Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-11-29
Bayonet Charges.

A recent article in the Portland Transcript
thus speaks of bayonet charges. We have
abridged it slightly, TO suit our columns
To read the graphic descriptions in the
daily press Of fierce charges and sanguinary
encounters with this deadly weapon, one
would suppose that these were among the
most common occurrences of the war, where
as it is stubborn fact that not single in
stance can be found in the whole history Of it
where opposing forces Of any considerable
number, have stood for a moment in close
quarters with this terrible instrument of
death. This may seem bold statement, but
it is one which we think aan be subatantiated.
ON the bloody felss Sof Fair Oaks, where
Sckles Brigade dispersed twice their number
in n charge, | saw perhaps two thousand dead,
among these there were but three that motto
ed pierced by bayonets, since then have par
ticipated in two charges, the last that of Hook
er's Division, at Manassas, August 20, 1862,
one of the most sanguinsry of the war, but
our line was at no time nearer than ten PAGES
to that Of the enemy, and the only two instan-
ces in which ! saw the bayonst used, was
that Of two rebels who had got beyond the
lines and refused to surrender have been
informed by those who were in the grand
charge of Hancock Brigade at Williamsburg,
that they did not see one man injured by the
bayonet The Old Guard at Waterloo, it will
be remembered, was led against the French
by Wellington himself, yet the next morning
but five bodies could be found on the entire
field pierced by bayonet thrusts And yet an
English historian gravely relates, as an in
stance Of John Bulls prowess, that gigantic
member of the Guard was surrounded and
killed, after having bayoneted five Of his
enemies. These facts, however we'll substan-
tiated, do not dotract in the least from the
value of the weapon in question as an instru-
ment Of assault, but they create sad havoc
with the flowers OF rhetoric, and the glowing
language which "our correspondent make
so frequent and fulsome use OF, and which,
while they delight the low and vile, create the
greatest anxiety in the breasts of those whose
relatives are in peril But the reader may
ask "If the bayonet is so seldom used, in
what manner does il so often decide the fate
of battles and of nations2" To which we
answer, in ITS moral effect lies the secret Of
its efficiency The attacking party always
have the advantage, as it is reasonable 10 sup
pose that they know the number and strength
Of those whom they assault The yells, the
inlnriated faces, the approach on the double
quiek," all give such an exaggerated idea Of
the force, that the assaulted usually discharge
tuON pltNOh ~ huOfh
should they make bold stand, the chances
are greatly in favor of the attacking party
coming to halt and disputing the ground
with powder and BALL thusthe bayonet, though
seldom drawing blood, performs an important
part in every engagement
1t is amusing to the soldier to see what
precise mathematical lines newspaper artists
make in their pictures Of charges, and If It
we're possible for exhausted men to advance
in regular order over fields, bitches, and
through woods 1t is not possible A charge
is much Ike the rush Of an infuriated mob
through the streets Of a city, those with the
best pluck and longest legs leading Off II
is particularly difficult in Virginia, where
there is no much woodland 70 maintain a
good organization after being once engaged
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SOIL Free Speech, Free Trade and Free Men
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