Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-22
PANiCS IN rHE ARMY.
Wew the slightest Css.r. s.mes,m.s
Lead 90 the arsv--t W~sat,.

Al'fNNNN ~" fifHH
The panic Which scilol npon por
ton of the foloral army ut iirst hull
Run, and resulted IN donurali4ing tho
whole. was repeated many times after
wards IA both armic, Place rsgi.
mcnt IN over ~ favorable hghtluR
position. and give It the best officers ~
the service. ani one thing more H.
needed. nle,s mon are driven to dcs
pcration they will not light their br-t
until possible disaster - pro,iloi fnr b,
an avenue oi escape to the rear Troop,
can be quickly aud steadily half faced 10
meet % flank attack. but II II continue,
long panic IN almost certain 10 ba tho
result. The soldier fears that hts To
treat will be cut of lycn II he has 10
thoughts of retreat. thi. feeling forces
itself upon him aud Icmoralilcs the
bravost troops.
The slightest cause has led to ogravesi
results N battles, Let . ba,teyy ghange
position with rusn, running tntOl lhn
a brigade. and those men must be
handled firmly 10 prevent falling
back. Caissons In scsrch of smmuB,
tion have stampeded regiments time aud
again. Let ono regiment fall back
hastily to secure a new position, and u
IL cool line of veterans indeed which
will open 10 Let tho men pnss and then
close up firmly after them. II IL not
the fear 81 being killed that unnorve-
man fighting ~ the ranks
Men who have fired soventy
five rounds at close range have
been Afterwards stampe,lol hy the
fear Of being surrounded aad captured
With veteran fighters the fear II being
made prisoner IN perhaps stronger
than that II death itself. A man TALL.
ing dead as line advances produces no
consternation. Tho gap n closed ~
quick n the men on either side can
move up. But. H., man bo wounded
and call out at the top OF his soice. as
was sometimes the case. and sort of
quiyer runs up and down his whole
company. Lot a second aud !. third bc
hit, and Il requires the stern Steady.
mon :" Of the captain to prevent disorder
in the ranks
The tcamstors we're the direct cause
OF more than one panic. Ee.ng non.
combatants AMI unarmcd. they we're. of
course. helpless. aud for this same rca.
son easily frightened. Lot one shell
fall among the wagon train. and nias
out Of ton wagons were bound IN move.
II one teainster abandoned his wagon,
others were certain 10 follow his 81.
ample. no matter how slight ths
danger.
When Gen. Sturgis had his fight nj
Guntown, Miss. the wagon tram WAS
by some blunder brought too near tho
front and parked In an open field As
the fighting grew hot the Coniederates
brought forward a single section Of ar.
tIllory and got the range of this train.
-Four or five shells did the work.
A panic seized tho teamstsrs. aud
tho few who got their wagons
out of tho field abandoned them
along the only highway This action
blocked the road. preventing any move.
nont Of artillery along the thorough.
fare. and In half an hour there Was .
panic among the mon who had all along
been fighting with the greatest bravery.
The panic resulted In rout, entirely
uncalled for, and the Csnfesierates
gathered in from 200 % 200 prisoners,
eighteen pieces OF artillery. 230 wagons
and ambuiances. coo horses and mules,
and rations aud ammunition In immense
quantities. The burstinR Of flvs OF sin
shells half q mile In rear of the lines of
battle lost Sturgis that fight. and came
near being the destruction Of his whole
command.