Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-08-21
Indifference to Death.

indifference to Death.
One Of the most striking illustrations Of
the force Of habit, is the perfect indifference
with which soldiers go into battle. This is
not a characteristic Of American soldiers more
than Of English and French, probably; tho
it is exhibited in bolder relief, because our
army is composed of volunteers, generally
men OF intelligence, religious training, and
fresh from the peaceful pursuits of life
| Yet the power Of adoption to circumstances
is so strong in the American nation, that
within less than year-often in six months
the raw recruit is transformed into the vet.
eran soldier, who cares as little for death as
the grizzly Zouaves and Turcos who gave the
critical stroke at Solferino, and nearly wiped
out their regiments in that desperate assault.
There have been plenty of gallant charges in
this war; equal to that, or the attack Of the
Light Brigade at Balaklava. Il
1t is quite shocking, to fabulous mind,
to read, as one often does, Of the thought
less, reckless behavior of our troops on tho
evening before a battle. The order has
been read which dooms one man out Of i've
or six to death or wounds Every man
knows that he is to be fired at with ritled
shot, round shot, grape shot, and Minnie balls
for eight or ten hours; that he will probably
be called on to charge q fortifcation or to
take battery; that he will be exposed to
death during that whole time, whether he
lies down, stands still, walks, runs or rides.
There is no escaping the risk, unless he runs
away before the battle begins; and that he
has no thought Of doing. Now, Il would DO
supposed, by persons accustomed to dwell
much on the so!emnity Of the future that
soldiers camp on the evening before battle
would be scene of meditation and mental
and spiritual preparation for the dread ordeal
of the morrow; that the regmental chap.
lains would seize upon the occasion to hold
religious services, which would be generally
attended by the soldiers; and that the only
absentees would be those who were engaged
in writing last letters to their friends, and
making their wills, if they had anything to
leave. Nothing can be further from the
truth than this imaginary picture. If the
evening before battle is remarkable over
other evenings in the history of camp life, it
is that the men tell more stories, laugh loud
er, smoke more pipes, and are generally jol-
ller than at other times. Letters occasional
ly get into print, written by officers, stating
their fixed belief that they shall die in the
looming battle, and takag a sad farewell Of
wife and family. If they chance to die the
letters are published and pass as "extraor.'
dinary presentiments." But the greater ma
jority of the rank and Gle do not indulge in
these mournful anticipations, either in their
own minds or on paper They do not ex-
pect to be killed. And strange as it may
seem to us dwellers in peaceful ways, that
are so very careful Of our lives and limbs on
all occasions, they do not much care If they
are killed. As for the Chaplain, it must be
said, with every respect for his Office, he is
not generally sought for or needed on the
evening before battle. His ministrations
on Sunday may be attended by the whole
regiment, but he finds it hard to rally dog
en- on the other more solemn occasion, to re-.
ceive, perhaps, his last afiectionate counsels,
1t was stated by gentleman who saw and
counted the numbers, that out Of whole
brigade the Chaplain, by hard persuasion,
could only collect an audience Of fourteen
just previous to Burnside's disastrous attack
on the heights above fredericksburg. The.
rest Of the brigade whsted, played games,
smoked, and kicked up their heels on the
grass, just as if they were going on a pleas
ure excursion instead Of into tempest of
shot and shell, from which hundreds Of them
never returned alive. +s
| Rightly viewed, there is nothing profane
or highly censurable in this indifference to
the grave realities of the hour. It is we'll
meant on the soldiers part, and should be
accepted with the best construction that can
be put upon it. Fighting battles in antici. /,
patton is worse than fighting them in reality.
"Cowards die Thousand deaths; brave men
but one." The brave soldier may well dis.
like to dwell too closely on the horrors and
fatalities of the approaching battle and it
is not surprising that he should affect, If he
does not feel. an aversion to all ceremonial
preparations for his possible death. Criti-
else or comment upon his gay indifference
to fate as we may, it must be admitted that
when backed up by energy and endurance,
it is the stuff that wins battles.--N Y. Jour.
nal Of Commerce.
PLEASING E1ERYRnnY -Unavnn hnlr, fha