Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-19

watch and count the seconds is brave,
elf-possessed, reliable. / have seen an
officer in battle fight on unllinchingIy,
bleeding from many wounds, of which
he was needless. and later on have
seen the same man turn pale and al
most faint while holding the hand of
another that the surgeon might operate
for some tritiing ailment. a great deal
has been written about the heroism Of
the soldier when going into battle.
There is no heroism about it-simply a
matter of pride and duty. The soldier
while standing under the calling fire of
the enemy looks at his neighbors on
the right and left, and seeing them
clutch their guns firmly, although
shaking with something akin to fear
thinks he viii be stunned if he shows
the White feather. and so when the or
der to charge is given he PUSHES for
ward with his comrades, who perhaps
experience the same sensations, as
himself. once in the fight there is no
thought of fear. and the oftener the
soldier fights the less reluctant he feels
10 being under fire.
An incident came under my obser-
vation during the siege of Atlanta.
which. | think exhibited a fine display
of courage \ Federal battery was or
dered to retire from the front line on
| account of the great damage the horses
were receiving. 1t was just about to
move back when a smell from the
| enemy struck one of the caissons. The
| shells in it began to explode like q
| oil Of OF n firpCla( AT TINS
point a driver, who had always been
| rated mere or less of coward, cody
| stepped up to the caisson of exploding
| shells and poured bucket of water
| over them, and as soon as the toWplrgs
| became wet the danger was over. me
| whole thing had been done without
the slightest sign of excitement or IN
dicaticn that the incident was anything
| out of the ordinary.
| Here are the cases Of two boys
which show different degrees of cour-
age. one of them on picket post one
| day was charged by a squad of Con
federate cavalry. He stood his ground
firmly. waited until they We're within
easy range, and then shot one or tnen-
| and the remainder, assuming that ne
had support near by, quickly retreat
ed The other boy was firmly con-
WINGED he could never be struck by a
hostile bullet At Rock Face Ridge
there was a three days assault on a
fort in front OF Dalton, Ca, and one
dav this young soldier. in spite OF
warnings took position at the edge
of some woods in trent of the fort, eN-
uosinc himself openly to the enemy
! cbarushooters. He stood in full view OF
the Confederate rihemen. and would
motion on which side of him their bull
lots struck. Finally he was hit square
" on the head, and instantly killed.
II recall a feat Of sergeant IN the
Tyentv-frst New York Cavalry. which
for pluck and cool calculation was tru-
w admirable and entities the nero Oh II
to praise for his courage and presence
of mind in the face of danger. Inc
sergeant. while out scouting WIN a
companion in the London Valley, visi-
! ted a farmhouse for the purpose OF get
ting supper. While they were "altlns
for the meal Col. Mosby and his adJu-
tant entered the house. The sergeant
Communion escaped through the Kitten
on but the sergeant himself was play
ing the piano in the parlor and haVlhs
Invested himself of his arms was easily
made prisoner. He was compelled Il
. ride the greater part Of the night Will
the Mosby party. finally fording TIT
, Potomac at Ashley's Gap and dis
mounting at house in the village o
a Paris. Mosby called his adJutant t.