Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-01
HOW ONE FEELS IN BATTLE.

People often wonder how one feels in battle
All men not affected alike. Some are cool de-
termned and courageous; some lose all Judgment,
and will single handed, rush upon hundreds; others
are entirely unnamed, tremble like aspcns, seems
dead to every emotion of honor or feeling of shame
and will stink into coverts from the field
Lord Forth in the Crimean war is an instance. If
skirmishers engage prior to general battle, and
desultory firing is kept up for WHILE one become
used TO it, and, as the battle warns, 1t frequently
becomes exciting, and men that tremble at the fret
few shots now rush on like heroes. r-I
remember well my feelings during the first bat
tie in which wa, engaged. The night before, we
received orders TO attack the enemy early on the
morrow. All was now hustle, hurry and anxiety
Guns were cleaned ammunition inspected, straps
adjusted, canteens filed, knapsacks lightened let
tiers written. We had several in our company who
had always boasted of their bravery and prowess
men who had been 'spoiling for fight" rs they
said. These were now as still as mice they difn I
peep, One of them, who had taken masters de-
gree in all kinds Of profanity, now borrowed a
Bible sat down and read il for some time. and init
mated TO his messmate the propriety of praying
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 patient, retiring
man. +-E-H
confess a feeling of dread and anxiety stole
over me. Battle was certain, the enemy was
strongly posted, and We had desperate work before
ns ] wanted 10 go into batte yet dreaded II
| like DEATH | slept but little that night The
morning came and our columns moved quietly and
sernly forward through wood. The FIRST intima-
ton we had of the enemy was the diminishing be-
tween his outposts and our vanguard, the former
| falling back as the latter advanced Ne passed
ont the wood, and rapidly depoyed into line Of bat
tie, gentle slopng hill hiding the enemy from our
view part of our force had been sent around 70
make flank and rear attack on the enemy; and,
while so doing IL was Of the utmost importance
that we should hold his attention in 'front.'
We marched steadily up the hill till the whoieline
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 armies. each wait
ing for the other TO begin the work of death. The
faces OF our men looked pale and determined, some
| Of them stood ikc statLtes, Others were nervous
and uneasy Il was the time to test their courage.
A line of cannon was bearing directly upon u.s.
Death to many of us was certain. Who will it be?
thought l. singular feeling came over me; r
confused image of a mother and sister appeared
fitting and floating before my imagination like dis
solving shadows, while the tremendous reality in
front oppressed me with dreadful forehodngs.
A few moments PASSED. like these that intervene
between drawing the cap over the criminals face
and letting fall the drop, when apuf ofsomke from
one of the cannons, followed by crash, aud q
bomb went screaming over us. Our men ducked
/ uON0 lutlI HOdu5 Ihc BGtsts HhV Noo Nv" NfN"NN
on us along the enemys entire line. a.-
The first shots were aimed too high They grad
ualy lowered them. Every discharge brought theiE
balls fearfnly nearer. We were impatient to re-
turn the fire, but dare not until the command was
given. Our Colonel passed along 10 front OF the
line, and urged us to stand firm until the proper
time, and the day would be ours. 1t is a task &c
hold men exposed TO an enemys fire without allow
ing them to return it. They will soon run, on'
way or the other. The enemys shot now began 10
/, howl around u.s. plow through our ranks, and tea
up the earth about our feet. six-pound ball Gu
: Off the bayonet of my messmate on my left mo
ment more and one struck him in tue breast
severing him almost in twain. He reeied and fel
I like a log The hot blood from his heart spirteC
full in my face. Great God, how feltl faint
, sckening sensation came over me. stopped dowI
over him. He smiled family, spoke my name
gasped and expired. He was frightfuliy mangled
2 was maddened TO desperation. AL thought O
fear vanished; | could have fought thousands
j The command, "Firep rang along the line, and
a tremendous crash Of musketry answered the com
mand We now loaded and tired for life. Dens
. volumes of sulphurous smoke hung like pail owe
us and shut out the enemy from our sight. IT,
. battle grew warm and bloody. The rattle OF mus
kerry the screaming of Shells the thundtr rs OF IN
artillery, tue whisuing Of bullets, the shouts
nj command, commingled with curses, prayers an
II groans of the wounded and dying, filled all the MI
A Our men, black with smoke and powder locke
s like devils incarnate, they piled their work {
e death.
. At length breeze rolled away the smoke tbs
shrouded us and disclosed our other columns bea
,e ing down upon the enemys flank. Now was II
a decisive moment. "Charge bayonets!" rang ou
Il and with loud shouts we rushed forward to The a
n saut. A storm Of grape aud canister was hurl'
ngainst Us as we neared the batteries. Like ma,
dened tigers, our men leaped forward with the co
a steel The struggle over the guns was desperat
= Il was a butchery savage IN the extreme. III
Of enemy soon broke and fed, leaving us masters
a the held Since that time have not felt the lea
he dread or hesitation on entering battle Amer q
~ first few shots ! fire always rs eoolly as VIII
,ss bunting squirrels, Exchange.
I'D --"'---
Bds- The cotton factories at Newport, r. l., q
ed all running TO their fullest capacity. An caste