Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-05-24
IndiGercnce 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 q
characteristic Of American soldiers more
than of English or French, probably, though
it is exhibited in bolder relief, because our
army is composed Of volunteers, generally
men of intelligence, Of religious training,
and fresh from the peaceful pursuits Of life.
Yet the power Of adaptation 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 Zouave and TurcOs who gave the
critical stroke at SolferinO, and nearly wiped
out their regiments in this dangerous assault.
There have been plenty Of gallant charges in
this war equal to that, or the attack Of the
light brigade at Balaclava. 1t is quite shock
ING 70 fastidious mind TO read, az one often
does, Of the thoughtless, reckless behavior OF
our troops on the evening before battle.
The order has been read which dooms man
out of five or six to death or wounds. Every
man knows that he is to be fred at with rltie
shot, round shot, grape shot, and MIME balls.
for eight or ten hours; that he will probably
be called on to charge fertilization 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, It would be
supPoseu ~ r ~ S,,nr. ,h.t
much on the SoieHniues VI lne i1., tn.1
soidler camp on tne evening oe'o, go. "a
te would oe scene OF meuisAt,yn .n Se 5ra.S u nr
tal ana Splrllnal PrePaIa.Iuh ,'Is loi sne -
aeal OF 'ne horio" tna'.ne w. sn; ~ hofa
lains W,.uio selIe uPSn PSh ne onTJ bs a.n.raliv
,.,aSJeS Ss ,ba sold;nrs. and ,ba, tbe onIy
aSsantaas !o,,id bo ,hosa ,sbo were enoaged
~ sn;,;p "O roa. Io,,o w ms ,o ,ho;r fr;snds snd
r,.L;na 9hs;r viii n ,S.v mad anvtbino to
inara Nnth;,n oa, ~ ts.,h.r fr,n, ,ho srn,h
,h,r This in,.a;1o orv n;c,ura II The .rs,,;n.
| hsfore y bsttIe ;s remprk ahIs over nther syen'
80. - ,Sa hi, torv NJ can,n I;fs !, l. ths, ~.
~ ,,e,, ali n,oro s,or;ss i.pgh ionis, srooLo
n,nra n;nos and ,rs oenoraiIv ;nlI;cr ,h,n A.
n.So. ,;,oos e,,srs s;1I.IIr ,s, ;r,o
Osa n;,.o. ~ 49, sta,;n, ,h:;r ssr.iha H.
Et. 80 ~, a. ~ 49, s,,Ia IL
.nI.;n ~ tlraa,siI ~ ,r;fo NJ f,m,;ir r.
I'M nao s 80 H. ,hs ,a,,ors ara nnhi;.hnd
III mas az "sx,r,nrdinsTv n,esenr;,nents !"
P,, ,hs Urea, N, ;ortv of m. ranE and 6le do
m, ;ndniee in these nournfIl authorizations.
a;,bsr in Iha;r own minds or on naner They
do not eynec. to be killed Ana strange
os il ,r,v seem m ne d,ypIlers in neAceful
49, ia, are .o careful of our lives
ID iir,hs on ali occasions thev do ma, much
a 80 ~ r., .ra L;II.5 A. fnr the cbanIain
!, rous, he ss;d with every resnect for his
ofScc he is not generally sought for nor
Needed on the evening before battle. His
ministrations on Sunday may be attended by
the regiment. but he finds il hard to rally a
dozen on the more solemn occasion to re-