Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-27
J How MEN fEEI iN aAfrLF-

: People often wonder how men te
: in battle. This depends to q considers
ble extent on the nature Of The coniiic
or the kind of troops engaged, Ii
weapons employed. and the durstIo
of the battle. All men are not effecI
led alike; some are cool, determine
and courageous; some lose all jude
ment and single handed rush npo
hundreds. others are entirely unman
ned-tremble ike aspens--seem dea
to every emotion Of honor or feeling Q
shame, and will sink into eoverts 0
run from the field. Lord Forth in Oh
Cumean war is an instance. Ifskir
mishers engage prior to a general bat
tie, and desultory firing is kept u
for awhile. one becomes used to II. and
as the battle warns. il frequently be
comes exciting. and men that trembl,
at the first few shots, now rush on hk,
heroes. I remember well my feeling
during the FIRST battle 10 which wa,
engaged. The night before the battle
we received orders to prepareito attscl
the enemy on the morrow. All WA
now hustle, hurry and anxiety. Guns
were cleaned, ammunition Inspected
straps adjusted, canteens filed, KNAPP.
sacks lightened. letters written. &c.
We had several Of our company who
had always boasted Of their bravery
and prowess-men who had been spoil
ing for fight as they said. These
were now still as mice-they didn't
peep. One of them who had taken a
masters degree in all kinds of profani.
ty now borrowed bible, sat down and
read it for some time and inlimated to
his messmale the propriety Of repeating
their, Now ! lay me- &C.. before going
to sleep that night. II is not your
clustering. profane bravado 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. Bat
tie was certain, the enemy was strong
ly posted. and we had desperate work
before US. / wanted TO go into the
battle. yet | dreaded it like death. l
slept but little that night. The morn
ing came and our column moved quiet
ly and sternly forward through a
wood. The first intimaiion we had Of
the enemy was skirmishing between his
outposts and our vanguard, the former
falling back as the latter advanced
We passed ont Of the wood and rapidly
INTO line of batlles.@a gently
sloping hill hiding the enemy from our
view. A part of our force had been
sent round to make 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 till the whole line Of the enemy
burst upon our view; there we halted
and for some minutes not a gun was
fired on either side. There stood the
two armies, each silently waiting for
the other to begin the work Of death.
The faces Of our men looked pale and
determined; some of them stood like
Shareholders were nervous and un-
easy 1t was the time to test the cour-
age of men. A line OF cannon was
hearing upon us. Death to many Of
US was certain. Who will it be-?
thought l. A singular feeling came
over me; confused image Of a mother
and sister appeared fitting before my
imagination like dissolved shadows;
while The tremendous reality in front
me with dreadful forebo-
dings. A few moments passed, like
those that intervene between drawing
the cap over the criminals face and let
ting fall the drop, when puff Of smoke
from one Of the cannon, followed by a
crash and a bomb went scresching
over us. Our men ducked down their
heads like geese. Fire was now open
ed on us along the enemy's entire lines.
Their first shots were aimed too high.
They gradually lowered them. Every
brought their balls fearlully
nearer. We were impatient 10 return
the fire., but dare not ill 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 task to
hold men to an enemy's fire without
allowing them to return it. They will
soon run one way or the other. The
shot now began 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
ny messmate on my left; a moment
more and one struck him in the breast,
'eyering him almostin twaine. He reel
ID and fell like a log. The bot blood
rom his heart spirited full in my face
Great God. how felti A faint, sicken-
ng sensation came over me. / stoop-
d down over him. He smiled family,
poke my name. gasped and expired.-
lie was frightlully mangled, | was
naddened to desperation. All thought
1 fear vanished; could have fought :
The commaad Fire rang
long the line. and tremendous !
rash Of musketry answered the com
nand. We now loaded and fred for
ife. Dense 1Hvolumns of suiphurous v
moke hung like q spell over Us and 4
hut out the enemy from our sight III
he battle grew warm and bloody
he rattle OF musketry, the screamingt
{ shells. the thunders of artillery, the v
-histling Of bullets, the shouts of COM
- rninn nled with cnrses nrarers Z,