Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-12-17
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
TERRIBLE SUSPENSE.
The Feelings of = Soldier While Awaiting
Orders to Enter Battle.


Orders to Enter Battle.
Since the sun came up this morning
we have been marching and counter
marching, forming a battlefront four
miles long. 1t is now ten o'clock. We
were ready here on the left wing before
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-of
suspense. Away over there we can
see the columns of the enemy wheel
ing into position-Eanners rippling-
artillery 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 its waters Re
for the sun passsS its zenith.
Men draw long breath to fill their
lungs before putting forth all their
strength in one great effort. Armies
do the same. This is the long breath
before the clash comes.
Watch the horses as the field-pieces
come gaIloping 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 shell
ter of the ravine. They know what is
coming, and the waiting unnerves
them. There is "Old John" as the
boys call him He has been in half
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 culver! Watch the
blaze of his eyes! What a painting he
would make as he stands there with
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 therer'-
Cease that talkingr' They are officers,
but they are men. The exploding shells
and the tipping bullets are meant for
them as well as us, and they are also
fighting against the terror of suspense.
Our colonel rides along the line in
front. That is we'll, but it is a bluff
for all that He's moving to keep his
nerve under control.
Watch the men! There are old vet
Grams here-men who have fought in
every great battle from first Bull Run
to Gettysburg-and 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 jacl1-knife
on the rock in front of him, whistles a
few bars from rollicking air, to make
you believe that he never felt more Sc
rene 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 disorganiz-
ing. Men look wildly to the right and
left-to the rear. There are no towards
here, but it would take very little to
start a panic and rush. Men still
laugh, but it is mockery. They jest
but they scarcely hear their own words.
Look at that recruit He's a sturdy
young farmer who was sharpening his
scythe in the bayfield, three weeks
ago. He has the strength of an OK and
no man ever looked in his face and put
him down as faint-hearted Twenty
minutes ago he would have swept for
ward with US to charge battery and
hurrahed with excitement Suspense
has snapped his courage and unnerved
him. See him tremble! Note his pale
ness! Now there comes a look of ter
ror and desperation to his eyes and be-
fore any one could stop him -!
What! lie has sent a bullet into his
head from his own musket-killed him
self through sheer terror of waiting to
be killed by the enemy! We saw it
whenever we waited. We rose from
bivouac many a morning in the pres
ence 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.-M. Quad, in ~ Y. World.