The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1890-04-24
fly Of soldiers had the same feeling ana

ity Of soldiers had the same feeling and
passed through the same experiences.
At first Bull Run my brigade gained
ground for several hours. This, with
small loss Of men, kept us encouraged.
Indeed, it was hard for the officers to re-
strain us. Every man was hopeful and
determined, and any single company
would have charged regiment. The
panic had upset thousands before it
touched us. Indeed, the retreat had
been going on for two hours before we
got word. We were well in hand and
ready to advance when the news reached
us. In five minutes every man was
shaky. In ten minutes men whose
faces were powder-stained were sneak
ing out Of the ranks to gain the rear. In
a quarter of an hour half company of
Confederates could have driven tho
whole brigade like a flock of sheep.
saw men cry like children. saw others
tremble and sit down from weakness.
Every fresh report added to the feeling
of terror, and by and by pride and dis
cipline gave way to a grand rush, and
it was every man for himself No one
would stop to reason. No one cared
whether his comrade was ahead or be.
hind. This was called cowardicc. but it
was not. 1t was panic-the terror of bat.
tle-a senseless but powerful something
which seizes the bravest men and makes
children of them.
In the streets of Fredericksburg saw
Federal soldiers discharge their mus
kets into the air, when the enemy was
within point-blanl range. saw plenty
of them drop on their faces and tremblc,
groan and cry This was case where ev-
cry man saw the hopelessness of attack.
lie folt that he was pushed forward to be
shot down. There was no way for re-
treat until the lines should fall back.
On the other hand, the Confederate
troops posted behind the stone wall at
the foot of Mayrc's Hill jokcd and
smoked and were in the highest spirits,
feeling themselves secure from bullets,
and knowing they could beat back any
force. One of them told me that after
~caking dead aim on thirteen different
men and dropping every one of them he
rclrained from firing the next quarter
of an hour after sheer pity for the hu.
man targets being showed up to meet
death.
AT Malvern Hill my regiment lay in
the dry bed of a creek at the foot of the
elevation. 1t was natural riflc-pit, and
sheltered us so well that we had only
slight loss in killed and wounded. AS
the Confcdcrates charged across tho
folds we felt to pity them. We poured
in our vollcys without danger in return,
and out of five Confedcratcs who rushed
into our lines in their bewildermcnt
three were crying and sobbing. 1t
wasn't cowardice but terror. No coward
could have been induced TO march across
those meadows in the face of that ter
| rife fire from cannon and musketry.
At Cold Harbor, after beating of
! sJarLvc,' tlO fsp~.. S---~-----,1 ,"Lilo most
had gained our rear Two thousand
men broke back like n lot OF boys, some
even throwing their guns away, and tho
iccrs of other troops had no effect until
the frenzy had had time to evaporate.
At Gettysburg my regiment had tho
cover of stone wall, and we knew that
we were well supported. We hoped for
a charge, and when it came every man
was cool and calm and confident. one
band of prisoners numbering about thlr-
ty, was led past us on their way TO the
rear, and noticed that many were cry
inr and all were whitefaccd. l have
seen tho best soldiers and the Oldest
fighters win their medals in one battle
and show the white feather in the next.
] saw a second lieutenant almost cry for
the privilege of leading a charge at An
tietam. and yet at Chantilly he fell into
; ditch and pretended to be hit so as to
drop behind in the charge Cowards
never go to war, If they get into the
ranks through the draft they desert or
; commit suicide. 1t is only brave men
who face the grim monster on a field OF
battle, and next to the foe his worst
, enemy is u terror which seizes him as
chill or fever might come on, and there
is no remedy for it except to get away
from the screaming missiles of death
until ones nerve and sand returns.
, troit Free Press.