The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-07-09
BATTLEFIELD PAh|CS,
Odd Events That at Times De.
moralize Veterans.
HORRORS INCIDENT TO WAR.

Two Terrifying Episodes That DC.
CURED During the Franco. Prussian
Observation-Disclosures May Seize Even
the Most Hardened Troops.
1t is a peculiar circumstance that
hardened and trained troops will 60
through long fight surrounded by
all the horrors that are inseparable
from war without tlinching and with
the utmost apparent callousness and
the same men will be struck terrified,
by a single trifiing incident.
Every war of any importance. par.
ticularly wars between civilized MI.
tons. is prolific in Incidents Of trivial
character in themselves. but so IN,
usual and unnatural that they appeal
to the natural instructive horror of
men more suddenly and intensely than
perhaps the main terrors of days of
carnage. Such an incident is the one
for example. which occurred at the
battle Of Worth. in the early days OF
the Franco-Prussian war.
In the heat of the great battle q
wing of the Prussian army was charg.
ed by the regiments of French cuiras.
siers in the hope Of turning the wing
and Facilitating the falling back of the
French Infantry. But the cuirassiers
were driven back by the untlinching
Prussians. Again the cuirassiers
charged. and again they were driven
back by the whitening fire.
For third time they came down
again. and rs the enemy waited for
them to draw nearer a horrible. blood
freezing terror seized the Prussians,
and for the moment it looked Us If
they would turn and fly or be cut
down without defending themselves.
But in moment they bad pulled
themselves together and beaten back
for the third and last time the gallant
cuirassierS.
The sight that terrified the Prussians
appears nothing very much in black
and white. 1t was a regiment Of cut.
rassiers led ut dashing rate toward
them by hcadless officer sitting up.
right in his saddle and apparently en-.
couraging his men. 1t was no less
person than Futzum de Lascarre of
the Third regiment of cuirassiers
whose head had been carried com
pletely of his shoulders as the troop
broke into the third desperate charge
by cannon ball. which also took oil
another officers hand and cut the
bugler in two.
1t is remarkable and singular that at
the battle Of Forbach. which took
place the same day as Worth. very
similar incident occurred and did more
to shake the nerves Of the Germans
than hours Of roaring cannon and
fighting had DONE
While a regiment of Prussian infan.
try were standing in reserve watching
the fight as we'll as they could from
their position Of shelter a charger be
longing to French dragon regiment
one which was practically destroyed in
the battle. galloped right into the midst
Of the men. who rushed to arrest It
and Immediately fell back in alarm.
for swinging to the bride was the
whole left arm of the chargers rider
the fingers of the hand firmly graspine
the reins. The arm appeared to have
been severed few inches below the
shoulder and was certainly that of an
officer. but who the officer was has
never been satisfactorily established.
So moved were the hardened men of
battle at the horrible sight that no one
would touch the horse. and the animal
was allowed to gallop of to be killed a
few minutes later In crossing before
some Prussian guns. Thrilling as the
incident was. many Of the brave fel-
lows who witnessed it declared that
their first, almost irresistible. impulse
was to throw down their arms and
bolt. Yet 1t was with the help Of just
such men that General Won Cohen
routed the French that memorable day
in August. 1870.
1t Is a we'll known fact that the
finest and bravest troops the world can
produce have no immunity from that
strange and mysterious madness known
to military history as "war panic" A
heavy war, frequent sanguinary en-
gagements. night marches and sur
prises sometimes play havoc with SOL
diers' nervous systems and render
them more like high spirited colts than
men who have taken the field prepared
to suffer Unreasonable horrors and
take death cheerfully.
During the peninsular war two Brit.
ish regiments. the very pick of the
army and seasoned veterans, We're
marching along in good order when a
rumor ran down the lines that the enc.
my was at hand. The next moment
the line Of orderly soldiers was changed
into an elongated mob Of armed men
throwing away arms. baggage and al!
they carried, running away in every
direction. blind terror in their hearts.
their faces blanched and their ears
deaf to the Numbered commands Of
their officers.
For the moment they knew but one
sentiment, ore emotion. sudden. pas.
sionate, blind terror. and they fled
without thinking whether they were
running into the arms of tho thino