The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-08-02
FEAR NOT UNKNOWN TO SOLDIERS
1t Is Pride Rather Than Courage That
Controls Their Actions.


in number Of years of active serv-
ice during the war, said an old soldier
yesterday. II must confess. in all hon
esty, that in action my bosom never
Welled with the enthusiasm of heroes
that You hear so 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 were shared by my comrades.
who never dared to acknowledge them.
Facing large body of men with guns
and not knowing what moment one OF
them will send a ball speeding through
you Is not a situation TO make Il man
feel eXultant.
In my case | was always ready and
willing to turn and run. only waiting
for some one to make the start. How
often. when about To enter a battle, do
| remember soliloquiziug: Now, if
this fellow next to me would only make
Il 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 NAV 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 vantage position upon hill that
rose ont Of a plain. From there we
could see the enemy gradually sur
rounding Us. This, To one of my tenn
permanent, caused extreme nervousness.
When there was but small opening
remaining at one point and that slowly
being closed, ! Went to the command
ing officer and suggested that he had
better order Il retreat while such a
thing was possible. He refused to DO
It, saying he was going TO stand his
ground. ! knew this was sure death.
and would have readily put spurs to my
horse and rode TO safety had rot my
sense of duty and pride impeIIed 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 |
did not have to speak. An aii-wiSc
Providence did my work for me in a
manner that prevented argument. TIE
bullets were flying about thick and
fast. and just as [ was about to address
the officer a stray one struck him i'm 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
boIted and strangely started on a dead
run for the one 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.
| spurred my horse and 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 Andersonville prison and but a small
percentage ever came out alive That
Is how Il runaway horse saved my life.
Il never went into action without a
dread and fear of death. This may
be looked upon as the stamp OF cow
ard, yet hardly think it IS fair TO give
such name to a person who never
shirked duty. To me the brave man i
not the one who reck lesslv. without
thought. plunges into the thick OF bat
tie. but rather the man who. while real
ling the danger and approaching the
OF life. still Keeps TO the
path of duty. "-Pdts5urq DjsDGtca.