The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-09-15
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOlOlERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in a
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.
Soldiers in BattIe-Lirc


discussed. The only ones who can an
swer it are men who have been to the
front themselves, and they cannot an
swer satisfactorily. Few men ere con-
stitutional towards, and yet no man
knows how he will conduct himself un-
der fire until the time comes. And, too,
no man ever went into battle twice
alike. No company, regiment or brigade
was ever situated twice alike. A man
may be very brave in one battle and
very timid in the next. His physical
and mental conditions have much to do
with 1t. private soldier knows the
position of his entire brigade in fight
If the position is a strong one he is en-
couraged; if the fanks are exposed or
the defenses are weak he is nervous
and apprehensive
The Federal troops never fought bet
ter than for the first five or six hours
at first Bull Run. The writer's own
brigade gained ground for several
hours. This, with small loss of men,
kept us encouraged. Indeed, 1t was
cry man was hopeful and determined,
and any single company would have
charged a regiment The panic had
upset thousands before it touched US.
Indeed, the retreat had been going on
for two hours before we got word. We
were well in hand and ready to ad-
vance when the news reached us. In
five minutes every man was shaky. In
ten minutes men whose faces were
powdered-stained were sneaking out of
ter of an hour half company of Con-
federates could have driven the whole
brigade like flock of sheep. Men cried
like children. Others trembled and sat
down from weakness. Every fresh re-
port added to the feeling of terror, and
by and by pride and discipline gave
way to a grand rush, and it was every
man for himself. No one would stop
to reason. No one cared whether his
comrade was ahead or behind. This
was called cowardice, but it was not.
1t was panic-the terror of battle-a
senseless but powerful something
which seizes the bravest men and
makes children of them.
Burnside's army never felt more like
fighting than at Fredericksburg. but it
demanded at least an even chance.
When it became known that he intend
ed to hurl the army against the fortified
hills beyond the town it was half-de-
feated before a man moved Men went
into the fight nervous and fearful, and
whispering to each other that there
would be terrible slaughter Hun
dreds of Federals discharged their mus
kets into the air, though the enemy
was within pOintblank range. This
was a case where every man saw the
hopelessness of attack. He felt that
he was pushed forward to be shot
down. There was no way for retreat
until the lines should fall back. On the
other hand, the Confederate troops
posted behind the stone wall at the foot
of Mayre's Hill joked and smoked and
were in the highest spirits, feeling
themselves secure from bullets, and
knowing they could beat back any
force. There is scant pity in soldiers
heart in the heat of battle, but the Con-
federates showed it there, or the list of
dead and wounded would have been in
creased by thousands.
When Mcclellan made his last stand
in retreating on the James, the writer's
regiment lay in the dry bed of creek
at the foot of the elevation. 1t was a
natural rifle pit, and sheltered us so
we'll that we had only slight loss in
killed and wounded. AS the Confeder-
ates charged across the fields we felt
to pity them. We poured in our volleys
without fear of danger in return, and
out of fifty Confederates who rushed
into our lines in their bewilderment
forty We're crying and sobbing. 1t
wasn't cowardice, but terror No cow
ard could have been induced to march
across those meadows in the face of
kerry at pointblank range. 1t was diff
ferent again under the trees at Cold
Harbor. After beating off everything
in our front, and while most of the
men were cheering, some one started
the report that the Confederates had
gained our rear. Two thousand men
broke back like lot of boys, some even
throwing their guns away, and the
jeers of other troops had no effect until
the frenzy had time to evaporate.
At Gettysburg our regiment had the
cover of stone wall. and we knew
that we were well supported. We
hoped for charge, and when it came
every man was cool and calm and con-
fident. One band of prisoners number
ing about thirty was led past us on
their way to the rear, and many were
crying and all We're white-faced. Some
of the best soldiers and the oldest fight
ers have won their medals in one battle
and shown the white feather in the
next. A second lieutenant almost cried
for the privilege of leading a charge
at Antietam, and yet at Chantilly he
fell into ditch and pretended to be hit
so as to drop behind in the charge.
Hoods Texans were men who would
fight at the drop OF the hat, and scores
of them had killed their man in private
life, but when they came to face death
on the battlefield they were no Drawer
than the farmers who never fired a gun
a dozen times in their lives. and then
only to kill dogs or crows.-Detroit
Free Press.
Drummer Boy of Shiloh.
There Is a small photograph, yellow
with age, on Major O'Leary's desk at
headquarters. says the Dal-
las, Texas, News. The picture is that
of small, bright-eyed little boy about
Is years old. He is dressed in the uni
form of the United States army. and
has strapped to his belt sword about
five sizes too large for him.
The lad in the picture is the Drum
mer Boy of Shiloh" According to Maj.
O'Leary he is 1.-The bravest lad that ever
stepped in shoe leather" and, although