The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-21
A soldiers Emotion i'm Battle.

Our citizen soldiers, inexperienced in the
battle field, will find the most teri ible mo-
ments just before the battle begins. A
soldier in his narration of personal adven-
lures in the Mexican war, published in
"Howes Achievements of Americans"
gives some interesting items on this bead 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 time did not see single
man of the enemy move; they stood like
statues. We remained quiet, with two ex-
ceptions Gen. Taylor, followed by his
staff, rode from left to right at slow pace,
with his leg thrown over like woman, and
as he passed each regiment, be spoke words
of encouragement. / know not what he
said to the others, but when he came to
where we stood, he looked steadily at us, [
suppose to see what effect the novel circum-
stances in which we were placed had upon us
and, as he gazed, he said =" The bayonet,
my hardy cocks the bayonet is the thing p
The other occasion was that of Lieut..
Blake, Of the engineers, who volunteered to
gallop along the enemy's line, in front of
both armies, and count their guns; and 80
close did be go, that he might have been
shot hundred times. One of the officers
OF the enemy, doubtless thinking he had
some communication to make, rode out to
meet him; Blake, however, paid no atten-
tiOn to him, but rode on, and then re.
turned and reported to Taylor.
Thus stood those two belligerent armies,
face to face. What were the feelings of
those thousands How many thoughts
and fears were crowded into those few mo-
ments I! Look at our men! clammy
sweat is settled all over faces slightly pale,
not from cowardly fear, but from an awful
sense OF peril, combined with determines
ton not to finch from dnty. These are
the moments in which true soldiers resign
themselves to the reflection that whatever
may befall them they will 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 q great
amount of mental and physical labor. At
the end of q battle always found that /
had perspired SO profusely as to wet through
all my thick wooden clothing, and when,I
had got cool, I was as sore as if I had been
beaten all over with club. When the
battle commences the feelings undergo
change.
Reader, did You ever see your house on
fret If SO, it was then you rushed into
great danger it was then you went over
places, climbed over walls, lifted heavy
loads, which you never could have done in
your cooler moments you then have expe.
rrienced some Of the excitement Of soldier
in battle. always knew my danger-that
at any moment was liable to be killed,
yet such was my excitement that never
fully realized it. All men are not alike
some are cool; some are perfectly wild or
crazy; others are 90 Frustrated by fear that
they are completely unnerved-an awful
sinking and relaxation of al their energies
takes place, awful to behold; they trembIe
like an aspen, stink into bitches and covert
places, cry like children, and ere totally
insensible to shame-dead to every emotion