Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-03-13
HOW ONE FEELS ON GOING INTO
BATTLE

leeHIBS Wnen ABOUT 10 engage the enemy, is
from correspondent of the Louisville Jour-
nal, who had been there:
People often wonder how one feels in battle.
This depends to considerable extent on the
nature of the conflict, the kind of troops en-
gagged, 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, single handed
rush upon hundreds others are entirely un-
manncd-tremhle like aspens-seem dead to
every emotion of honor or feeling of shame,
and will stink into coverts or run from the field.
Lord Forth in the Crmean war is an instance
If skirmishers engage prior to general battle
and desultory firing is kept up for while, one
becomes used to it, and, as the battle warns, it
frequently becomes exciting, and men that
tremble at the first few shots, now rush on like
heroes. | remember well my feelings during
the first battle in which | was engaged. The
night before the battle, we received orders to
prepare TO attack the enemy early on the NOR
row. All was now bustle hurry, and anxiety
Guns were cleaned ammunition Inspected
straps adjusted, canteens filled, knapsacks light
ened, letters written, &c. We had several in
our company who had always bosted of their
bravery and powels-men who had been "spoil-
ting ior fight" as they said. These were now
as still us mice--they didn't peep. One of
them, who had taken masters degree in all
kinds Of profanity, now borrowed Bible, sat
down and read it for some time, and intimated
to his messmate the propriety of repeating their
night. 1t not your clustering, pro ane brayado
that is the brave man on the field of battle it
is your quiet, patient, retiring man.
confess felt uneasy-a feeling of dread
and anxiety stole over me. Battle was certain,
the enemy was strongly posted and we had des-
perate work before us. | wanted to go into
battle, yet dreaded It like death. l slept but
little that night The morning came and our
columns moved quietly and sterny forward
through a wood. The first intmation we had
of the enemy was the skirmishing between his
outpost and our vanguard, the former falling
back as the latter advanced. We passed out
Of the wood and rapidly deployed into line of
batll", gentle sloping hill hiding the enemy
from our view. A part of our force had been sent
around to make II flank and rear attack on the
enemy, and while so doing it was of the utmost
importance that we should hold his attention in
front. We marched steadily up the hill the
whole line of enemy burst upon our view
there we halted, and for some minutes not
gun was fired on either side. There stood the
two armies, each waiting for the other to begin
the work of death. The faces of our men
looked pale and determined some of them
stood like statues-others were nervous and
uneasy. 1t was the time to test the courage of
men. A line of cannon were bearing directly
upon us. Death to many of us was certain.
Who will it be? thought |. A singular feeling
came over me confused image of mother
and sister appeared floating before my imagi
nation like dissolving shadows, while the tre-
mendous reality in front oppressed we with
dredful forebodngs.
a few moments passed. like those that inter-
vene between drawing the cap over the crimi-
nails face and letting fall the drop, when puff
of smoke from one of the cannon, followed by
a crash and bomb went screaming over us.
Our men ducked down their heads like geese.
Fire was opened on us along the enemy's entire
line. Their first shots were aimed too high.
They gradually lowered them. Every discharge
brought their balls fearfully nearer. We were
impatient to return the fire, but dare not till
the command was given. Our Colonel passed
along in front of the line, and urged us to stand
firm till the proper time, and the day would
be ours 1t is Il task to hold men exposed TO
an enemy's fire without allowing them to re-
turn il. They will soon run, one way or the
other. The enemy's shot now begun to howl
around us, plough through our ranks and tear
up the earth about our feet. A six pound ball
cut off the bayonet of my messmate on my left;
a moment more and one struck him in the
breast, serving him almost in twain. He reeled
and fell like log. The hot blood from his
heart spirited full in my face. Great God, how
! felt A faint sickning sensation came over
me. l stopped down over him. lie smiled
family, spoke my name, gasped and expired.
lie was fightfully mangled. was maddeaed
to desperation. All thought Of fear vanished /;
| could have fought thousands.
The command "Fire" rang along the line,
and tremendou. crash of musketry answered
the command. We now loaded and fired for
life. Dense volumes of sulphurous smoke hung
like pail over us and shut out the enemy from
our sight. The battle grew warm and bloody.
The rattle of musketry, the screaming of shells,
the thunders of the artillery, the whistling of
bullets, the shouts Of command commingled
with curses prayers, and groans OF the woun
ded and dying. filled all the air. Our men,
black with smoke and powder, looked like devils
incarnate as they piled their work of death. AT
length breeze rolled away the smoke that
shrouded us, and disclosed our other columns
bearing down upon the enemy's flank. Now
was the decisive moment. "Chdrge 6ayoRetS,'
rang out. and with loud shouts we rushed for
ward to the assault. A storm of grape and
canister was hurled against US as we neared
| the batteries. Like maddened tigers our men
leaped forward with the cold steel. The strug,
gle over the guns was desperate. 1t was G
butchery savage in the extreme. The enemy
soon broke and fed, leaving US masters of the
field. Since that time | have not felt the leas
dread or hesitltion on entering battle. After
the first few shots | fire away as cody as wher
hunting squirrels.
AS general rule our small men are more
plucky than our large ones. We have half {
dozen boys with us varying in age from twelv,
to fifteen years. They are hearty as bucks anC
lively as criekets You cannot dog them ava!
from the army. In battle the great troubl,
with such youngstersis is to keep them from rush
ing ahead too fast. There is singular iasci
nation attending an armyi men having serve,
one campaign, no matter what may have beer
their hardships, are almost certain to enlis
again.
CoLERIDGE.-"Celebratel Friendships" con
tains an anecdote or two illustrative of Cole
ridges peculiar indifference TO engagements
Colerldge was falling in love at Bath witt
Sarah (poetically termed Sara) Freker, th