Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-23
THE COWARD AND THE HERO.
a Sudden Change of Heart on the Field
of Rattle

Here is a regiment with its right flank
resting on the woods-its left in an open
field near a group of haystacks. Three
pieces of artillery in front have been play
ing into the pine thickets half mile away
for the last ten minutes, but without pro
yoking any reply.
Watch this man-this Second Lieutenant
of Company +. He is almost giant in
size. He has fierce eye, a roaring voice,
and men have said that he was as brave as
hon. When the regiment swung in posi-
ton and the battery opened he said to him.
self:
How foolish in us to attack the enemy
when he was seeking to retreat This
blunder will cost us many lives. Our fire
will soon'be returned, and it will be good
by to half our regiment | shall be one of
the first to fall. If l was one of the rear
rank privates I'd give all the money | hope
TO ever have
As three-fve-ten minutes pass away,
and the fire is not returned, the coward be-
gins to pluck up heart. He busters at the
men, tries to joke with the officers on his
right, and says to himself:
Egad but this may turn ont all right
We are in no danger thus far, end if the
enemy retreats we shall share the credit. /
must try and make everybody believe that
am disappointed because we have not
been ordered to advance"
Boom J shrek crash Now the enemy
open hire IN reply. They have six guns to
answer three. In two minutes they have
the range, and shell Kills or wounds FIVE
or six men. The towards cheek grows pale
again, and he whispers:
Great heavens! but we shall all be
slaughtered, Why doesn't the Colonel or
der us TO retire? Why are men kept here
to be shot down in this way? What fool
| was not to go on the sick list last night
If it wasn't that so many are looking atme,
I'd lie down to escape this fire"
Another shell, third, fourth, fifth, and
thirty or forty men have been killed. Men
won't stand that long. They must either
retreat or advance.
We shall advance" whispered the cow
ard. The order will come to dash forward
and take those guns. Shot and shell and
grape will leave none of us alive What
folly to advance | hope | may be slightly
wounded, so that shall have an excuse for
seeking cover in some of these bitches"
An aid rides up to the Colonel and gives
an order. The Colonel rides to the head of
his line and orders the lines dressed for an
advance. The men dress under hot fire.
and the coward groans aloud:
It's awful TO die this way How idi-
otto in me to accept a commissioned en-
ter the service-to put myself in front of
death. Oh dear if | could only get some
excuse for tagging behind ~
The lines dash forward into the smoke
the enemys fire grows more rapid-the
dead and wounded strew the ground.
Where and what of the coward? Three
DAYS later the Colonei's report will read:
desire to make special mention of the
case OF Lieutenant -. As the regiment
advanced. the Captain and First Lieutenant
OF Company + were killed by the same
shell, leaving the Second Lieutenant of
Company F in command He was equal
to the emergency. Springing to the head
of the company, he encouraged the men for
a moment and then led them straight at
the guns, two pieces of which were cap
tured by the company"
month later the coward was Captain.
-LDetroit Free Press