The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-22
How One Feels in Battle.

are not affected alike. Some are COOL determined and
courageous some lose all judgment and will single
handed rush upon hundreds; others are entirely I'M
manned tremble ike aspens dead to every emo
ton of honor or feeling of shame, and will sink into
coverts from the field Lord Forth in the Crl'
mean war is instance. II sklrmshers engage prior
to general battle and desultory firing is kept up for
while one becomes used IT. and as the battle warns
it frequently becomes exciting and men that trembed
at the first few shots, rush on like heroes.
remember well my feelings during the first battle in
which | was engaged The night before, we received
orders to prepare to attack the enemy early on the
morrow. All was hustle, hurry and anxiety: Guns
were cleaned, ammunition Inspected straps ADJUSTED
canteens filled knapsacks hghtened letters written;
We had several in company who had always boasted
of their bravery and prowess men who had been spo-
ing for fight as they said. These were now US sa
mce they didn't peep. One of them, who had taken
masters degree in all kinds of profanity, now bor-
rowed bible, sat down and read it for time, and
iutImated to his messmate the proprety OF praying be-
fore going to sleep that night 1t not your clustering
proiane braVado that IS the brave man on the Ied q
battle; 1t IS your quiet patient, retiring man.
confess feeling of dread and anxiety stole over me-
Battle certain the enemy was strongly posted and
we had desperate work before wanted to 90 into
battle; yet dreaded it like death slept but little that
night The morning came, and our columns moved
quietly and sternly forward through wood Inc first
intimation we had of the enemy was the skirmshng
between his outposts and vanguard the former ta-
ing back the latter advanced We passed out OIL the
wood and rapidly deplOyed into line OF battle, gentle
sopng hill hiding the enemy from view. part OF
our force had been sent around to make flank and rear
attack on the enemy and while 50 doing It was OF the
utmost Importance that should hold his attention 10
front. We marched steadily up the bill till the whole
Inc Of the enemy burst mon our view there we halted
ana for some r,inntes NOT uln was rpd on either side
Toe stood the two armies each waiting for the other
to begin the work of DEATH The faces of looked
pale and determned some of them stood like statues,
others were nervous and uneasy. 1t the time to
tast tber conrage line of cannon was bearing di-
rectv upon US. Death to many of certain. Who
will 1t be? thought l. singular feeling over me;
confused ma@e of mother and sister appeared fit
tiner and Aoatin9 before nv imagination like dssolvng
shdow While the tremendous reality in front oppressed
mo rtb dreadful forebodngs
i few moments passed, ike those that intervene be-
tween dnawin the cap over the criminals face and let
tin fall the dToD when puff of smoke from one of the
80 800 s nrr men dncked down their heads like
S @ W ~ 80 ,1,,T onanad On y aIong the enemy's
ssSo st NJ G+ fots urara e,ed too high They
enn d iJ +I F,-ar discIarre broloIt their
I'll ff,Ii, nr We we're ir1natient 70 return the
Gr Int dare not ntil the command was given Our
Iroi nnSsod aion,r in front of tbe line and urged us
~ tn5 Arm nn tRe nroner time and the dav would
b Itis task t6 bold men eynosed to an enenly's
Gro ritbout aoyvnC, them 10 return IT, They will soon
@ ~ a or tba a3bar The enanv's shot now began
" o Jd 10y u il tbrono5 oIrrenEs and tear IN
t6 oartI abont onr feet si2-poppd ball cut off the
bt f nv ss,,ofa IN nv Pff. moment more and
oa struck him in the breast seyering him almost in
twain He reelad and fell like log The hot blood
c bt irt5 f1ii in NV face Great God how
/ + faitt faint sickeninp sensation came over
stnonad down over hiss, He smiled family spoke my
/ non,e oasned and expired He was frightfully man
id was n1addened to desperation All thoughts of
/ fear vanished I could have fought thousands The
,onI ~Fra,,, ranr aIono the line and tremendous
crosb Of ,n,sEatrr an S2vnred f1,a command We now
i3d and fred for life Dense volumes of sulphurous
80 b,1r lilo nall over ms ard shut ont the enemy
fni o,r s7rb+ Tbn hattie rrap warm and bloody
The rattIe of musketrv the SCREAMING of shells the
tbTnders of tbe artillery the wlisng of bullets the
3 ] = ~ tb ,onrdad ana dvinrr filed ali the air
a. So bIocl. tyith smoke and pogder looked ike
- 80 yo4 aS tbay ,,Iied their work of death
oet t - ] @ w. md o-sI. the smoke that shroud
ed ms and disclosed our other columns bearing down
upon the enemy flank. Now was the decisive moment