The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-19
TRUE COURAGE IN A SOLDIER.
1t Is Presence of Mind Under Trying
Conditions


Detroit Free Press: What. in your
opinion. doctor, constitutes true courage
] in a SOLDIER / asked Sray-headeu
army surgeon, who refuses 10 let me use
his name in print. and who has related
to me many thrilling episodes ana aq-
ventures of the great war with the south;
True courage" said he IN reply,
believe is founded on presence or nina:
The officer OF soldier who, in the lace OF
imminent peril can hold up a Watcn
and count the seconds is brave, self
possessed reliable [ have seen an officer
in battle fight on unflnchingly. bleeding
from many wounds. OF Whlch ne was
needless and later on have witnessed the
same man turn pale ana almost laln t
the surgeon might operate TOT some
trifiing ailment A great deal mas peen
written about the heroism OF the soioler
when going into battle. There Is no
haroisn about it-simply matter OF
pride and duty. The soldier while stand
ing under the calling fire OF the enemy
left. and seeing them clutch their guns
firmly although shaking with something
akin TO fear. thinks he will be summed
IL he shows the white feather. and so
when the order to charge is given he
rushes forward with his comrades. who
perhaps experienced the same sensation
as himself. Once in the hght there Is no
thought of fear and the oftener the
soldier fights the less reluctant he feels
to being under fire.
An incident came under my OBSERVATION
think exhibited fine display of courage.
A federal battery was ordered TO retire
from the front line on account OF the
great damage the horses were receiving.
II was lust about to move back. when Il
shell from the enemy struck one OF the
caissons The shell in it began to ex-
pIode like a pack of giant firecrackers.
At this point a driver, who had always
been rated more or less of a coward,
coolly stepped up to the caisson OF ex-
ploding shells and poured a bucket OF
water over them. and as soon as the tow
plugs became wet the danger was over.
The whole thing had been done without
the slightest sign of excitement or in
dication that the incident was anything
out of the ordinary
II recall a feat of sergeant in the
Twenty-first New York cavalry, which.
for pluck and cool calculation. was truly
admirable and entities the hero or II TO
praise for his courage and presence of
mind in the face of danger. The sergeant.
while out scouting with a companion in
the Loudon Valley visited farm house
for the purpose of getting supper. While
they we're waiting for the meal Colonel
Mosby and his adjutant entered the
house. The sergeant's companion es-
capped through the kitchen. but the ser
eeant himself was playing the piano in
the parlor. and having Invested himself
of hfs arms was easily made a prisoner
He was compelled to ride the greater
part of the night with the Mosby party.
finally fordiDg the Potomac at Ashley's
Gap and tiismounting at a house in the
village of Paris. Mosby called his ad-
jutant to him. which left the orderlies
with the horses of their officers. and the
prisoner in charge. Peeping from the
holsters of Mosby's saddle the sergeant
saw a pair of silver mounted reviewers.
Dismouning he snatched weapon from
we'll directed; shots he disabled both of
the orccriies, and jumping into the saddle
on Mosbys horse he was well out of
pistol range before the guerrilla chief