The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-21
How ono Feels on Going into Battle.

How ono Feels on Going into Battle.
Tho following animated sketch Of the sol.
dier's leelngswhen about to engage the en-.
emy, is from correspondent Of the Louis-
vile Journal, who had been there: lei,
People often wonder how one feels In bat.
tie. This depends to considerable extent
on the nature OF the conflict, tho kind Of
troops engaged, the weapons employed, and
the duration Of the battle. All men are not
affected alike some are cool, determined, and
courageous; some lose all Judgment, and will
sinsle.handed, rush upon hundreds; Others
are entirely nmanned-tremble like aspens
seem dead to every emotion Of honor or
feeling Of shame. and will sink into coverts
or run from the field. Lord Forth In tho
Crimean war is an instance. II skirmishers
engage prior to q general battle, and do
sultory firing is kept up for while, one be-
comes used to 1t, and as the battle warns, II
frequently becomes exciting. and men who
trembled at the first few shots, now rush on
like heroes. remember we'll my feelings
during tho first battle in which was en-
engaged. The night before the battle, We
received orders to prepare to attack the en-
emy early ON the morrow. All was now
hustle hurry and anxiety. Guns were cleaned
ammunition inspected, straps adjusted, can.
teens filed. knapsacks lightened, letters
written, &c. We had several In our comps-
ny who had always boas.ed Of their bravery
and prowcss-men who had been spelling for
fight rs they said. These were now a.
still as mice-they didn't peep. One ofthsm
who had taken masters degree In oil kinds
of profanity, now borrowed Bible, sat down
and read It for some time. and intimatsd to
his mcsmate the propriety Of repeating their
Snow lay me-" &C., before going to slocp
that night It Is not your blpstering pro-
fame bravado that Is the bravo man on the
field Of battle, 1t Is your quiet, patient rstir.
'"s '""".
0o"'e's .',' u"'A v's " '
anu "nA''' '~'' o''' 1A'' DA' ~. W.
tain. tho enemy was strongly posted, and We
had desperate work before us. I wanted to
60 into battle, yet dreaded 1t like DEATH
| slept but little that night. The morning
camo anu ouf 'o'o'n". ino'0u qu.s ~.
stern'y ior""fa '"to'sn "o'a' i"' n,
in.'ma''on wo naa Q, tue enemy wa. "'
skrm'","s ~''"een n's vu'pT'' '"u ~. w..
,ansoa'.' II, 'o'%,' ,w N"s 'A0. ."'
ia"et aa'ancVu' "e Pa.'e' ou' o. 'h'
WOOD anu rap,d'y oeP'oyea INTO ''no " oA''
ue' I" gch''c s'op'ns MI n'u'ns 'ue eneny
from view. a part o. our 'orco naa oeen
sent arounc 10 make o nank anu roar a''Aek
on the enemy ana WINE 10 oo'"s" " W. ..
the utmost Importance tha' VIZ snou'u no'a
his attention IN 'front.' Mo marched s'eao''
" Up the hill till the whole line OF tho enc
my burst upon our view. there We halted and
for some minutes not gun was frod on si.
ther side. There stood the two armies. each
awaiting for the other To commence the work
Of death. The faces Of our men looked pale
and determined; some Of them stood like
statacs-others were nervous and unes'y.-i
# was the time to test the coumss Of men.
A line Of cannon werc bearing directly upon
us, Death to many Of us was certain. Who