The National tribune., 1885-07-23
KINDS OF COURAGE
Exemplifed IN War Life.
BY COL. e. z. G. JUDscxf NED BUNTLINE')

BY COL. E. z. g. JUDseNs NED BUNTLINE").
An experience in sevice from the Seminole
war in 1888 to the cAoseG6 the late National
Disagreement in 1861 hm eonvinced me that
| there are three differsnt a4inds of courage in
men who make arms their profession.
First, there is whats1ay18e named physical,
natural or even br,aG'' csnrage. 1t seems to
be born in some meusf BIT those who possess
it to the greatest degsB azyoften proven moral
towards, liable to panic, given to action with
out thought or reasm, aad in reverses are
almost always worthless They go in with .
rush, abuse victory, in defeat always take the
front and not the rear rank.
The next class is composed OF men who excel
in moral courage; men who feel fear, who never
enter storm Of shot and shell without feeling
cold spots all over them, but who are ashamed
to run, or exhibit the real tremOr that they
feel. They have mind and reason, and feel that
it is better to die than be dishonored. Such
men, with soul-armored strength lead fOrlorn
hopes, and when the last man is down crawl, If
they cannot walk, toward the point they have
sought to conquer. They never go back till
their duty is done. They can Advance; retreat
is an unknown measure.
speak of this not only from observation, but
from personal experience. l suppose IN an
active life of service, numbering in years over
thirty, have been under fire over one thou
sand times, but never went there without feel
ing scared There it is in plain words. believe
the records will say 1 have done my duty.
Thirteen wounds received in action from bull
let's Indian spears, and cavalry saber point
prove that / have tried to do my best. But
repeat that many time would have run but
for the shame knew it would bring upon me.
Now, leaving this class, / come to the poorest
kind of courage one that has sacrificed many
good life and lost many battle when it was
ThonE II 1aacanS 40
manhood gains in evolutionary progress
1t is called by some Clutch Courage" 1t
bubbles ont of the Commissary's barrel and
from the Suffers canteen. ] saw great deal
of it from April, 1861, to December, 1865, on
both sides of the line. saw at the fight of the
Deserted House, in Virginia, General OF Bril-
gade too full of it to sit his horse, wade into
stream shoulder deep and call on his men to
fellow. while the water was white with patter-
ing bullets. He could not die then, but after
the war was over, far out on the Western plains,
the same enemy slew him-he died of delirium
tremenS.
. l saw Colonel of Cavalry in Virginia lead
his mounted men against gun-clad intrench-
ments which no horse could get over. He was
full of courage that day. 1t came from a.
apple-jack tas;stilery. After heavy loss he was
recalled by his snprf:ors 1t almost seemed d
pity. For he, too. after wearing a star Oh his
shoulder in the Regular service, lost rank and
at last his life through the dark affection of
drink. 1t cost brave officer his life in Suf-
folk in the Spring of 1868. The Lieutenant
Colonel of one of the best zouave regiments in
the country was shot down by one who did
not know what he was doing. A year later
the shooter fell from his horse while having "a
good time" and was killed My heart sickens
when l think how many have gone down to
death in front of the enemy or elsewhere uAder
the influence of Dutch Courage"
TocOme back to the pointof starting, courage
is triplicate But, forroHiccrs and men, give
me those who think and reason, who never
shut their eyes when they fire, who never rush
blindly on fate, butn meet duty as men
who know it is betterz to die than court dis
grace.
If, hereafter, / should be enrolled as regular
contributor to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, will
endeavor to relate incidents of battles from
Florida up to Appomattoxzthat will prove the
stand take, while they recall many daring
deed of brave and gallant men.
EAGLES NEST, n. Y, 1885.