The Portland daily press., 1862-09-10
A Bay0net Charge.

The Philadelphia Press contains the follow
ing graphic description Of bayonet charge by
Heintzelman's troops, in the fight of last Fri
day:
There was bayonet charge Let those who
want to know what is the sublmest moment
in the physical existence of man look at
division when the order is given that is to
hurl it silently aud stealthily, but sterny and
steadily, into the jaws of destruction, whence
1t can escape only by breaking the very teeth
OF the death which threatens it. Its not mere
bulldog daring that is then aroused; 1t is more
than passionate blood which, at the word. leaps
througe the veins with such hot mpetuosty
that toughly-corded nerve and brawny muscle
quiver under the fresh life-impuse. 1t is spir-
it, soul, that gush up warm and eager from the
heart and pour through the old blood-channels
with such vivifying tumult that the dark, dull.
yeinous clots rushalong as bright and sparkling
as II their foaming were the mantle of new-fer-
mented wine; 1t is the capacity for high and
glorlons things, for suffering, and daring, and
death, which latent before and felt as but faint
and fragmentary aspirings in the common dron-
ing oil life, now spring into an omdipotent and
fuil-statured existence. You do not know
what they are-the capabilities of life, YOU of
the North who tread your little daily rounds,
In and out, and have no ambition beyond the
bounds of wealth and ease. You are dreaming
all OF you. You think yourselves bowed down
when you groan under ponderous unrealites:
by truer paradox you may stand erect when
the spiritual weight of real manhood settles
on you. Let me strap knapsack on YOU in
stead OF ledger; give you pistol for a pen,
and put hayonet into your hands which be-
fore held yard stick. Now stand in the ranks
and wait for the word 1t comes. .Charge
bayonets" on! and God be with you Fight
your way stoutly; it is for your life, Fight it
unflinchingy; 1t is for your honor! Ifyou fall,
the glory of this cause and the sublimity of this
scene will brighten your eye in spite of the
deatll-glaze, and hold high your hopes even
when life is ebbing; If you struggle through,
you are man forever-a man on a large scale
of character, man Of intensity and concen-
trated force, a man who has had more than
glimpses into the magnificent possibilities of
the spirit within him.
Such are the made men of Hentzelman's en-
tire corps d drmee who escaped the chances
OF their glorious charge. They have lived ages
In moments; they have passed through the
most terrible ordeal that can test the stuff of
manhood, and they have rccompense beyond
gold or emoument-self-asserted honor and a
deep insight Of life; for it was not bordered
closely and heavily with death?
The men were by no means fresh when they
were submitted to this trial. They had fought
through the greater part of most fatiguing
day. They had been without provision or rest
since early morning; and, worse than all, an
intolerable thirst consumed them. They were
tired, to the verge of xhaustion-hunyry
thirsty, dusty,-everything but dispirited.-
In the eyes of all the world they would have
been justified in treating the order to charge,
as mistake, whether Intentional, or unnten-
tional. They had been forced back by the sheer
weight Of overwhelming numbers; new forces
had been constantly hurled upon them and it
was but madness to refuse the chances of
meeting reinforcements In the rear The aw-
ful crash OF the battle was still around them.
superior artilley was hurlng havoc into the
ranks. Musketry was increasing its aleadIy
volleys, and there began to be symptoms of
hanking movement. and cross fire 1t was
under such circumstances that Heintzeman's
corps ceased fire. 1t made decided difference
in the noise of the field the diminution of
sound was almost a rush, for, though the enc
my was blazing away as rapidly as ever it is
the guns Immediately about that fills ones
ears. For an instant the great line wavered |;
this suspense was too horrible-it must be
filed with act of some kind: mortal men can
not stand it; for Gods sake, let the great gap
of inaction be crammed-with DEATH II moth
ing else. STEADY, men," A resumption of
the line. But also an increase of the adverse
firing. Again waver. STEADY, steady, men,"
and lieutenants: but these seconds are centu-
res you must give these men something to
do; you must steady them by action. And
here comes enough; aids gallop down with or
ders that bring every musket to its most threat
oning position. Then the cheering words of
the commanders, as they dash down the lines
Then wild waving of swords by our should
er straps as the final word is given, and the
column starts .fortcdrd. Slowly, at first, and
rather lamely-joints stiff with fatigue. But
as the distance to the foe is shortened, the pace
is quickned; faster and faster moves that
steadily advancing column, till, on run like a
deers, with leaps and shouts like more savage
creatures, they hurl themselves right into the
midst of the expectant foe. What passed there
no man can tell. They are not more silent
who fell with death-sealed lips, than are those
who came out unharncd The excitement is
too great for memory to hold any ground; all
faculties are swept away in the one wild thirst
for blood, blood. We can only say, that, af-
ter short, but desperate struggle, the rebel
foe fell back-not orderly and meaningly, but
in such confusion, and lawless turmoil as only
terror can create. The day was won. The
blood and bravery of Heintzclmans stout fel-
lows won it. The plaudits of grateful coun-
try be with them! 1t was the boldest and
grandest charge Of the war. The honor of all
history must be with them.