The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-07-09
PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
A BayOnet Charge.

A BayOnet Charge.
The correspondent of the Philadelphia Press,
thus describes a bayonet charge made by Heint-
zle;nan's brave soldiers in the battle of Saturday,
Aug. 30:
There was a bayOnet charge. Let those who
want To know what is the sublimest moment in
the physical existence of man, look at a division
when the order is given that is TO hurl it silently
and stealthiiY, but sternly and steadily, into the
laws of DESTRUCTION, whence it can escape only
by breaking the very teeth of the Death which
threatens 1t. 1t is pot mere bull dog daring that
Is then aroused it is more than passionate blood
which, at the word, leaps through the veins with
such hot impctuOsity that toughly-corded nerve
and brawny muscle culver under the fresh life
impulse. 1t is spirit soul, that gushes up warm
and eager from the heart and pours through the
old blood-channeis with such v~iyifying tumult
that the dark, dull, yeinOus clots rush along as
bright and sparkling al if their foaming were the
mantle of new Grmented wine it is the capacity
for high and glorious things, for suffering, and
death, which, latent before and felt as but faint
and fragmentary aspirings in the common dron-
ing OF life, now spring into an OmnipOtent and
full statured existence. You do not know what
they are-the capabilities of life, you of the
North who tread your daily rounds. in and out,
have no ambition beyond the bounds of
wealth and ease. You are dreaming, all Of you.
You think yourselves bowed down when YOU
grdan under ponderOus unrealities; by a truer
paradox you may stand erect when the spiritual
weight of 4 real manhood settles on YOU. Let me
strap a k~napsack on you instead of a ledger
give you a pistol for a pen, and put a bayOnet
into Jour hands which before held n yardstick.
Now stand in the ranks and wait for the word,
ii comes. "Charge bayoneti" OFF, and God
be with you, Fight your way stoutly it is for
your life Fight 1T unfinchingly it is for your
honor If you fall the glory of this cause and
the sublimity of the scene will brighten your eye
I'm spite of the death-glaze, and hold high your
hopes even when life is ebbing if you struggle
through, you are a man foreyer-a man on a
large scale OF character. n man Of intensity and
concentrated force, a man no has had more than
glim pses into the magnificent possibilities of the
spirit within fIm.
Such are the made men Of H~eintzleman's entire
corps daTHlee who escaped the chances of their
Inents they have passed through the most terri
BILE ordeal that can test the stuff Of manhood,
and they have n recompense beyond gold or
honor and a deep in
sight Of light for was il not honOred closely and
heavily with death?
The men We're by no means fresh when they
were submitted to this trial. They had fought
through the greater part of a most ~fltiguing day.
They had been without provision OF rest since
early morning ; and worse than all, an intOlerable
thirst consumed them. They were tired-to the
verge of bdustiOn-hungry. thirsty, dusty
JW dispirited. In the eyes of all the
world they would have been justified in treating
the order To- charge as n mistake. whether inten-
AO'hti VI ApNN b0A pCCA lOAbCu
back by the sheer weight of overwhelming num-
bers new forces had been constantly hurled upon
them, and it was but madness to refuse the
chances of meeting reinforcements in the rear.
The awful crash of the battle was still around
A superior artillery was hurting havoc
the ranks. Musketry was increasing it's
deadly volleys, and there began to be symptoms
IF a hankiLg movement and a cross fire. 1t was
under such circumstances that Heintzleman's
corps ceased fire. It made a decided difference
IN the noise of the field the diminution of sound
was almost a hush, for though the enemy was
blazing away as rapidly as ever, it is the guns
about one that fills ones ears.
For ali instant the great line wavered this
dispense was too horrible, it must be filled with
of some kind mortal men cannot stand it =
or Gods sake. let the great gap of %inactiOn be
with death. if nothing else. STEADY,
men :" A resumption of the line. But also an ,
Increase of the adverse firing. Again a waver.
: Steady, steady, men - Aye, bawl till you are
coarse brave captains and lieutenants; but these {
econds are centuries you must give these men '
o~uething to do you must steady them by ac-
ion. And here comes enough aids gallop down {
orders that brings every musket TO its most s
position. Then the cheering words ,
{ the commanders as they dash down the lines. {
'hen a wild waving of swords by our shoulder I
traps as the final word is given. and the column I
tarts forScard! Slowly, at first. and rather s
amely-joints stiff with fatigue. But as the dis &
ance to the foe is shortened the pace is quick !
ned faster and faster moves that steadily adj !
ancing column, till, on u run like 4 deer's, with t
and shouts like me- re creatures, they L
themselves right into the midst of the ex- '
'ectant foe. What passed there no man can tell. v
hey are not more silent who fell with death v
called lips than are those who came out unharm- n
d. The excitement is too great for memory TO s
any ground all faculties are swept away in :
he one wild thirst for blood, blood. We can e
MY say, that after Il short, but desperate strug- z
lie, the rebel foe fell back-not orderly and v
leaningly, but in such confusion and lawless u
urmOil as only terror can create. The day was v
ION. The blood and bravery of Heintzleman's
fellows won it. The plaudits of a grateful =
Ountry be with them IL was the bOldest and !,
randest charge of the war. The honor of all 4
istory must be with them.
Reconnaissance IN THE SKY.-Mr. James z