Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-07-28
FEAR NOT UNKNOWN TO SOLDIERS
Ii Is Pride Rather Than Courage That
Controls Their Actions.

I'm a number OF years of active serv-
ice during the war, said an old soldier
yesterday, Il must confess, in all hon.
esty, that in action my bosom never
welled with the enthusiasm Of heroes
that you hear sc much about. On the
contrary, experienced more fear than
anything else. always did my duty,
but am forced to believe that the feel
ings | had when drawn up in line of
battle We're shared by my comrades,
who never dared to acknowledge them.
Facing a large body of men with guns
and not knowing what moment one Of
them will end a ball speeding through
you is not a situation TO make q man
feel exultant.
"In my case ] was always ready and
willing to turn and run, only waiting
for some Il 20 make the start. How
often, when about TO enter a battle, do
| remember soliloquiziug: Now, II
this fellow next TO me would only make
a start how thankful ! would be- But
pride and sense Of duty will hold men
together. AS / said, ! have not the
least doubt that many men felt just as |
did, no matter how they may talk now.
And when you consider that we always
stood our ground, it shows how strongly
pride can influence our actions.
Il remember once, while our cavalry
troops were out upon a skirmish. We
took a vantage position upon a hill that
rose out of "A plain. From there we
could see the enemy gradually sur
rounding us. This, TO one Of my tenn
permanent. caused extreme
When there was but a small opening
remaining at one point, and that slowly
being closed, | went 10 the command
ing officer and suggested that he had
better order 4 retreat while such q
thing was possible. He refused TO do
it, saying be was going 10 stand his
ground. l knew this was sure death,
and would have readily put spurs TO my
horse and rode to safety had not my
sense of duty and pride impelled me TO
remain with my officer. He was sitting
on his horse calmly, taking in the stu
alton, when came to him a second
time to make the suggestion. But l
did not have TO speak. An all-wise
Providence did my work for me in a
AMI that prevented argument. The
bullets were flying about thick and
fast, and just as | was about TO address
the officer I. stray one struck him in the
wrist of the hand which held the reins.
The ball shattered the bone and the
reins dropped from the helpless hand.
Before the officer could recover the
reins with his other hand the horse
bolted and strangely started on a dead
run for the n place which offered a
way of escape, 1t was my duty to fol-
low the officer, and ii was the most
cheerful duty | found during the war.
l spurred my horse aud soon was at his
heels. We got away all right, but the
company of cavalry on the hill were.
with few exceptions, captured and held
as prisoners OF war. They were sent
to Andersonyille prison and but a small
percentage ever came out alive. That
is how "A runaway horse saved my life.
Il never went into action without q
dread and q fear OF death. This may
be looked upon as the stamp of a cow
ard. yet | hardly think it is fair TO give
such "A name to a person. who never
shirked duty. TO me the brave man is
not the one who recklessly, without
thought, plunges into the thick of bat
tie. but rather the nan who, while real
izing the danger aud approaching the
uncertainty OF life, still keeps to the
path Of duty ."--Pitsburg Dispatch.