The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-02

have overrated the dangers of battles.
Here for five hours we were exchanging
cannon balls, and Mimic bullets, and bayO-
net thrusts, and sabre strokes, and literally
there is "nobody hurt"-the loss in killed
and wounded on our side being but about
one in two hundred of those engaged.
These are my impressions. Are they not
the counterpart of all first experiences in
the battlefield
SENSATIONS IN BATTLE.
A friend asks me the feelings of a non.
combatant, under fire. Were you ever
caught in the open fields, when heavy thun.
der storm was raging? If you have, and
entertained an opinion that possibly light.
ming might strike where you was standing.
For three quarters of an hour, that l was
under fre-and there was almost continu-
Gus thunder Of six pounders-I could real
ize no special danger, but only an ill-de6ued
thought that possibly some of those flying
missiles might come where l stood in the
way. On comparing views with others
situated like myself f-encountering the same
opportunities, and with similar purposes
l find that they had the same sensation, so
that may fairly assume that the mass of
men under fire have little or no thought for
personal consequences, and that cowardice
is not normal characteristic of the human
race. If it is, half dozen editors and cor
respondents, to my certain knowledge are
exceptions.
SHERMAN's RATTERy
Capt. Ayres, of Shermans battery, was
ordered to bring his pieces to the point,
which he did. l have read of GOODNESS in
battle, but never before of perfect picture
of calm courage as Captain Ayres present.
ed as his battery filed around the house.
Detecting Mr.. Raymond and myself in the
group, he stopped and shook hands with as
much cordiality as if we were guests await
ing bis arrival at home, and then galIoped
after his guns, with CHEEKY good day. In
less than two minutes after, he was sighting
a Parrott gun, and returning the compile
ment of rifed shot with which we had been
saluted. In quick succession followed gun
after gun-the rebels replying promptly
and with apparent good will.
SCENE OF THE BATTLE.
Suddenly we heard dropping shots in the
brush; every one stood eager, feeling that
the struggle was commencing; the scattered
shots became quicker around that fatal knoll,
ard in the deep brush. and at length con-
tinuous roll OF musketry was heard, followed
by the most excited yells and cries. A cry
for "ambulances now sounded out, and
couples of men could be seen coming out of
the wood occasionally, supporting a third.
Our excitement on the hill grew intense
We saw the lines on the right drawing
nearer the little hill covered with wood, but
they seemed almost as nothing, compared
with the numbers that rolled out that inces.
SAINT fire of musketry. "Oh, Heavens for
the Brigade at Centre7ille !" we exclaimed.
the gallant Sixty. ninth, and the Seventy
ninth, and the Ohio men-but they were
three miles away. Why the ID don't
our artillery give them shot ?" some one
exclaims. just then Chaplain of a
Northern regiment rushes out of the wood,
and turns and fires ta0ice with his
rifle into the brush where are
no volunteers, and runs towards US almost
out of mind. "Oh, the woods are full of
the dead and wounded" he says. Now a
howitzer is sent down the hill, and the reg
ular cavalry. though the latter can do little
against the concealed foe. The cannon is
led into the bushes, and we hear it thunder.
ing away among the trees The MIME bull
lets begin to fly over our heads; but the un.
wearied reporters make notes, an artist
sketches the conflict coolly, when suddenly,
with a long, whistling whirr!" which no
one who once hears will ever forget round
shot aimed at our group from the bill op-
posite went crashing through the deserted
house behind US. Pell NELL rushed the
whole party up the bill to get behind the
trees. The regular cavalry broke and run,
and nearly trampled Mr.. Raymond to the
earth as he stood quietly taking notes as
cool as if be was at his own table; two of
the men were unhorsed, and they all stopped
in little hollow just beyond in the open
ground. Whir-r-r whistled the cannon
balls over our heads. "Oh, God d-n you,
don't run, don't run-lie down, men p
shouted mounted officer, to a company of
pioneers that were scattering rather fast.
SCENE IN CeNGREss-MR. CRITTENDEN.
Nko kol