The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-04-22

\ fEANSsA SS8A& OF the stay at
Va .AayNHM MN homes to soldiers
;SMlMI#an AS&Sg just from the
tassIAAwA$sMA wars is, elbow
fEYI1llEM= does it feel to
iYYXA hgN stand up and be
Z xM5VVA Y V%N shot at?''
~ G4szN The following
~ story is from
General Lewis A. Grant, colonel Of the
Fifth Vermont and afterward leader OF
the First Vermont brigade. For those
readers who are unacguainted with the
record Of these Vermont commands 1T is
enough to say that they were in the
thick of the combat OIL almost every
battlefield of the Army Of the Potomac.
OF his baptism of fire the general says:
"It is somewhat difficult to definitely give
my first experience under fire, as came to
it somewhat gradually and became little
used to it before being thrown into a severe
engagement, and my feelings were not the
same on different occasions. l dlsllked very
much to so into an engagement and feared the
result, not only to myself, but to my command
and the Cause. Generally the first experience
of battle was that of trepidation, but my
natural pride and a feeling Of responsibility
and knowledge of its effect upon the men
.
control at my command to appear calm and
cool. But this feeling Of trepidation never last
ed long. 1t never extended through a battle.
As soon as actually engaged all fear was gone.
and it generally disappeared while making an
advance. The roar Of cannon and the rattle Of
musketry had no terrors to me. accepted the
chances Of personal injury and thought only OF
the proper exercise Of my command and of the
result. On two occasions 1 actually enjoyed
the fight"
In certain class of fiction which
masquerades as history the man who
would rather fight than eat is held up
as typical warrior. Here is represent
alive fighting soldier confessing that in
only two out Of more than a score of
most desperate encounters did he enjoy
the combat. Another favorite trait OF
the fiction warrior is reckless exposure
of person to the fire of the enemy. Upon
this head General Grant says:
'sThe most trying situation was that of hold
ing position exposed to the enemy fire when
not able to return it, / always believed that it
was the privilege and the duty of an officer to
protect his men and himself as much as posi-
BILE and consistent with the occasion. For this
purpose earthworks were thrown up, and walls,
rocks and trees were taken advantage Of.
When not advancing naturally prepared a
position of protection. If duty called me to q
prominent point to observe the enemy s move
ments or the condition of my command, do
not think I failed to occupy it, but if there
was nothing to be gained by the exposure I
preferred to occupy a low point or depression
and let the bullets 60 over my head, and, if not
necessary, to remain mounted, and if safer dis.
mounted did not hesitate to dismount.
"My first experience under fire was at
Young's Mills on our advance up the PENN
sula in the spring of 1862. We simply advanced
upon and drove small force of cavalry firing
as they retired. Only few stray bullets
reached us, and it was soon over. There was
not much cause for fear, and don't recolect
any. Williamsburg soon followed, where VIC
were not in the thickest of the fight but it
was an experience and tended to confidence
and discipline. There had the strange expe.
rience of watching and hearing cannon balls OF
shells coming almost directly toward us. II
excited feeling of curiosity and surprise more
than fear. never before believed that one
could see cannon ball in motion. There first
appeared puff of smoke, and then the bail OF
shell was plainly visible, and the peculiar sin G.
ing sound it made coming through the air was
very different from the screeching sound made
when going high in the air or off far to the
right or left The sound of the cannon was
heard about the same time that the shell burs
or the ball struck near us" - ''s
Referring to the battle Of Savage Sta
tion, in the seven days, where his regi
ment covered itself with glory, the gen
eral says: ''It was savage station in
deed to my little command, which gal
lantly held the enemy and suffered ter
ribly."
The struggle of the Fifth Vermont al
Savage Station formed one Of the mos
thrilling episodes of the war. In passing
TO the front the command stumbled upo1
PROSTATE regiment of cringing fellows
who refused to advance and meet thu
fee The spectacle fred the Vermonter
to the extreme pitch. Surprising tina
orders were orders, Colonel Grant un
dertook to "push back the enemy, a
he had been told to do. The thicket wa
blasted by the storm of grape which tor
through it, yet he led his men on unit
he struck the Confederate skirmisher
and sent them flying from the field. I
second Confederate line stood ground
and into that the Vermonters rushed a
q bayonet charge. A couple of volley
from the enemy's infantry held up tn
impetuous assailants. Instantly a fiel
battery opened with canister, and eros
fire Of musketry on one flank was adde
as a last blow. The Vermonters wen
down in swaths literally, but there wa
q show of them left standing. Takin
breath, they rallied, closed in an
dropped upon sheltering rise Of groun
and kept up the fight with bullets. Th
enemy was pushed back and held bac
until the crisis was over. The regimen
was 400 strong when it charged, and Z
dead, with 1871 wounded, was the pric
of its daring. Two companies, r and 3
that were almost at the mouths Of th
guns Of Kemper's Virginia battery, los
so at one discharge, and the bodies la
on the field in perfect line as thong
sleeping on their arms. In company
40 out of Sc We're struck down, % {
them killed.
At Savage Station the plucky req
guard Of the Federal army made a stan
to cover the passage Of the columns owe
White Oak swamp The Vermontel
crossed the night Of the battle and toe