Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-05
THE TERROR OF SUSPENSE,
How the Waiting tor the Battle Un.
nerves Brave Men.

TIE iERhoR oF SUSPENSE.
How the Waiting tor the Battle On.
nerves Brave Men.
Since the sun came up this morning
We have been marching and counter
marching, forming a battle front four
miles long. 1t is now 10 clock. We
were ready here On the left wing be-
fore they were on the right but all
are ready now.
so long as we were moving there
was something to distract attention.
but now comes the test of waiting-ot
suspense. Away over there we can
see the columns of the enemy wheeling
into position-banners rippling-ar
lery moving with horses under the
lash. There is going to be a fierce
grapple here. These scattered trees
| will be rent and riven-these acres of
green grass torn up-that babbling
brook change the color of it's waters
before the sun paJses its zenith.
Men draw long breath to fill their
lungs before putting forth all their
strength in one great effort. Armies
do the same, writes NJ. Quad in the n.
7. World. This is the long breath
before the clash comes.
Watch the horses as the field pieces
come galloping up! They are looking
across the valley at the enemy, their
! eyes blazing and their ears working.
Every one is in tremble as the teams
are unhitched and led away to the
shelter of the raviue. They know
what is coming, and the waiting I'M
| nerves them. There is ''old john"
as the boys call him. He has been in
half a dozen fights. and he has three
Or four battle scars but he is just as
nervous as if he had never heard a
gun fired. See how his nostrils quiv-
err Watch the blaze of his eyes!
What a painting he would make as he
stands there with his head and tail
erect and every nerve a-quiver.
The officers voices CRATE harshly as
they jerk out their commands of
DRESS more to the right!'- Front
therem Cease that talkingn' They
are officers. but they are men. The
exploding shells and the tipping bull
lets are meant for them as we'll as
US, and they are also fighting against
the terror of suspense Our colonel
rides along the line in front That is
weii, but it is bluff for all that.
He's moving to keep his nerve under
control.
Watch the men! There are old vet
Grams here-meu who have fought in
| every great battle from first Bull Run
to Getty there are recruits
who reached us only three days ago
from the far away farms and villages.
You see a difference, but it is affected.
The old veteran jokes with the men
right and left sharpens his jack knife
on the rock in front Of him, whistles
a few bars from a rollicking air. to
make you believe that be never felt
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 disorgan-
izing. Men look wildly to the right
and left--to the rear. There are no
towards here, but it would take very
iiuolC W otetL ItniAlS ctbo a. ISL. NICiA
still laugh, but it is mockery. They
jest, but they scarcely hear their own
words. Look at that recruit He's
sturdy young farmer who was sharp
| ening his scythe in the hay field three
| weeks ago. He has the strength of
an OK, and no man ever looked into
his face and put him down as faint
hearted. Twenty minutes ago he
would have swept forward with us to
charge a battery and hurrahed with
excitement Suspense has Slapped his
courage and unnerved him. See him
trembie! Note his paleness! Now there
| comes look of terror and despera-
ton to his eyes, and before any one
| could stop him!
What! He has sent a bullet into his
head from his own musket-kllling
himself through sheer terror of wait
ing to be killed by the enemy! We
saw it whenever we waited. We rose
from bivouac many morning in
the presence of the enemy to stumble
against the corpses Of comrades hang
ing to limbs-driven to suicide be-
cause their nerves broke down under
the strain OF suspense.