The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-19
A PRTvATES FIRST FIGHT.
VIVID DESCRIPTION OF THE BAT.
TILE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

The First Charge-How it Feels to
be in BattIe-A Hand-to-Hand
Engagement.
Were you ever in battle9 My first
memorable experience was in that of
South Mountain, in 1862, and then came
Antietam, three DAYS later. / was then
in my fourteenth year-full of life, vigor
and ambition. My regiment the Twenty
third Ohio, commanded by r. b. Hayes.
had seen some eighteen months of hard
service among the bushwhacl1ers of West
Virginia, but had not yet passed through
what might be termed a first-class fight,
aud was just dying to see one. I'm
doubtedly you will question my word
when say that only a few days before
the battle of South Mountain lad of my
size was found in a lonely spot all by
himself, and actually on his knees in
prayer-asking his God to give him the
opportunity to pass through at least one
great battle
On the morning Of the 14th of Sep
tember, Burnside's corps, which formed
the left wing Of Mcf'ellan's army, with
Coxs division Of Ohio men in the lead
land the Twenty third in the van of that
division) moved from Middletown up
the National road to the foot of South
Mountain, when a brief rest was ordered.
1t was a beautiful Sunday morning, and
very few of our men dreamed of the
terrible storm that was at that very mo-
ment brewing on the hill tops before and
above them. A few moments later and
Simmons battery stirred the air with a
bof La Al.
mountain side, but, as they were unan-
swered, we thought nothing oft Then
Hayes was ordered to take his regiment
up the mountain by an unfrequented
road. We started off in lively spirits.
but perfectly unconscious Of the fun
coming. The regimental band was ahead
playing a spirited air When near the
summit of the mountain some Confeder-
ates let into us to the extent of a dozen
shots or so. This had the effect of
bringing us to our senses. Our ewes
opened, and we began to think that
there was something unusually
strange about the mornings atmosphere.
Hayes brought the regiment into line
by quick flank movement. while the
band most willingly marched to the rear.
Then ordering charge, we went into
one OF the most sanguinary conflicts
throughwhich the T enty-third ever pass
ed. we could not SIC our foe, for the noun
tain was covered with laurel bushes so
thick that it was impossible to see ten
feet ahead of us.
hayes had hardly ordered the word
"Charge!" before the enemy let a vollev
into us, which was followed by volley
after volley, cutting down over hun
dred OF our regiment within a very few
moments. Never IN after days did our
men drop so fast as at the first charge at
South Mountain, but rage carried us
through, and in less than twenty minutes
after the charge was ordered we had the
enemy out OF their first position and
were driving them down the mountain
slope. just then Hayes received a wound
In his left arm, and although he wanted
to stay with us he was compelled to be
carried TO the rear and be cared for. The
command OF the Twenty third now fell
on Major Comfy We had gained moth
ing from our first charge, the enemy only
1ell back a few rods behind a still stronger
position, where they were able to give us
more blows, which they did, but without
the same telling effect as before. The
flrst shock Is always the hardest and is
felt the keenest. The opening of bat
tie is always more terrible than anv hour
Of the fight
No matter how brave and daring a man
Is, the first shot chills him more or less
After that the battle is as nothing. He
neither sees nor hears the deadly balls as
they fly past and around him. He thinks
no longer-past, present and future are as
blank. Friends and dear ones pass
from his vision. His memory is dead.
his soul has fled. He is no longer him
sell, no longer man, but dangerous.
passionate animal. He goes into the fight
IKE bulldog, not caring or thinking of
himself, but his prey. He is bound to
conquer, and gives his life to the contest
IN forgetfulness of self. The moment
the struggle is over he is himself again
lie becomes the man, the thinker the
reasouer once more. The first cbaroe
we made was carried by our outrageous
yelling and deafening cheers. The Com
federates no doubt thought that the in
fernal regions had broken loose. Every
man yelled like madman. 1t was Colonel
Hayes request that we should yell, and
we did, and by 1t we won the first charge
TINS may seem to you extravagant, but
It Is fact Cheek is more powerful
than steel. The noise Of cannon has
more terrible effect upon men than the
cannon ball itself Powder and cheek
rule the world. They are the supreme
gods OF man. A brave man will fight a
tiger, but get down on his knees before
cali or an ass. Had the Confederates
known our number at the opening, no
doubt the Twenty-third would have been
considerably worsted on its first charge.
but our wild cheers fooled them, and
after they had dosed us with a few
volleys they gave way, fell back and took
another stand