Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-02-24
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
YHE FIRST BATTLE.
Thriiliag Incidents in tho Early Days Of
the Lato Civil War.

ThrilllaR Incidents In tho Early Days Of
the Lato Civil War.
A great many terrible things have
been written about tho war; but 1t is
doubtful II man has really told the
public about his first real sensations
under fire--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 hero
ism, and the lofty courage which hero
ism inspires. One can fully appreciate
the dignity of such emotions after the
fight is over, but they are not so appar-
cnt in the initial shock of the first
battle. .
1t was the afternoon Of beautiful
July day that n troop of partisan cav
airy, some sixty men in all,wa campcd
in 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
confusion which distinguished early
service and ineXpcricnce. Saddles were
were tcthered to every available bush.
Men were lying under the grateful
shade of trees, or were engaged
in inexperienced cookery. They
were dres cd in all conceiv-
able fashions. There was the
merchant in his graceful fitting
frock of broadcloth and plug hat; the
farmer in blue jeans; the lawyer in pro-
fessional apparel. The men were
gathered from nearly every nationality
under the sun. The American with
his calm demeanor, and fixed determi-
nation IN face and bearing; the jolly
son of Erin, restless, joyous and full of
song and merriment; the steady phlem-
attic German; the sullen, 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 ac-
quired in tempestuous labor. 1t was
indeed . mixed and curious assem-
blage.
The troop had been on the march all
day through heat and dust, en- route
for the main army, encamped few
miles distant, and now, cast in every
conceivable attitude and position, they
were taking Il well-carned rest. But
,,1I al, Infr ~;
of distant rifle, and the next minute
the picket came galloping in upon the
guard. In moment every thing was
in wild confusion. Men ran in all di-
rections in pursuit of saddles and mis-
laid arms. Nothing was in order and
every thing was wrong. On this scram-
BILE of eager and excited men broke the
clear notes of the bugle, sounding
"boots and saddles"
In some way, no one could tell how,
the line was formed, and at slow irOt
along the dusty highway the troop
moved off to meet the enemy. 1t had
not far to 90. Across the road and
covering the crest of low ridge
scouting platoon was drawn up to re-
ccive them. There was no science or
tactics employed OH 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 devil take the
hindmost. A wild and scattering fire
blazed along the line; sheet of flame
answered it from the other side. The
dust rose in dense cloud from the
Gathering hoofs of the horses, as igno-
rant 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 yell1. the excited and furious
man mixed in battle. Rifles, shotguns,
pistols, knives and swords We're used in
reckless and indiscriminate confusion.
Men We're knocked from their saddles
and trampled beneath the feet of the
frightened and rearing horses,
During the melee two brothers
named Kelcher met in fierce and des-
perate 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 the terrible
deed he had done. The fight had drift
ed away from them, and he dismount-
ed and bore the body to little dis
tance, where spring gurgled from
the earth. He bathed his face and
head, and tried TO staunch The flow of
blood that welled from his breast.
at is no use. Billy" said the dying
man, "It's fatal wound. Carry me
home"
Strange to say the encounter had
taken place but few miles from the
farm where their boyhood was passed;
where their parents lived, and where
in few hours the elder brother was to
lay the dying form of the youngest
born at his mothers feet.
Don't tell them at home you did it.
1t 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 knew how Jimmy Kelcher died,
nor who fired the fatal bullet that end
ed his young life before it had fairly
begun.
But how about the feeling one has in
his first battle? That is not so easily
told, But to say one is not frightened,
judging by experience, would be far
from the truth. There is no fright so
terrible ms man feels when he is for
the first time under fire. He may con-
ceal the fact from every one but HIM
self, but his own heart he can not de-
ceive. His nerves may be steady, his
moral courage great enough to bear
him safely through the ordeal, but if
when the bullets began to sing and the
guns to flash there is not feeling of
.'OonenesSn in his mental and moral