The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-24

1A0@AAf @A AlA1rAH4 AAlCH0C4 VIII TIC
most thrilling sensations, feelings full
Of dread and fear No other expert
ence in life can fitly compare with it.
A volunteer army is composed Of
varied classes of men; and in the
variety, dangers do not always develop
the same feelings or results. Men who
confront death on a battlefield from
sense Of duty are affected differently
from those who under the mere thrill
OF excitement rush, like the unthink-
ing horse, into peril needless Of cause
OF result. Then there is another class
Of soldiery. men who are-they know
not why-utterly Indifferent to fate.
men who are unconsciously devoid of
the sense Of danger, even if they do
not possess that sublime trait of char
acter called valor. Bravery does not
always consist Of the poweror capacity
70 meet and defy danger, and men are
often towards when there really is 70
danger to face aud overcome. Such
people are like children who are re-
luctant to 60 into the dark room even
though they are assured there is no
enemy there. Shadows frighten many
people as well as chickens.
Among soldiers there is-as observed
m our late war-still another class but
little different from those just referred
70, men who may be put under the
head Of don't caresr--young men who
60 into battle with about the same
feelings with which they would 90
into foot race or a swim in deep
water.
Then there are the men with the
pure lofty courage, the valiant and
true. who SO out coolly and steadily
under the fire, even though there is
the restrained dread in the innermost
heart, even though there may be seen
the slight pallor on their cheeks, the
unconscious restlessness in the eve aud
the evident subtle emotion that moves
the lip and the limb. Woe to the enc
my who stands or covers under the
steel Of such a foe.
The most trying ordeal in the first
battle-and in all battles, for that
matter-is in the start; in the getting
ready when the hour has come to move
on the foe; in the movements prepare
tory to the action; ia the moments Of
prelude, and before the enemy is in
sight; when the drum first beats the
loud alarm; when the bngle blast
fiercely trills the sudden summons.
Boots and Saddles and the cry
spreads like an electric flash through I
the startled camp that the foe is in |
front, and that the hour Of battle is |
now Al hand
Oil then It Is that the heart and tie |
brain of the soldier are pierced with |
the Wild woe Of war. Then it is that |
the courage spirit Ysxes or wanes.
Then it is that valor begins 10 totter if /
the sure props are not there. Then it 1
is that the soldier begins to think and |
when he begins to think, he often be-
gins to dread; and when he begins TO
dread, fear soon follows
q In the moments between the first
bugle blast or drum beat and the vision I
of the enemy in front, the soldier has
tia,c for reflection; and thought has al
WAYS been a prolific source Of fear or
reluctance to 60 into danger Many
tragedies have been the result Of men
not thinking or rejecting upon conse-
quences. And with the soldier-when
there comes the vision Of home and
wife or child or loved ones, when the
vision Of these come and remain be-
tween q man aud prospective death
he always fingers over the images upon
the heart mirrors: and he shrinks from
the separation Of the grave, even if he
does not exhibit cowardice.
IL is not merely a conscience that
makes towards Of us all: but in the
workings of the brain otherwise, when
men have the time to think, they turn
away from the dangers that are in
front TO the loved thatare behind them:
and then comes. as ] have said, the
dread Of that something hereafter so
keenly felt and acknowledged by
Hamlet
But as soon as the soldier gets up
under the enemy's fire: as soon as he
finds he is being shot at, and the OPP
portunitv is given him 70 return the
fire. as soon as he sees the real enemy
.n his front. and the battle is upon him
then it is that all the trouble and all
Tie dread Of battle are over with that
soldier who has any Of the elements Of
In him. Then the man nat
arally wants 70 return the FIRE. then
comes the bending Of the energies for {
lie assault upon the foe; then the
rearning for the fire aud the advance.
Once IN the din and Fame and rear Of j
he conflict there Is no time to think Of
consequences, no time for thoughts o. !
lie loved ones far away IN the embrace {
q home; the only consuming passion !
hen is how to get at the enemy and
punish him and hence the rush and
he shout the incarnation Of resolve, ]
hat always characterizes the charge.
be on 10 victory or death
Once in the fire and tumult Of tho
Struggle. with the battle spirit filling |
nd thrilling every sense when the
older hears and sees and feels and
mells-iasting even the sulphurous
truQcle-then Il IS that be knows no
Tread. no fear. The mind and heart Z
MI of that battle spirit, there Is no {
oom for other feelings The man q
has wrought upon has no concern 4
bout death. except It is the death Of
he rnarnv. n DESTROY him TO punish / I