The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03
SOLDIERS UNDER FIRE
Personal SENSATIONS OF MANY MEN
IN FIRST ENGAGEMENTS.
What General Miles, sicISIes, Long
Subjeef-Were All Afraid.
Philadelphia Telegraph.

Philadelphia Telegraph.
In the work of novelists who plume them
selves on their realism" a favorite sub
ject OF study latterly mas been the feeling
and conduct OF soldiers under fire. Patient,
psychologist dissections of the soldier in bat
tie, at which the enthralIed reader catches
his breath and signs How true" have made
the fortune of more than one work of fic-
ton recently. With such studies in mind
It may be interesting to read what few ac-
tual soldiers, chosen quite at random, have
to say regarding their own feelings in COM
ing under fire. Whatever the realistic
novelist may have had the hap to give US,
the actual soldier, certainly, will give US
nothing but the real thing. Here are some
experiences, as gathered for publication a
few months ago by George Landon Kilmer:
General U. S. Grant said that the instant
he heard the first hostile gun when down
in Mexico, with Taylor, as sub-lieutenant,
he felt sorry he ever enlisted. Shortly after
wards he borrowed horse, and rode into
the thick of the fight against orders. From
the frank admissions of a gallant company
of veterans of the civil war, who have fol-
lowed the example Of their great command
er, and given up their Utmost secrets to the
infer that Grants experience of getting
broke in" are shared by all men who have
the stuff in them to make staying soldiers
Fitzjohn Porter was under Taylor also.
He smiled at my question and said: In
every case when shot passed by I always
controlled myself so as not to permit the
men to see that ] was disturbed. My first
experience was down with Taylor, and
recall a case in point. Colonel Childs had
new regiment formed in square, at Resa-
ca de la Palma. and when the Mexicans
opened fire upon it the men began to
dodge. Colonel Childs told them to stop
it. as 1t was unsoldierly to dodge Taylor
sat by on his horse, ducking right and left
Colonel. Let-them-dodge-ir-
know"
Lees old war horse" Lieutenant Gen
eral Longstreet, received his baptism under
Taylor at the same time. He says that the
first sound of distant firing caused him to
brace for the ordeal But there was lull
before he was brought into action, and in
order to keep his thoughts from wandering
he took from his breast pocket a picture
of the girl he had left behind. The calm,
frank face looking into his dispelled all
thought of danger, and he went ahead like
the man he aspired to be.
My inquiries of the Green Mountain boys,
who made q gallant record as fighters,
brought forth some responses which go to
the root of this whole question of battle
field 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 nre, as / came to it somewhat grad
/. ually, and became a little used to it before
a m ga rGsf IF
And my feelings were not the same on all
occasions / disliked very much to go into
only to myself, but to my command and
the cause. Generally the first experience
natural pride and feeling of responsibility,
and a knowledge of the effect upon the
men overcame it. But it sometimes took all
the self-control at my command to appear
calm and cool But this feeling of trepida-
Lion 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
right arm. Said he: CAS- / emerged from
the woods 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. If were to analyze my
own~reelings l should say felt a great
ra-seHse OF danger; but not much fright. had
no idea of doing anything else than to
march straight ahead towards the enemy
which was doing at double quick when
loss
of my arm. l realized perfectly well what
was going about me- the troops who
were going off and where the enemy was
FRIGH4 DISAPPEARS.
Gen. Theodore s. Peck, Green Mountain
soldier who has a varied experience, and
was one of STANDARDS officers first came
under fire in cavalry charge and skirmish.
I'VE were 50 excited and interested in chas-
ing the enemy" said he, that there was
not fear about it. The next time under
fire I was thoroughly frightened at the
commencement, but later on fright disap-
peared and the supreme thought of whip
ping the enemy took possession. think
never was in a battle but that I was
afraid. and in most Of the engagements it
lasted throughout the entire time when UNI
der ire. While this physical fear was upon
me l had no desire to leave the field but
otherwise to whip the other side / am con-
hdent that had my wits about me during
to attend TO business"
Gen. w. w. Henry colonel of the Tenth
Vermont. received his Baptism of fire. at
Bull Run, with Cen Woodbury. His chief
thought anc anxiety was to get sight of
the enemy. chance view of some wound
e5 men before going I'M shook his courage
somewhat. He saw a she'll 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
kept on, as well as l could. bound to see
my courage returned"
Vermont sent out a band Of her Green
Mountain boys on horseback, the First Yer
mont Cavalry, one of the elite fighting regi-
ments of that arm of the service / found
Colonel Myron NJ. Porter. now of Wash
ington, willing to confess his sins of omis-
sion and commission, as he realized that
his Bueephalus was carrying him full speed
into the ranks of the troopers in gray. Said
he:
You ask for a description Of my first ex-
perlence under fire. ! was really too badly
scared to remember just how [ did feel I
remember distinctly, though. that / wished
myself in any other place than that particu-
lar fight. A sickenng, all-gone weak-Kneed
passed away, however, when the order to
charge or FIRE came After that the feeling
was one of excitement and anxiety as 10
the result Dying in a charge is sublime
being killed before the charge is disappoint-
ing and seemingly inglorious. NV ex-
\ perience taught me that fear al
ways preceded the actual fight It Is
strike back This was the way I used to
feel when / was a boy soldier. Now | ex-
pect would be badly scared under all cir
cumstances and conditions. Since the war
/ have heard a number of brave - SOL
diers say that they never felt better than
when they were under fire or in battle Such
a man writes himself down an ass, and If
he ever was under fire 1t is safe 20 assume
that he was genuine coward
CONCEALED TERROR
In the beautiful old town of Plattsburg
surrounded by classic memorials OF combat
and separated by the waters of Champlain
from his ancestral heath, yet within sight
of ffs emerald hills found a,o+l,o., c..