Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-08-20

- ID On ! OL young AIuCA =
eN'N-~r1fffYz e-'h-s leans it is outside
the realm of anything ever before ex-
perienced. 1t is not so much the fact
that missiles are flying, for many have
faced dangers like that in some form,
but that an armed enemy is making
them a target, bent ON destroying life.
The other day heard a young fellow
who never had gun in his hand and is
about to start for the seat of war, say
ing to some friends, "I'll see you again
if the Spaniards don't get me. y a little
later his thoughts will be on the Span
iards hitting him, still later on, their
aiming at him and last of all, the mo-
ment when the color of his liver is to be
revealed to himself and fellows, that the
Spaniards are not only aiming, but ac-
tually shooting at him.
1t is perfectly useless for that young
man or for any one so situated to at
tempt rehearsal with the imagination
that will do the duty of a real breaking
in Scared he will be when no comes to
the realism of it. / have sounded the
experiences of the best fighters known
in our armies and all agree that the sol
der is not only afraid in his first fight,
but in every fight. How much he shows
it is another matter; so also is the ques-
ton whether it affects his bearing so as
to weaken execution. Phil Sheridan de-
clared that the man who says he isn't
afraid every time he faces the enemy's
fire is a liar. Similar statements come
from all who are frank enough to tell
the truth and manly enough to be nat
ural Why, it is the height of absurdity
for civilized human beings to attempt
to so despise life that they can go into
battle without thought of the conse-
quences.
The Turks, who seem to have no fear
Of bullets and rush tocertain death with
ardor, are not brave at all i'll the sense
that we look upon bravery They expect
to be translated by the lethal stroke into
realms of eternal bliss. The deadly bull
let and saber stab of their enemy is to
DO a priceless boon, beside which mo-
mentary pain is nothing. The American
soldier risks a life worth living when
ne goes into battle.
Now, it never happens that man
must make a supreme wrestle with him
self under the enemy's fire. AT least it
never should happen to a soldier bent
On doing his share of the firing ! will
make fine point of it right here. A
soldier whose mind is upon his calling
win have so much that is practical and
incidental to think about when he comes
TO face the music that he'll not bother
himself much about the danger nor the
extent of his fear The first that he
Knows he'll find himself under fire and
will see that it doesn't hurt at all. Or
# he is hit that will give him some
thing else to think about than the firing.
For his further encouragement just at
hat time he can recall the old saying,
Lightning never strikes twice in the
lame place "
If soldier has nothing better to do
when he comes under fire, he can set to
work keeping tab ON the enemy's bulls
yes. 1t will help him out nightly to
discover for himself that it takes mans
weight in lead to kill him. l knew one
soldier, who was an officer and there
sure anxious not to show his trepidation
20 the men, who got a grip on his shaky
nerves by taking out dry hard tack
md munching at it. He declared that
lard tack was never before SO dry. 1t
almost choked him, but even the chok-
ng was a godsend, for it made him for
get the enemy's fire.
Once the new recruit has lived
Trough that first moment, or second
perhaps, when it becomes plain that the
Spaniard of Imagination is not shooting
according to plan, or that if he is shoot
ng his aim is bad, for he doesn't land
is lead, then it is all over The dread
ii baptism Of fire is passed. There is a
ot OF self clarifying afterward over the
,assing of the ordeal, and that is all
light. \ man may be proud Of the fact
hat he has voluntarily stood up to be
not at in a righteous cause. That is
lso the supreme test of soldier mettle,
ut my experience has been that the
IAN who holds out until he gets to the
attlefeld is all right anyway If he'd
ut think so himself, it would remove
load Of doubt and help greatly to give
i'm firm bearing under first fire. Elk
srience varies in different wars but as
rule there is so much Of stern soldier
ork put upon a man before he comes
the field that he is not likely to funk
yer an evil purely imaginary. Taking
giments as body this rule will not
lply. So much is made on the drill
'ound Of keeping formation and doing
lis or that cut and dried thing at all
mes that the organization is on tenter-
)oks for fear Of wrong move, and ev-
y man in the ranks shares the anxiety.
is well perhaps that the mind is so
occupied, except when unavoidable
cident causes the line to break Each
an, having depended on the organiza-
On to carry him through, is lost when
20 touch Of elbow is broken.
Leaning upon the courage Of others is
Re proper thing for novice up to a
rtaiu point. When one is uncertain as