Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-05-21
NV Feelings IN the Rattle.

Tie following extracts, from the letter
of a yoang officer in Burnside's army,
gives a vivid account of the writer's
thoughts and feelings when OH n march
and under fire at Newbern, and should
console many whose hearts ache for
their friends in battle
regrets that | have
sent 10 account of what my feelings were
OH the march aud during the battle. 1t
would be hard to do So Three DAYS af-
ter it was over. such had been the en-
element Of the time that it seemed like
n dream. As | remember now, on the
march felt chiefly interested in getting
on, when | was too tired to DO anything
more than just stumble along. Before
we leit the boat, when | rose on the
18th, | had sort of yearning for you,
and somewhat despairing feeling that
| was not to return that day; but when
| had dressed and the time came for
icavint for the shore, all was forgotten
in the Thought of duty which must go
forward in hope and confidence.
q" That early morning of the 18th |
woke, of course not much rcste' from
my bed on the sloppy pasture in the
na;n. | didn't think after that, except to
do what was told (carry the news of
the firing to Gen. Foster, aud draw in
the picket>), until | had advanced with
the skIrmisheis to the front, and saw
where we must 60. | made up my
mind then that there was small chance
for any of us, but not at nil despairingIy,
calmly. and meanwhile to fight ones
best. The first ball only added to the
conviction of small chance, but without
mt nil affecting the o.hcr conviction that,
be the fire hot as hail, We must still 90
OH. And then, when the tlankin@ guns
were on us, aud for a second there was a
little faltcring, ones self was utterly for
gotten in the they must not fall back,
thew SHALL not and all the mind was
given to keeping the line up, as we moved
through the trees, the balls whi,tIing
round us.
- When, Mt last, we laid down under
fire. do not know what | thought of. |
was fearfuIy tired, my back and limbs
ached horribly, and in such fatigue one
could not, OF course, think much. There
was, think. conviction that | stood n
good chance TO he hit, and meanwhile !
waited; wondering whether it would b,
u cannon tall or bullets; and when it
would come. where hit, and if ! would
be carried off or rest there. Then, when
the yelling shells grew thick and the
splintcrs began to fall around me, l
don't know how, but | grew quite cheer
ful-it WAS n gone case" [ remem-
Der as shell struck the tree above Capt.
| laughed and pointed it DAT to
him with my sword.
There were thoughts of you now and
then crossing me, but strangely. 1t was
a sort of cold feeling that it would lie
awful TO you should | be killed there,
dreadful gap in your lives, matter-of
fact feeling that my going out would be
missed somewhere; then, when we rose
to charge, Their was thsnkiulness that
we had conquered, and now we'd have a
little chance to rest. And when we
marched out of the entertainments on
our way to Ncwbcn, there were
thoughts of gratitude that ! was safe Cor
Your sakes. and that, for that day It
least, there would be no more poor fel
lows shot and manned before and around
us.
Saturday, when body and mind had
time to rest, laid on my bed taking re-
freshmen from the thoughts of home
love and prayers.
81 much regret that | did not think
more during those hours when we lay
under fire; and one reason Why | wish
for another battle is. that may rcmcm-
Der to think. | suppose it was the IA
tisue that prevented. Ny experience is,
that the prospect IF death, such as we
had that day before US, has sometbin. in
it which, whilst it partakes of the awful,
yet beals kind of consolation in its
certainty, that il must be met, that there
can be no such thing as altering, simply
TO 20 on. This Was the under current
to my thoughts during those two days;
meanwhile I felt perfectly cheerful aud
active.
don't think can remember any
thing more than this, in my feelings 1t
was all a great must. They four men
who feID must be killed, we must march
forward, must join the regiment (for
crossed it alone under firc), we must lie
here till further orders, we must take the
batteries. 1t was not that Honor or
Duty demanded tit was the Must,
behind which stood Honor and Duty ill.,
deed. We'll, | know what it is ~
The New York Commercials York
town correspondent relates the following