Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-11-06
THE TERROR OF SUSPENSE.
aow the waiting for the Battle On
nerves Brave Men.

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 o'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-of
suspense. Away over there we can
see the columns OF the enemy wheeling
into position-banners rippling-artil-
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 its waters
before the sun passes its zenith.
Men draw u long breath to fill their
lungs before putting forth all their
strength in one great effort. Armies
do the same, writes M. Quad in the N.
Y. World. This is the long breath
before the clash comes.
Watch tho 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 ina tremble as the teams
are unhitched and led away to the
shelter OF the raviue. They know
what is coming and the waiting un-
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 il he had never heard
gun fired. See how his nostrils quiv-
er! 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 rightr'-'' Front
therew-''C Cease that talking" 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
AAuCo nlOHk llAC AlhO III ho0 40
well, 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 ia
every great battle from first Bull Run
10 Getty there are recruits
who reached us only three days ago
from the far away farms and villages.
You see difference, hut 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
few bars from a rollicking aiT, TO
make you believe that he never felt
more serene in his life It's a 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 ne
towards here, but it would take very
little to start panic and a 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 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 ss 70
charge battery and hurrahed with
excitement Suspense has Slapped his
courage and unnerved him. See him
tremble! Note his paleness! Now there
comes look of terror and despera-
tion to his eyes and before any one
could stop him!
What! He has sent bullet into his
head from his own musket-kllling
himself through sheer terror of wait
ing to be killed by the enemyl We
saw it whenever we waited. We rose
from bivouac many a 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.