The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-07
A SOLDIERS FIRST FIGHT.
An Incident in the Early Days of the La
Civil War

o
a SOLDIERS FIRST FIGHT.
An Incident in the Early Days of the Late
Civil War.
From the SAN Francisco Alta California.
A great many terrible things have boon writ
ten about the war, but it is doubtful if a man
has really told the public about his first real
sensations under tire-perhaps the idea would
be more correctly expressed by saying his real
sensation in his first battle. 1t is all very we'll
to talk of glory and heroism, and the lofty
courage which herosm inspires. One can fully
appreciate the dignity of such emotions after
the fight is over, but they are not so apparent
i'll the initial shock of the first battle.
1t was in the afternoon of n beautiful July
day that troop of partisan cavalry, some sixty
men i'll all, was camped i'll one of the says of
the Usage hills, on the great thoroughfare
which then led down through the southwest
1t had once been the highway from st. Louis
to the Red river. The camp was in the confu-
sion which distinguished early service and i'll
experience. Saddles were scattered i'll all direc-
tons Horses were tethered to every available
bush. Men were lying under the grateful shade
of trees, were engaged i'll inexperienced
cookery. They were dressed III all conceivable
fashions. There was the merchant III his grace
full fitting frock of broadcloth and plug hat;
the farmer in blue jeans; the lawyer in pro-
fessonal apparel. The men were gathered from
nearly every nationality under the sun. The
American with his calm demeanor, and fixed
determination in face and bearing; the jolly
son OF Erin restless joyous and full Of song
and meriment the steady phlegmatic Ger
man; the sulieG dark browed immigrant from
Poland. Grouped about were the plainsmen,
grown hardy by the toilsome days and nights
in caravans that yearly cross the great deserts
with goods and freight for the distant military
posts; and voyagerS in the lake country and
from the rivers where strength and vigor were
acquired i'll tempestous labor. 1t was indeed n
mixed and curious assembage.
The troop had been on the march all day
through heat and dust, enroute for the main
army, encamped few miles distant, and now,
cast i'll every conceivable attitude and position,
they were taking q welleaned rest. But sud
denly there was a sharp defamation of distant
rifle, and the next minute the picket came gal
Looping in upon the guard. In moment every
thing was in wild confusion Men ran in all
directions in pursuit OF saddles and mslaid
arms Nothing was in and everything was
wrong. On this scramble of eager and excited
men broke the clear notes of the bugle, sound
ing 'boots and saddles"
In some way, no one could tell how. tho line
was formed, and at a slow trot along the dusty
highway the troup moved off to meet the enemy
1t had not far to go. Across the road and COW
ering the crest Of o low ridge a scouting pla-
toon was drawn up to receive them. There
was no science OF tactics employed on either
side. Both troops were equally ignorant of the
art of war They only knew that their business
was to kill. The order came to charge. And
they did. 1t was each man for himself and
the deyil take the hindmOst A wild and scat
tering fire blaZed along the line sheet of
flame answered it from the other side. The
dust rose in n dense cloud from the gathering
hoofs OF the horses as ignorant as their riders
of the art of war. A wild shout pealed through
the forest aisles, and in the midst OF dust and
cries and yells, the excited and furious men
mixed III battle. Rifles, shotguns, pistols,
knives and swords were used in reckless and
indiscrimate confusion Men were knocked
from their saddles and trampled beneath the
feet of the frightened and rearing horses.
During the melee two brothers named Kel-
cher met in n fierce and desperate struggle In
the excitement of the strife each had failed to
recognize his opponent, and not until the
death wound was dealt to the younger man
was the elder conscious Of tho terrible deed he
had done. The fight had dpited away from
them, and he dismOniod and bore the body to
a little distance, whore spring gurged from
the earth. III bathcd his face and head, and
tried to stanch the flow OF blood That Welled
from his breast.
at is no use, Billy said the dying man,
"It's fatal wound. Garry me home"
Strange TO say the encounter had taken place
but few miles from the farm whore their
youth and boyhood were passed where their
parents lived, and where in few hours the el-
der brother was to lay the dying form of the
youngest born nj his mothers feet.
Don't tell them at homo you did it. IL was
in battle, and you did not know me"
The promise was given, and that night the
fratricide laid the dead boy in his mothers
arms. Save one friend no one ever knew how
Jimmie Kclcher died, nor who fired the fatal
bullet that ended his young lie before 1t had
fairly begun.
But how about tho feeling one has in his first
battle? That is not 50 easily told. But to say
one is not frightened Judging by experience,
would be far from the truth. There IS no fright
so terrible as q man feels when he is for the
| first time under fire. lie may conceal the fact
from every one but himself, but his own heart
he cannot deceive. His nerves may be steady,
his moral courage great enough to bear him
safely through the ordeal, but ii when the bull
lets begin to sing and the guns TO flash there is
not a feeling Of "gOncncss" in his mental and
moral economy, he is not made OF the stuff
that ordinary persons are. lie may not run,
but he would give the world not TO be afraid to
run. 1t is the greater fear Of shame in nine
cases out Of ten that enables him to face brave
ly the situation.
never went into battle without trembling from
fear. His moral courage alone sustained him.
The same sensations have been cXperiencedby
thousands OF other people, who perhaps have
not the moral courage 10 confess it.
In this same little band Of amateur soldiers
TOR they were nothing more them was afcllOw
named iitchings. lie was the bully Of the
camp; always fighting always quarreling in
variably insubordnate. But in battle he was
utterly upset. III chance offered he never
failed 10 run. II chafed about IL in
camp, he was ready TO fight tho whole regi-
ment. But fist fighting, or even pistol shoot
ing, was very different from the flash OF ex-
podng musketry 1t was then that the nerYo
were shocked and collapsed like rag.
That men can bear themselves brayely under
such conditions is simply moral courage. They
resolve 10 stand the racket though their nerves
and heart incline them 70 skin.
The famous Jack Wharton, who died in
New Orleans q few years ago, exhibited On tho
battlefield the most reckless bravery. A friend
once said to him, as they stood together in
battle field where Wharton'5 daring intrepid
y had won universal praise:
"Ah, JACK, il ] only had your courageW
''You d fool" was tho laughing reply, II
was scared out of my wits"
.