River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-11-10
IN THE FIELD.
How n Soldier Thinks. Acts and Feels
In His First Fight.


Sergeant William Gardiner in the
Providence Star: About this time i 80
P. NJ, column of our infantry
should think there were Two regiments,
although there might have been brig
ade-moved by the Orange Courthouse
wagon road into the forest at our right.
and something near a quarter of a
mile from us. In our front, a mile dis
tant, we discovered rising cloud of
dust, which was sure evidence that the
enemy was advancing in large force.
Stonewall Jackson was advancing his
corps. The situation was becoming
intensely interesting. Meantime we
discovered rebel sharp-shooters creep
ing under cover of knobs and shrub
berry to haystack near the base of the
mountain at our left to pick us off.
We did not waste our ammunition upon
them, for they were not within range
of our Burnside carbines. A few shots
were fired from the vicinity of the hay
stack at the skirmishers of the First
Maine and Jersey regiments.
About 3 O'Clock we heard move
ment in the woods at our right, and the
commands, "Halt!" and to "Count off p
and thinking it to be our infantry expe-
rienced no uneasiness, but we were
startled to hear the command, "Ready
-aim-firer' and by the storm of bull
lets that INN eeiiately ensued, which we
did not find near as agreeable music as
would be made by an equal number of
humble bees about our ears. STEADY,
men - right FACET came the order
from our major (P. M. Farrington),
which faced us toward the forest and
the enemy AT this moment the recall
sounded for us to fall back to the regi-
ment, and we moved under terrible
fire, along the margin of the woods,
discharging our carbines toward our
unseen enemies, falling back slowly, in
good order, to the regiment, and form
ing upon its left, facing the woods. OH
but didn't it rain lead We could do
nothing more than stand and take it,
without the power to retaliate. We
could not charge, the forest was so
dense. The enemy fired high, or else
we should have been fearfully slaugh-
tered. One of Gen. Banks or Bay
ards aides rode up with an order to
our colonel to move the regiment back
to a depression in the field in front of
our batteries. The retrogade move
ment was made by battalions; that is,
the first battalion stood firm, the sec
ond and third making leftabout
wheel and moving to the rear few
yards, when the second would wheel
facing the enemy, and the first, nearest
the enemy, would retire, and the
movement was so continued until the
At the beginning Of the movement
the enemy opened all of bis batteries
upon us, and the storm of bullets, shot
and shell upon, into and near us, was
such as none of us can ever forget. 1t
was hot box, | can assure you. One
of our battalions made its movement
a little too hurriedly to suit our vet
Gran colonel, and he babe them Halt"
in a tone none other could assume, and
wheeled them toward the enemy again,
and held them for moment, and
lectured them for making such haste.
This movement, made in full view of
army line of battle, with such apparent
GOODNESS under terrible fire, had
strong moral effect upon all that wit
messed it, and commanded and received
uuG stuIHlldbiUIl.
The enemy's infantry now advanced
from the forest, long line, and from
our position in front of our batteries
we had an unobscured view of them
and the ''stars and bars" but recently
adopted, their regiments previously
having carried state flags. They adj
vanced bravely, with confidence, know
ing that they outnumbered us three to
one, our batteries sending them canister
with such deadly effect as to cause dis
heartening gaps in their ranks; but they
would close up and advance and APP
proach us so near that we could see the
whites of their eyes, but the guns wrought
such terrible havoc in their ranks that
it was too much for mortals to stand.
and they would fall back hurriedly to
the forest. Three times did they emerge
from the woods to charge our batteries,
and each time were driven back by our
guns. They were made of good stuff,
and their commander, jackson. was as
good soldier as ever wore a generals
stars.
No language that | can command, or
any other person, for that matter, can
describe the sights and sounds of such
a terrible battle. One must have been
engaged in such conflict, and have
experienced all the emotions and sem
sations to understand fully what a test
it is for human nerves. While stationed