofthe enemy, doubtless thinking be had
some communication to make, rode out to meet
him; Blake, however, paid no attention to him.
but rode on and returned and reported to Tay-
lor
Thus stood those two belligerent armies. face
to face. What were the feelings Of these thous.
ands! How many thoughts and fears we're crow
ded INTO those few moments! Look at our men!
a clammy sweat is settled all over faces slightly
pale, not from cowardly fear, bat from an awful
sense of peril, combined with a determination
not TO finch from d,stg. These are the moments
in which true soldiers resign themselves to their
fate, and console themselves With the reflection
that whatever may beall them they will act
with honor; these are the moments when the
absolute coward suff RS more thnn death
when, il not certain he would be shot in his
tracks, he would turn and fee. Fighting is
very hard work; the man who passed through
a great amount of mental and physical labor.
At the end of .. battle ! always found that
had perspired so proIusely as to wet through all
my thick woolen clothing, and when had got
cool, was as sore as if had been beaten all
over with club
+. When the battle commences the feelings un
dergo . change. Reader, did you ever see your
house on fire? il SO, it was then you rushed in
to great danger; it was then you went over pla-
ces climbed over walls lifted heavy loads which
ou never could have donein your cooler mo
ments; you then have experienced some OF the
excitement of soldier in battle. always knew
INV danger--that at any moment l was liable
to be killed, vet such was my excitement that
never fully realized it. All menare not alike;
some are cool, SINE are perfectly wild or crazy;
Others are 20 prostrated by lear that they are
completely unnerved--an awful sinking and re.
laxation Of oil their energies takes place, awful
to behold; they tremble like an aspen, stink in.
to bitches and covert places, cry like children,
and are totally insensible to shame--dead to ev-
ery emotion but the overwhelming fear Of in
slant death. We had a few, and but few, o:
such in our army.
As the two armies were facing each other, it
was remarkable to See the coolness OF our men;
there they staod chewing bits Of biscuit, and
talking about the Mexioans--some wondering
|if they would fight; Others allowing that they
would, and like demons, etc. / kept my eye
on the artillery of the enemy, and happened to
be looking toward their tight wing when sud-
denly white curl Of smoke sprang up there
from one Of their guns, and then saw the dust
fiy some distance IN front, where the ball
struck. Instantly another, and then another
rich curl OF smoke arose, succeeded by boom.
ing sound. and the shot came crushing toward
us. The enemy fred very rapidly, and their
balls knocked the dust about us in all directions
some went over our heads, others struck the
ground in front and bounded away.
Our batteries now went to work, and poured
in upon them perfect storm Of iron; Lieut..
Churchill and his men began. with their eigh.
teen Founders, and when the first was fred, ii
made such loud report that our mss gave
. Spontaneous shout, which seemed to inspire
US with renewed confidence. ] could hear sv-
ery word the lieutenant said to his men. When
ths first shot was fred. he watched the ball
saving. "Too high, men; try anotherp'--too
low, men; try again--ths third time is the
chsrml' The third shot was fred. and saw
with nv own eyes tho dreadful effect Of that
and the following shots. That's it, my beysr