The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-18
Conduct of Men Under Fire.

A comrade near me is busily engaged
in reading his Testament. This is
popularity of bis. Just before we were
going into the fight before this one, we
were marching along, when the ad-
vance found the enemy, and skirmish-
ing began. We were drawn up by the
side of the road in readiness to go
promptly whenever and wherever we
as the fire grew hot and hotter. AS
soon as there was a possibility that we
might be called upon, | saw him read
ing his Testament. He reads it now
under like circumstances, because he
finds some consolation in it and it takes
his mind from what is going on around
him-from what is before him. He is
better soldier for this. When the
time comes for action he is as brave as
any one. He knows the danger, but
has the courage to face it.; and this is
his way of keeping up his courage until
the excitement of action destroys all
thought of danger.
Other men have other ways of doing
this. Here is The captain. He is a
little apart from the Others; is say ing
nothing but is apparently thinking
deeply, and is industriously whiting
twigs, which he puts into his mouth as
if they were toothpicks, throwing one
away every moment to put in another
one. Here is another comrade who has
no desire for conversation; whose
thoughts are evidently far away. He
is busy picking up twigs and breaking
them into bits. Like the captain be is
keeping his fingers busy as a relief to
his thoughts-as a balm for nervous
ness. Here is a man whose face is
"white as sheet" He is afraid, but
not more 80 than those around him.
He knows that he may be killed at any
moment, but is possessed of that higher
kind of courage which enables him to
go calmly wherever duty calls, or to
meet any danger nobly which may lie
in the path of duty.
Here is one who shows no signs of
anxiety or of fear; but he is no more
brave than the others. When we first
took this position he was very sick, but
he is now ready for any duty. The eX-
element or the dread was too much for
him at first and "went 10 his stomach;
but that is over. 1t was only physical,
to be sure; but the cause was mental,
and the removal of the physical dis
turbance has relieved the mental cause.
This internal disturbance is no uncom.
mon thing under the first excitemen nj
of going into battle; and oittimes in
these circumstances the soldier fears
that he is going to prove TO be coward
but this feeling overcome, he is as brave
as he could wish. Another comrade is
reading a letter-the last one he re-
ceived-and he is well aware that il
may be the last one he will receive
All, we'll we know where his thoughts
are, and we sympathize with him, fol
are not our thoughts all on our homes
and our loved ones there?
Every man here understands to the
fullest extent the danger he is in; bu
he is brave enough to remain here, tC
60 further, if need be, for country ant
flag; and yet just now his thoughts are
with the loved ones; and from many {
heart goes up silent prayer for God''
blessing upon them, whatever may hap
pen to him. His thoughts are for thei
happiness, not for his own welfare
Thus, in various ways, do the com
rades show their peculiarities under thu
terrible artillery fre.-Bhte and Gray.