Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-03
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
EEEECTs oE A CHARGE.


A Cavairyman's Sensations While In
Action.
A regiment brigade or division of in
fnntry may charge at run, but the
movement is las often made ut steady
step, so the alignment can be maintain
ed nearly perfect With cavalry it is
always "Trot-gallop-chargcl" There
Is therefore an excitement about It that
puts the fear OF death away. Cavalry
In waiting may exhibit signs of merry.
ousnoss, and the faces of men will grow
pale and fingers clinch more tightly,
but when the advance begins those
same pale faces flush with excitement,
and every man feels like cheering and
does cheer.
IL matters not what you are charging
against-lincs of infantry, battery or
masses OF cavalry-thcre is no mental
figuring on the result You feel your
self part of living wave, which is
bound TO roll on and on and overwhelm
everything before It, This result does
not always follow, but you forget that
A charge of cavalry has been complete.
ly checked by two or three murdcrous
volleys, but no such instance occurs TO
your mind as you grip your sabcr and
feel your horse strong and steady under
the saddle.
What are the thoughts of cavalry
man as he charges? II would be hard
for hsn to answer. lie does not always
know what he is riding nt The lines
may have been facing the west, where
the enemy was visible at the edge Of
wood or behind fences long way of
A danger threatens which even his Off
GERS with their glasses have not seen.
An aide rides up, delivers an order and
the lines wheel TO the south and go
rushing away rs II the fate of the battle
depended on the few hundred men.
The smoke may float about so as to OBJ
scure the vision, or the field in that di-
rection may be perfectly clcar-its all
the same to the riders. lie is listening
for the further notes OF the buglc; per-
haps having some trouble with his over
exerted horse; looking at the earth i'm.
mediatcly in front TO guard against
ditch or log or stump
He can not tell whether he has gal
Hoped eighty rods or full mile Bull
let's are whizzing about his ears, but
there is no ducking and lodging
The scream Of shell comes to his ears
above the din Of the charge, but he docs
not wonder II 1t is in line with him. IL
may explode TO his right or left and
blot out three or four men and horses,
but he simply hears the explosion and
does not turn his head To ascertain
what attended.
OF a sudden n mass OF cavalry appears
before him. They were quietly moving
around for charge on the flank, and
this movement is to check them. They
were marching by tours, but have
wheeled into line, and there is some
confusion among them. lie has only
observed this and heard the shouts OF
their officers when tho shock takes
place. After that no man can say what
really happens The horses meet head
on. Scores of them are knocked down
II you are in the front rank you may b,
tumbled out OF your saddle by shot
from n revolver, your horse dropped un
der you by bullet In his brain, or you
may strike your enemy and roll hin
over and then go down after him.
you are in the rear rank the hors,
ahead may stumble over some obstruc
tion or become one himself, and IL Il
nine chances 10 one that you arc un
horsed.
1t is u melee, a riot, a free fight afte
the collision. The smoke speedily oh
scures, all formation Is lost and friont
and foe are sounding bugle calls at tn,
same time. You are there 10 strike It,
wound and TO kill The entire mass o
cavalry seems 10 be circling 70 the RICH
or left. 1t is sometimes so, but YOU
would have the same idea II advancing
or retreating. You fire your revolve
at the half.hidden figures before you
you may fling II at some of them whci
IL is empty. You may be thoroughly
up in saber exercise, but you will us,
only the down cut in the melee.
How long has it lasted2 You hav
no idea. What has happened? Tn
enemy has retrcatod, overpowered an,
defeated, and all at once you recognize
the rally" call Of your familiar bugle
The troopers rally, horscd or endorsed
lines are reformed in confused way
and presently the smoke thins out unit
you can see the field over which yor
have fought. Wounded men limpin
and crawling about--horses gallopin
wild and furious, or dead or wounde
on the carth--dead men here and ther
until the number is over one hundred.
The lines move back at walk tc
ward our original position. Horses ar
painting and men inclined TO he ny,
terical Within ten minutes you ca
not find face which does not sho,
phllor-a trooper who Is not trembling
That's reaction Of n charge into Tn
jaws Of deaths Quad, in N. y
World.