The state herald., 1892-06-03
The BAPTISM OF FIRE.

The BAPTISM OF FIRE.
EASY DEATH WITH A BULLET
THROUGH THE HEART.
rho First Experience In Battle and =
Fight In virginia wood-How 1t
Feels to Stand Face to
Face with Death.
In overy soldiers memory the first
experience Of battle Is impressed with
vivldness not equalod by any other
'veut In life, writes Colonel Z v.
Semrle. We OF tho Seventh Ohio
Infantry received our first baptism Of
iro In West Virginia in an affair
which was scarcely more than skir-
nish. and is long since forgotten by
al except the men engaged In it. 1t
occurred at place called Cross Lanes
Ind our antagonist was General Floyd,
II Georgia. l shall never forget tho
,trange sensation when | saw u long
line OF mon in gray march out OF the
woods and realized that they were
'he enemy; nor shnll forget tho
thrill OF excitement when n flash OF
are swept along the gray line and
tho bullets rang about our ears. cut
tho grass about our feet and clipped
,plinters from the rails OF tho old
|ence behind which wo lay.
In that fight the captain OF my COM
pany was killed Mt my side. says a
writer in the Northwest Magazine.
We were outnumbered and defeated.
and we retreated sullen and despond-
ent for two days across mountain
wilderness TO our base Of operations
at Charleston.
Our noxt taste OF the wild excite
ment OF battle was ut Winchester In
Virginia, where three brigades oil
northern troops fought stubbornly
with Stonewall Jackson's army all
ono afternoon, and ut last drove the
enemy from the field. That WINS my
first experience OF charging battery.
Dur brigade had been lying for some
time on the slope OF n hill. supporting
two OF our batteries which were
pounding away mt tho enemy's gun.
half concealed in the woods across |,
narrow valley.
II was beautiful spring day the
leaves were pushing out on the
branches and the grass was green. and
l remember that tho robins sang in
tho intervals OF tho thunder OF the
cannon. Our general camo riding uI
and shouted: We're ordered to take
tho rebel battery; men. will you dc
it?" or course We all yelled. ave
will. although l doubt II there were
many in tho brigade that felt any
strong desire for that sort OF business.
We made n long detour through the
woods, dumped our blankets and hav-
crsacks in u field. keeping only oul
cartridge boxes and canteens; thon We
moved forward again in column b,
divisions OF two companies front
keeping as still rs possible but tn,
tramping OF 9, 900 mon among tho DIR,
leaves and twigs OF the forest made ,
great subdued roaring noise.
My company. with the Oborlin com
pany. formed tho front line Suddenl,
there came cracking OF musketr,
from among tho trces-the fro OF tn,
cnemy's picket guard. Tho orderl,
sergeant ,of the Oberlin company. I
noble young man to whom was deep
ly attached. fell dead. shot through
the forehead. We were ordered I,
tako tho quickstop Before We coul,
SEQ what was in our front wo drew tn,
fire OF tho battery and tho grapcsho
and canister passing over our head
brought down the leaves and limbs O
the trocs In ii green shower. Soon nj
order was lost and the men wcrs
huddled together In ravine som.
firing ut tho flash OF the guns IN,
s0mo taking shelter behind trees 1
took perhaps half IN hour for tho OF
ilcers to form ragged limo and &c
tho mon down 10 tho steady work O
loading and firing.
There was IA stone walk across thl
opcn field in tho front OF us and from
this wall camo jets OF fire. lay o,
my back behind little knoll londe,
my gun. raised myself on my elbow
Just far enough TO see the ilnshe
from tho stone wall. and fired at them
Aftor awhile l observed that tho maj
noxt to mo In tho limo was lyint
mo,ionless. and having Just been pro
noted TO the rank OF sergeant
thought 1t my duty To roprovo hin
for not attending to his business; SO
said to him: why don't you loat
and nroP' lIo made no reply. Iii
face had tho flush OF battle upon /
and his eyes were wide open. Then
noticed that my hand was wet witt
blood, md. looking down. saw that h,
had boon shot through tho heart
thought how easy ana pleasant dcati
must DO to come In this way. will
not even conscious pain enough :,
change tho expression OF tho face be
fore life Is blottod out
|
| wtus and Sbristinuity,