The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
COURAGE IN A SOLDIER.
The True Article Is Founded ON
Presence of Mind.
Detroit Free Press.

What, in your opinion DOCTOR consti-
tutes true courage in a soldier?" l asked a
gray-headed army surgeon, who refuses to
let me use his name in print, and who has
adventures of the great war with the South
True courage, said he in reply, Il believe
is founded on presence of mind. The officer
or soldier who, in the face of imminent
peril, can hold up watch and count the
seconds is brave, self-possessed reliable. l
nave seen an officer in battle fight on I'M
finchingly, bleeding from many wounds of
which he was needless, and later on have
witnessed the same man turn pale and al
most faint while holding the hand of an
other that the surgeon might operate for
some trif1ing ailment. A great deal has
been written about the heroism of the SOL
der when going into battle. There is no
heroism about it-simply a matter of pride
and duty. The soldier while standing I'M
der the calling fire of the enemy looks at
seeing them clutch their guns firmly, al
though shaking with something akin to
fear, thinks he will be Stunned if 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 sensations as himself. Once in the
fight 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
during the siege of Atlanta, which, think
exhibited fine display Of courage. A fed
eral battery was ordered 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 shell from the
enemy struck one of the caissons. The
shells in it began to explode like a pack
OF giant firecrackerS. At this point a
driver, who had always been rated more
or less of coward. coolly stepped up to
the caisson of exploding shells and poured
bucket of water over them, and as soon
as the towplugS became wet the danger
was over. Fhe whole thing had been done
without the slightest sign of excitement or
indication that the incident was anything
out of the ordinary.
Here are the cases Of two boys. which
show different degrees of courage. One of
them on picket post one day was charged
by squad of Confederate cavalry. He
stood his ground firmly, waited until they
were within easy range and then shot one
of them and the remainder, assuming that
he had support near by, quickly retreated.
The other boy was firmly convinced 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 day this young soldier, in spite of
warnings took a position at the edge of
some woods in front of the fort, exposing
himself openly to the enemy's sharpshoot
crate rif1emen and would motion which
side of him their bullets struck. Finally he
was hit squarely on the head and instantly
killed.
Il recall a feat of a sergeant in the
Twenty-first New York Cavalry which for
pluck and cool calculation was truly adj
for his courage and presence of mind in the
face of danger. The sergeant while out
scouting WITH q companion III the IOuQOn
valley visited a farmhouse for the purpose
of getting supper While they were waiting
for the meal Colonel Mosby and his adiu-
tant entered the house. The sergeant's
companion escaped through the kitchen, but
the sergeant himself was playing the piano
in the parlor and, having Invested himself
of his arms, was easily made a prisoner
He was compelled to ride the greater part
of the night with the Mosby party finally
fording the Potomac at Ashley's gap and
dismounting at q house in the village Of
Paris Mosby called his adjutant to him.
which left the orderlies with the horses OF
their officers and the prisoner in charge
Peepng from the holsters of Mosbys sad
die the sergeant saw q pair of silver
mounted reYolvers. Dismounting he
snatched weapon from the holster nearest
him, and with two well-directed shots he
disabled both of the orderlies and jumping
into the saddle on Mosby's horse he was
we'll out of pistol range before the guerrilla.
chief and his adjutart opened the door He
rode into Halltown the next morning with
his spoils."