Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-04


In time of battle, private solliers are bewl-
dcred, and show their bewilderment in mcchan-
zeal actions, in reckless movements, and often
times in state of general frenzy. The excite
ment shows itself in boyish caperngs, in head
long dashes, in fierce defamation or in desperate
resolve to crush the enemy. In times of panic
men will climb trees or hide in holes or burrOw
in leaves, throw away hayerSacks and cartridge
boxes and hats on the same principle that a man
at fire will throw a looking glass out at win
dow and carry an axe carefully down stairs.
How do commanders act in panic? Here is
an example. On the 31st of December, a regi.
ment fought a long and bloody fight in the dark
cedars at Stone river At last it was shattered
and broken. A brigade of victorious rebels
charged over it aud seemed to leave
none of it. But in minute the col
onel was seen rising from the ruin and
smoke mounted on his horse as he went down
In another minute a man, wounded and bleed.
ing, came running toward him with torn and
diSieurcd ilag and he placed himself defiantly
at the coloners side. Then came from a distance
a little man limping, then big man limping,
and then two men galloping like school boys
over the rocks.
These men clustered about the colonel, and
fired vigorously into the rebel rear, The colonel
had stony stare in his eyes, and looked about
him in bewildered way. Suddenly he shouted
Form in line, men! form in lincl' Wonder
ingly the five men formed in line, and the
colonel ordered, advance in line!" aud forward
moved the five men, the colonel directing their
movements as though they had been regiment.
The rebels opened fire on them, and the colonel
issued orders TO the five as though they were
five hundred Seeing that they must be cap
tured if they did not change the line of
march, one of the boys said: "Old dad thinks
we are the whole regiment, be CAD Let's re-
trate wild him." and punching the old horse up
with their bayonets, the squad of five run their
colonel Off at a right oblique. Soon they were
joined by Others of the regiment until they
numbered fifteen men. When the colonel again
assumed command, he ordered the men 10 lie
down and fire at the approaching rebels. And
they did, and viciously too. Then triumphant,
the colonel reformed his line and ordered the
men to form column wheeling by companies
The fifteen men formed in four ranks, and this
satisfied the commander, and again the little
detachment moved forward, At last the new
line was reached and as the little squad came
up, marching in order, the men of the new line
kneeling to receive the charge that soon
came saw the colonel deliberately march his
men to the right and order his "Fegiment'
into line ON the right to participate in the new
struggle, and when ii came he issued still his
orders as though he had a thousand men. AT
last when he called in the fierce fight, 'raly
men, rally" and the few came together again
close around him, he moved with them sadly
and deliberately to where Rosecrans was mass
ing the army, and reported his regiment ready
for another turn. He was shocked and bewii-
dered by the loss of his regiment but he never for
a moment lost his fighting instinct. He simply
could not realise THAT his men were gone. And
in after times, until the brave old man died
there were, we venture to say, few more touch
ing pictures of his army life recalled than the
one in which FIVE men filed the place in his
reason and his heart of his whole regiment
Toledo Blade