The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-04
Soldiers Under Fire.

Very little fun was to be found in
the ranks when the army was arrayed
in line of battle. Everybody was seri-
Gus. Orders were given in a quiet
tone and obeyed with celebrity and in
perfect silence. Here the private was
of more importance than an officer, for
on his GOODNESS and courage rested the
issue of the struggle. If the men in
the ranks stood fast and used their
weapons with effect, victory would be
won; if they failed to hold their ground
all was lost. The officers could only
There was feeling between officers
and men that in the presence Of an en-
envy they stood on common plane as
to danger. The bullets and shells
screaming and shrieking in mid-air
paid no heed to rank. One of the most
trying experiences for a soldier is
moving of the line during battle. The
men have been fighting all the morn
ing only to find the fire of the enemy
Stacking and finally ceasing altogether.
Skirmishers are thrown out, and word
comes that the enemy have fallen back.
Orders are issued to move forward in
line. Slowly, steadily the several brig
AIDES follow their skirmish line over the
| fields, Through woods and across ra-
vines and bitches, until at length the
men catch glimpse of the enemy's
new line. Haiti" comes ringing down
the line, and as the men obey they peer
curiously at their adversaries, knowing
we'll that the next minute will bring
them into mortal combat. Silent and
thoughtfully the soldiers lean on tt cir
rifles, their faces blackened with pow
der or bleeding from some slight wound
which a veteran never heeds. They
feel no desire to 60 forward, but are
willing to do 80 il the general 30 orders.
Each man knows that if an advance is
made some of them will fall, and he
cannot shake off the feeling that per-
haps his turn may come to join the ST.
lent majority. Look down the line,
and many face which has been the
life and soul Of the camp is now seri-
Gus; for, as the veterans gazes at the
bodies scattered upon the field he real
ICES the possibilities of the occasion.
Suddenly the bugles utter their shrill
notes and the silent line moves for
ward. Batteries behind open fire, and
under cover of these the advance con-
tinues. They come within musket
range, and the enemy greets them with
a binding volley of musketry. Men
fall dead and wounded in every direc-
ton, the survivors cody close up the
ranks and leave them behind. The
next moment they rush and seize The
position. The musketry grows hotter
and hotter, and cannonading fercer
and fiercer, until suddenly ringing
cheer rises above the roar and clash,
telling that the movement has proved
successful and the enemy are in re-
treat.
Instances of personal heroism were
frequent in both Federal and Confed-
crate armies. The commonest of these
was the rescue of wounded comrades
under fire, and it was proof of the
generosity of the combatants that,
whenever such efforts were recognized
the musketry would slacken and both
lines join lin !cheering the rescuer
Scarcely battle occurred without a
dozen or more of such attempts, most
of them being successful, though it Of
ten happened that instead of helping
his comrade the brave fellow met death
or was stretched on the earth in an az
ony of pain. Such were the lights and
shadows of army life on American bat
tlefields. -Exchange.