Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-02-07
KILLING MEN IN BATTLE.
Unpleasant Sensations Experienced by an
Army Onlccr.

Army OHlcer.
"When n man goes into a battle it is
presumably with the intention of doing
some killing" said an ex-army officer.
"And yet l never knew a soldier yet
who liked to feel that he bad himself
with his own hands actually slain an
individual foe. There is an intoxica-
tion in the melee of conflict, but no man
likes to feel that his own pistol shot or
bayonet thrust has taken away the life
of fellow being.
Perhaps should except from this
general statement the typical sharp
shooter, who cultivates an instinct of
warfare that approaches the murderous.
1 have never been able to see how a
man could deliberately take up a sta
ton in q tree top or rifle pit and mark
down for death, one after another, indi-
viduals whose lives We're wholly at the
mercy of his scientific aim. Of course
war is always savagery, but there is an
element OF certainty in the sharpshoot-
ing business that, to my notion, ap-
proaches very near to murder.
Il wildly recall TO mind one expert
ence of my own while with q skirmish
party at the second battle of Bull Run.
The fight had just begun and a rebel
scout approached without knowing it
very close to clump of trees behind
which my little detachment was con-
cealed. Catching sight of us suddenly
he wheeled his horse like a flash and
was off, On the spur of the moment /
fired my pistol right at him and Sec
ond later he wheeled in his saddle and
fell out of it. The fight swept over in
our direction and saw no more for the
time being of my victim; but, though
was in the thick of the fray for most of
the time for the next few hours, could
not get out of my mind the horror of
the idea that l had killed that man. Not
only had taken away his life, but very
likely had l made his wife widow and
his children fatherless- That night
when we went into camp had this op-
pressive feeling still on my mind, when,
to my great delight, saw the man that
1 had killed, evidently prisoner, sit
ting on the stump of tree with his
arm in sling.
My dear fellow 1 exclaimed with
much cordiality, approaching him, 4
trust you are not seriously hurt
Nav, replied the Confederate dry
ly, When you fred at me my horse,
SHE'D and broke my arm against tree.
Your bullet didn't hit me at all
Il do assure you l never was more re-
lieved in all my life.
But the most painful experience that
I met with during the war was at Chan
cslorsville. l found one of our men,
when the fire was pretty hot, skulking
behind big log.
'This'l never do, man! l shouted in
his ear. Get up there and take your
place in the line
Il took him by the scruff of the neck
for he was seized with panic-and
showed him forward. AS l did so, with
my hand on his collar, chance bullet
struck him on the forehead and he fell
lead without 4 cry.
1.-The shock that gave me have
never entirely recovered from. l felt
that had killed that man. The fact that
was in a position of equal danger with
himself did not effect my moral impress
sion as to the occurrence. 1t seemed as
f had deliberately forced him into
5he path of the bullet, and that waa
for his death. Such, in one
sense, was true, and yet, Of course,
vas not in any ju,k W ay responsible.
But shall never get Jver the haunting
recollection. ."-Washiugton Star.