The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
FEAR ON THE EVE OF BATTLE.
a Veteran Who Claims That all Sol
diers Feel More or Less Timorous

Veteran Who Claims That all Sol
diers Feel More or Less Timorous.
FROM the Cincinnati Tribune
A few days ago little party of veterans
were talking over the experiences aud Incl
dents Of war, when a certain colonel was
asked by reporter how a man felt in hot
engagement. aud whether, after the first
volley be did not become oblivous to his
surroundings. He replied: mo. sirl l
vas shot aJ all through the Mexican
war as a private, and was target
for the southern chivalry, as an officer. all
through the war of the rebellion; and /
have not yet seen the true soldier VINO did
eater a battle with fear aud dread. Do not
understand me, now, that they entered as
towards and came out as clustering heroes.
Not 30. Every intelligent sol iier goes into
battle with fear, If not with trembling, and
he well knows that his safety lies in the
full discharge Of his duty, and he performs
that duty periodically and with pride. l
never entered battle yet but l would rather
be somewhere else If duty called me there.
have seen men nerved Up to GOODNESS aud
consideration in battle having differenr
motives and for different rensons, but pride
has quite often held a man up to the front
rank when bis nerves were little shaky.
~ well remember q Lieutenant in my
armed with a commission from Gov. Daeid
Tod. This young mRa was pale and slender
OF build, delicate and some what dudsh in
his II ake-up; and as | subsequently learned,
he had been about the state house offices at
Columbus during Gov. Tod's Rdmiuistra-
ton aud now, at lis close, was seeking this
new field of honor and glory. You may
we'll believe that battle-scarred veterans
who had been at the front for three Yesrs
and deserved promotion hundred
times did not take kindly to q
featherbed STRIPPING coming among them,
unless he began at the foot of the class aud
worked up as others had done. The young
man soon found that many things are dis
agreeable in war besides being shot at. His
fellow officers recognized him only as they
were compelled to- They would not mess
with him. and so far as possible ignored
him entirely, and this against the private
admonitions OF the colonel. After some
days the situation became so embarrassing
to the whole regiment that the young
lieutenant was detailed to take charge of an
ambulance squad, which duty he continued
to perform for several weeks, and was thus
relieved of the embarrassing situation.
"After many days Of tedious marches and
countermarches over in the valley We found
ourselves in the presence Of the enemy, and
it was very apparent battle was to be
fought. Our regiment was already in line
when the young lieutenant came TO me and
requested to be permitted to take his place
with his company. In vain told him that the
duty he was TO perform was less dangerous
He still insisted on going into battle
and l ordered him to take his place with
his company, which he did. and no man or
officer in that regiment performed his duty
more nobly, coolly and intelligently than
die this much-despised officer; and when
that battle was over no officer IN the regi-
ment received warmer greeting from his
men and fellow officers than did our
featherbed hero. Ever after that. till the
close Of the war, this young Lieutenant had
no lack Of messmates and companions IN
the regiment