The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-05-30
PANICS IN THE ARMY.
How the Slightest Causes Sometimes Lead to tn
GraYeSt Results.

How the Slightest Causes Sometimes Lead 10 Inc
GraveSt Results.
The panic which seized upon a portion of
the Federal army at first Bull Run, and re-
suited in demoralizing the whole, was repeat
ed many times afterwards in both armies.
Place regiment in ever so favorable fight
ing position, and give it the best officers In
the service, and one thing more is needed.
Unless men are driven to desperation they
will not fight their best unless possible dlsas-
ter is provided for by an avenue of escape to
the rear. Troops can be quickly and steadily
half-faced to meet flank attack, but if it
continues long a panic is almost certain to be
the result. The soldier fears that his retreat
will be cut off. Even if he has no thoughts
of retreat this feeling forces itself upon him
and demoralizes the bravest troops.
The slightest cause has led to gravest re-
suits in battles Let battery change posi-
ton with a rush, running through brigade,
and those men must be handled firmly to pre-
vent falling back Caissons in search of
ammunition have stampeded regiments time
and again. Let one regiment fall back hastily
to secure new position, and it is cool line
of veterans indeed which will open to let the
men pass and then close up firmly after them.
1t is not the fear of being killed that unnerves
a man fighting in the ranks Men who have
fired seventy five rounds at close range have
been afterwards stampeded by the fear of
being surrounded and captured With vet
eran fighters the fear of being made pris-
oner is perhaps stronger than that of death
itself man falling dead as line advances
produces no CONSERVATION The gap is closed
as quick as the men on either side can move
up. But let man be wounded and call out
at the top of his voice, as was sometimes the
case, and a sort of culver runs up and down
ha1a Lot ot16 q
third be hit, and it requires the stern !:
STEADY, men." of the captain to prevent
disorder in the ranks.
The Transfers were the direct cause of
more than one panic Being non-combatants
and unarmed, they were, of course, helpless,
and for this same reason easily frightened
Let one shell fall among the wagon-train, and
nine out of ten wagons were bound to move
If one teamster abandoned his wagon, others
were certain to follow his example, no matter
how slight the danger.
When Gen. Sturgis had his fight at Gun
town, Miss, the wagon train was by some
blunder brought too near the front and parked
in an open field. AS the fighting grew hot
the Confederates brought forward a single
section of artillery and got the range of this
train. Four or five shells did the work. A
panic seized the transfers, and the few who
got their wagons out of the field abandoned
them along the only highway. This action
blocked the road, preventing any movement
of artillery along the thoroughfare, and in
half an hour there was a panic among the
men who had all along been fighting with the
greatest bravery The panic resulted in a
rout entirely uncalled for, and the Confed-
crates gathered in from 900 to l 200 prison
ers, eighteen pieces of artillery, $50 wagons
and ambulances, 600 horses and mules, and
rations and ammunition in immense quanti-
ties. The bursting of five or six shells half a
mile in rear of the lines of battle lost Sturgs
that fight, and came near being the destruc-
ton of his whole command Detroit Free
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