Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-11-27
THE TERROR OF susprxx,,
How Soldiers Feel Just Ros.
Battle.

Since the sun came up this mo
we have been marching and alofnl1
marching, forming battle front nuua y.
miles long. 1t is now 10 O'Clock 10 %
were ready here on the left wing hoe
they were on the right, but all aso oe1o
now. iead
So long as We were moving tbero
something to distract attention hn. VIZ
comes the test of waiting-of sn u"' no
Away over there we can see tho a aap
of the enemy wheeling into positi a'nr
banners rippling-artillory moyin n,''u On
horses under the lash. There Is c wy
to be q fierce gappel here. These s sa
tered trees will be rent and riven~, lua
acres Of green grass torn up-that ' hs
bling brook change the color Of it, 1 IVA eas
before the sun passes it's zenith "a'ei
Men draw a long breath to fill ,bo
lungs before putting forth all , tte
strength in one great effort. Armies e !
the same. This is the long breath hes
the clash comes 'siof
Watch tho horses as the fela -;
come galloping up! They are la r'see
across the valley at the enemy. the Hos MI
blazing and their cars working V pe Eye
one is in trcmble as the teams Arc VI:
hitched and led away to the shelterof ~ ~
ravine. They know what is comine W. W
the waiting unneryes them. There i
"Old john as the boys call him IVY uj
has been in half dozen fights and y
has three or four battle scars, bnt ho !:
just as nervous Us If he had never baa!
a gun fired. See how his nostrils oui l
Watc, the blaze Of his eyes! What
painting he would mako as he stsna1
there with head and tail up and evar.
nerve a-quiver.
The officers voices crate harsb)v ..
they jerk out their commands of: "Dyes
more to the right"-''front therein
Cease that talking!" They are officers.
but they are men. The exploding sbells|
and the tipping bullets are meant fn,]
them as we'll as US, and they are alsol
fighting against the terror Of susncnso
Our colonel rides along the line in 'front.'
That is we'll, but it is bluff for all that
He is moving to keep his nerve under
control.
Watch the mont There are Old yeter
ans here-lnen who have fought in eyerv|
great battle from first Bull Run to Gcttvs.
burg-and there are recruits who reacteh1|
us only three days ago from the far awav|
farms and villages. You see difference
but it is affected. The old veteran Jokes
with the men right and left, sharpens bis|
jack knife on the rock in front Of him,
whistles few bars from rollcking air.
to make you believe that he never fek
more serene in his life. It's mere sham,
but it helps to brace up the pale faced
men who are to receive their baptism.
why don't We move?"
This state Of suspense is disoreanizing.
Men look wildly to the right and left-to
the rear. There are no towards here,
but it would take very little to start d
panic and rush. Men still laugh, but
it is mockery. They jest, but they
scarcely hear their own words. Look as
that recruit! He's a sturdy young
farmer, who was sharpening his scytbel
in the bayfield, three weeks ago. Id
has the strength of on OK, and no mad
ever looked into his face and put hiu
down as faint-hearted. Twenty minutes
ago he would have swept forward with us|
to chargea battery and hurrabed with
excitement. Suspense has Slapped his
courage and unnerved him. See him
tremble! Note his paleness! Now there
comes q look Of terror and desperation to
his eyes, and before any one could stop
him!
What! He hos sent bullet into his
head from his own musket- killed him.
self through sheer terror of waiting to
be killed by the enemyl We saw il
whenever we waited. We rose from
bivouac many q morning in the presence
OF the enemy TO stumble against the
corpses of comrades hanging to limbs
driven to suicide because their nerves
broke down under the strain Of suspense
I'm -0uod ~, Noxr VorL WorR