Omaha daily bee., 1896-08-30

go to the root of this whole question o
battlefield courage. General Lewis A. Grant
commander of the First Vermont brigade
one of the elite fighting commands of the
Army of the Potomac, said: 1T is some.
what difficult to give my first experience
under fire. as l came to it somewhat
gradually, and became a little used to It
before being thrown into a severe engage
ment. And my feelings were not the same
on all occasions. / disliked very much tc
go into an engagement and feared the re.
suit, not only to myself but to my command
and the cause. Generally the first eX-
perience OF a battle was that OF trepida-
ton, but my natural pride and feeling of
responsibility, and a knowledge OF its effect
upon the men overcame it. But it some
times took all the self-control at my com
mand to appear calm and cool. But this
feeling of trepidation never lasted long. 1t
never extended through a battle"
Governor Urban A. Woodbury., whose
mute badge of courage is an empty sleeve,
recalled his first experience under fire with
out difficulty, for it was then he lost his
right arm. Said he: "As / emerged from
the woods on the open field at the first bat
tie of Bull Run the enemy discovered us
and commenced firing upon us with solid
shot and shell. II | were to analyze my
own feelings | should say | felt a great
sense OF danger, but not much fright. |
had no idea of doing anything else than
to march straight ahead toward the enemy,
which | was doing at double-quick when |
received the wound which caused the loss
Of my arm. | realized perfectly well what
was going on about me, the troops who
were going off, and where the enemy were
posted"
General Theodore S. Peck, a Green Noun
tain soldier, who has had a varied experience
and was one Of Stannard's officers, first
came under fire in a cavalry charge and
skirmish. I'VE were so excited and inter
lgtpn in nhnGipD the anpnpu - I'D ha rtIat
there was not much fear about it. The
next time under fire | was thoroughly
frightened at the commencement, but later
on fright disappeared, and the supreme
thought OF whipping the enemy took pos
session. / think / was never in a battle
but that | was afraid, and in most of the
engagements 1t lasted throughout the en-
tire time when under fire. While this
physical fear was upon me | had no desire
to leave the field, but otherwise to whip
the other side. | am confident that ! had
my wits about me during all these trying
times and was cool enough to attend to
business
General w. w. Henry, colonel of the
Tenth Vermont, received his baptism of
fire" at Bull Run with General Woodbury..
His chief thought and anxiety was to get a
sight of the enemy. A chance view OF some
wounded men before going in shook his
courage somewhat. He saw a shell burst
and carry away the arm OF his friend and
cOmrade, Woodbury.. This caused me to
think that war was a serious matter" said
he, but still / kept on, as well as | could,
bound to see the enemy, and when under
fire my courage returned"
Vermont sent out a band Of her Green
boys on horseback, the First Yer
mont cavalry, one of the elite fighting Iegi-
ments Of that arm OF service. | found
Colonel Mryon NJ. Porter, now OF Washing
ton, willing to confess his sins OF omission
and commission, as he realized that his
Bucephalus was carrying him full speed into
the ranks OF the troopers in gray. Said he
You ask for a description of my first ex-
peIience under fire. | was really too badly
scared to remember just how I did feel.
| remember distinctly, though, that | wished
myself in any other place than that partic-
ular fight, A sickening, a~ll-gone, weak
kneed, homesick feeling; a feeling which
passed away, however, when tho
order to charge or fire came, After that the
feeling was one OF excitement and anxiety
as to the result. Dying in a charge is sub
lime; being killed before the charge is
disappointing and seemingly inglorious,
My experience taught me that fear always
the actual fight. II is annoying
10 be struck when you canno strike back.
This was the way | used to feel when ! was
A boy soldier. Now ! expect | would be
badly scared under all circumstance and
Since the war / have heard a
lumber Of brave 81 soldiers say that they