The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-10-23
HOW A MAN FEELS uADAR FARE.

How man feels when in battle is Q question
that our volunteers have Doubt, as frequently
asked themselves. We the other day stumbled
upon volunteer on turlough, who hrst sn,elt
powder at Bull Run. DuTing an hours chat
With hlm he gave las a very gvod general idea ot
the way IN which man feels when under an en-
emy's gun. Our friend didn't claim To be espec.
aiiy courageous. He placed que value upon
the integrity OF the American eagle, bst
enlisted mainly because be had no other employ
nent at the time. He did camp duty faithfully,
and endured the hardships OF long marches
without any especial grumblng. That he dread
cd To CONFRONT the enemy he freely admits. " hile
willing al any time TO kick bigger man than
himself under justitiable provocauon, he dislked
the idea of the sudden sensation impaired by Q
bayonet thrust in the abdomen, while only SEC
ond TO this WAS his horror OF being cut down
with rifle ball like an uEsuspecting squirrel.
When his regiment was drawn up in line he
admits his teeth chattered and his knee-pans rat
tied like potcloset in a hurricane. Many of
his comrades were similarly affected, and some
of them would have lain down had they dared 10
do SO. W hen the first volley had been inter-
changed, our friend Informed US, every trace OF
these feelings passed away ftom him. A reaction
took place, and he became almost savage from
excitemenl. Balls whislled all about hlm, 1nd q
Canton shot cut IN halt companion al hrs side.
Another Was struck by some explosive that spat-
tered the brains over the clothes Of our inform.
ant, but, so far from intmdxtng, all these things
nerved up his resolution. The hitherto quakiDg
CIVILIAN III hall All hour became a veteran. HIS
record shows that he ba. oretted two OF his reb-
Z! enemies and discharged eight rounds OF his
piece With as decisive All aim though be Lad
selected a turkey Tor his mark. Could the entire
line Of All army come at the same time into col
lson, he seys there would be no running except
after hopeless defeat.
The men VINO played the runaway at Bull Run
were men who had not participated in the action
TO any extent, and who became panic-strlcken
where, il once smelling powder in the manner
above described, they would have been abund-
antly victorious. In the roar Of musketry and
the laundering discharge OF artillery there Is .
music that banishes every innate cowafdice.
The sight Of men struggling together, the clash
OF sabres, the tramp Of Sav airy the gore stained
grass Oi the battle field, and the coming charge
OF the enemy dimly visible through the battle
smoke-ail these, says our Intelligent informant,
dspel every particle Vt fear, and the veriest COW
ard IN the ranks perhaps becomes the most tiger
like. At the battle Of Bull Run the chaplain OF
one OF the regiments, man Of small stature and
delicate frame, personally cut down two slA feet
grenadiers in n single combat. Ii these things
are sO--and We incline TO think they are - the
best cure for cowardice is to crowd man into a
hight and there keep him. The fugitives from
Bull Run were men who imb,bed panic before II
could have reached Philadelphia Aortk
american.