The Shasta courier., 1864-06-11
Indsnerence 10 Deasi..


One of the most striking illustrations Of the
force Of habit is the perfect Indifference with
which soldiers 90 into battle This is not
characteristics Of American soldiers more than
pf E'fgiish or French. probably, though ii is
exhibited IN bolder relief. because our army
iS composed Of volunteers. generally men o.
intelligence, of religious training and fresh
from the peaceful pursuits of life. Yet the
power Of adaptation to circumstances is so
str1ag in the American nation that within
less than vear-often in six mnnths-the
raw recruit IS Transformed into the veteran
soldier, who cares as little for death as the
grizzly Z9uaye and Turcos who gave the crit-
ical strnke at SDlferiuo. 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 Balak'ava. Its quite shock.
ing to a iaStidious mind to read. rs one often
does. Of the 5h0ughtiess. reckless behavior of
our troops on the evening efnre a battle
The order has been read which doams IA man
ont Of five or six 10 death or wounds Every
man knows that be is to be fred at with rife
shot. round shot, grape shot, and Mimic balls
for eight or ten hours; that he will probably
be called on to charge a iortifcatien or take
battery; that be will be exposed to death
during that whole time, whether he lies
down, stands still. walks. runs or rides
There is no escaping tie risk, unless he runs
away before the battle beg MS and that he
has no thought Of doing Now, it would be
supposed by persons accustomed to dwell
much on the solcmnites of the future, that a
sol lier's camp ON the evening before battle
would be scene of mediation and mental
and spiritual preparation far the dread ordeal
Of the morrow that the regimental chaplains
would seize upon the occasion TO hold reiigi-
Gus services. which would be generally at
tended by the soldiers and that tae only
absentees would be those who were engaged
in writing last letters to their friends. and
making their wills if they bad anything to
leave. Nothing can be further from the truth
than this imaginary picture. Ii the evening
before Il battle is remarkable over other eve
nngs in the history of camp life. i is that
the men tei. more stories, laugh louder. smoke
more pipes, and are generally jollier than at
other times. Letters occasionally get into
print, written by officers stating their fixed
belief that they shall die in the coming battel
and taking a sad farewell of wife and family
If they chance to die. the letters are publish
ell. and pass as . extraordinary PRESENT.
meuts" But the great majority Of the rank
and file do not indulge in these mouraful an
ticpations, either in their own minds or on
paper. They do not expect TO be. killed.
Aud strange rs it may seem 10 us dwelers
in peaceful ways that are so careful of our
lives aud limbs on all occasions. they 30 no
care if they are killed. As for the chaplain,
II must be said, with every respect for his
office. he is not generally sought for nor heed
ed on the evening bef re battle His min
iet-a+fnrc ~, Sut,.l,y ,,7ox 10 aftaule1 l,v tho
regiment. but he finds it hard to rally doz-
en- on the more solemn occasion to receive
perhaps his list aiFectionate COUNCILS. 1t
was stated by a gentleman. who saw and
counted the number, that out Of a whole brig
ade. the chaplain. by bard persuasion. could
collect only IN audience Of fourteen, just pre-
vious to Burpside's disastrous attack on the
heights above Fredericksburg. The rest of
the brigade whistled. played gaInes. smoked,
and kicked up their heels on the grass, just
as If they we're going on a pleasure excursion
instead oi' into tempest OF shot and she'll
from which hundreds of them never returned
alive. Rightly viewed. there is nothing pro-
fame or higl lv censnrahl in this Indifference
to the grave realities eff the hour. II is well
meant on the soldiers part and shouli be
accepted with the hest construction that can
be put upon it, Fighting battles in antici
patton is worse than fighting them il reality.
= Cowarls die n thousand deaths. brave men
but onei The brave saldier may well dis
ike to dwell too closely ON the horrors and
fatalities of the approaching battle; and it
is not surprising that he affect il he does not
feel. an aversion to al ceremonial prepara
tinnS FIR his possible death. Crisiesc or com
ment upon this gay Indifference to fate as
we may, it must he admitted that, when
backed by energy and endurance. it is the
stuff that wins the battleS.-joarndt Of Com
1Rerce