Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-09-12
"reminiscences of the late Battles.

THE FIGHTING BRIGADEs.
, General Hooker, as at Williamsburg
bore the brunt of the battle on Thursday
and as he fought the rebel General John
ston at Williamsburg and defeated him
, so he fought the rebel General jackson
T and utterly routed him. On Friday he
was reinforced by General Kearney'.
division, as at Williamsburg, and so these
two divisions, forming Heinlzleman'
corps, drove the enemy to the WALL
Hooker's and Kearney's divisions have
done more fighting than any others in
the army of the Potomac, and their ranks
are terribly decimated.
. THE BAYONET CHARGE ON SATURDAY.
There was a bayonet charge. Let
those who want to know what is the sub
limest moment in the physical existence
of man, look at division when the order
is given that is to hurl it silently and
stealthily, but sternly and steadily into
the jaws of destruction, whence it can es-
cape only by breaking the very teeth of
the death which threatens it. It is not
mere bulldog daring that is then aroused ;
it is more than passionate blood which at
the word leaps through the veins with
such hot impetuosity, that toughly cord
ed nerve and brawny muscle quiver IN
der the fresh life impulse. II is spirit
sOul-that gushes up warm and eager
from the heart, and pour through the old
blood channels with such vivfying tu-
multi that the dark, dull, yeinsh clots run
along as bright and sparkling as if their
foaming were the mantle of new ferment-
ed wine; it is the capacity fer high and
glorious things, for suffering, and daring
and death, which, latent before, and faint
and fragmentary aspirings in the COM
mon droEing of life, now springs into an
omnipotent and full statured existence.
You do not know what they are--the ca
pabilities Of lire-you Of the North, who
tread your little daily rounds, in and out,
and have no ambition beyond the bounds !
of wealth and case. You are dreaming. !
all Of you. You think yourselves bow
ed down when you groan under ponder
Gus unreaIities by truel paradox you
may stand erect when the spiritual weight
of q real manhood settles on you. Let
me strap knapsack on you instead of a
ledger; give you a pistol for a pen, and
put a bayonet into your hands which be-
fore held yardstick. Now stand in the
ranks and wait for the word. 1t comes.
Charge bayonets ~ of! and God be
with you ! Fight your way stoutly; it is
for your life Fight it unhinchingjy i
is for your honor If you fall, the glory
of this cause and the sublimity of this
scene will brighten your eye in spite of
The death glaze, and hold high your hopes
even when life is ebbing; if you strug-
yle through you are a man forever-a
nan on a large scale of character; man
9f intensity and concentrated force;
nan who has had more than glimpses
nto the magnificent possibilities of the
ipirit within him.
Such are the made men Of Heintzel-
mans entire corps d'armee who escaped
he chances of their glorious Charge
They have lived ages in moments they
rave passed through the most terrible
,rdeal that can test the stuff of manhood, q
md they have recompense beyond gold
n Observation-Disclosures honor, and
deep insight of life for was it not bor- =
Lered closely and heavily with death ?
The men were by 10 means fresh
vhen they were submitted to this trial l.
They had fought through the greater part :
f most fatiguing day. They had been >
Without provision or rest since early
norning, and worse than all, an intoler-
BILE thirst consumed them. They were S
red-to the verge of exhaustion-hun-
ry, thirsty, dusty, everything but dis
irited. b
In the eyes of all the world they would is
ave been justified in treating the order C,
charge as a mistake, whether inten- il
onal Or unintentional. They had been n
reed back by the sheer weight of over f
helming numbers new forces had been tc
hurled upon them, and it was V,
1t madness to refuse the chances of h
eeting reiniorcements in the rear. The to
yful crash of the battle was still around te
EN-. A superior artillery was hurling NJ
voc into the ranks. Musketry was in ne
easing ifs deadly volleys, and there be- pr
n to be symptoms of aanking move tr
ent and a cross fire. 1t was under th
ch circumstances that Heintzleman's co
rps ceased firing. 1t made a decided ne
Ference in the noise Of the field the M