The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-11-03
THE TERROR OE SUSPENSE.


Since the sun came up this morning
we have been marching and counter
marching, forming a battlefront four
miles long. 1t is now 10 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 waltlng-Of
suspense. Away over there we can
see the columns of the enemy wheeling
into position-banners rippling-artil-
lerv 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 passes it's zenith.
Men draw a 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 ~galloping up! They are looking
across the valley at the enemy, their
eyes blazing and their ears working.
Every one is in a tremble as the teams
are unhitched and led away to the
shelter of the ravine. They know
what is coming, and the waiting IN
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 battles scares, but he is just as
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 up and every
nerve a culver.
The officers voices CRATE harshly as
they jerk out their commands of:
Dress more to the right "-"frOnt
there >" 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 rides
along the line in front. That is we'll,
but it is a bluff for all that. He is
moving to keep his nerve under con-
troll.
Watch the men! There are old veter-
ans 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 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 he never felt more
serene in his life. It's mere sham, but
it helps to brace up the ~pale-faced man
who are to receive their baptism.
"Why don't we mOve?'
This state of suspense is disorganiz-
lng. Men look wildly to the right and
left-tO the rear. There arenO towards
here, but it would take very little to
start a panic and a rush. Men still
laugh, but 1t 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 into
MS 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 u~nnerved him. See him
tremble! Note his p~aleness! Now
there comes a look of terror and des-
perauon to his eyes, and before any
one could stop him!
What! He has sent a bullet into his
head from his own musket-killed
himself through sheer terror of wait,
ing to be killed by the enemy! We
saw 1t whenever we waited. We rose
from blvOuac many a morning in the
presence of the enemy to stumble
against the cOrpses of comrades hang
ing to limbs-driven to suicide because
their nerves broke down under the
strain of suspense.-M. quad, in Ne,c
York World.