The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-06-27
war WARM WORK
The Phrase "Heat OF Battle" Not
a Mere Figure Of Speech.
FIGHTING FIRES THE BLOOD.

An Old Veterans Story Of an Early
Morning Attack In Zero Weather and
the Change the skirmish Wrought In
His Half Frozen Body.
",The expression heat of battle is
more than a mere poetic figure Of
speech descriptive of the fierce glow Of
emotion the soldier feels when In the
midst of conflict" said a southern SOL
der who was an officer under Colonel
Mosby. 1T describes exactly the sen
sible. physical condition the soldier
feels, no matter what the temperature
may be. >"N
THAT this Is true was evidenced by
my own experience during the war be
tween the states. II was IN February.
1864. and Colonel Mosby. with some
hundred of us. was camped near Up
perville. village In Virginia about
thirty miles south of Harpers Ferry.
Late one afternoon our leader received
n dispatch from General Lee to make
a forced march that night and attack
a body of Federal troops that was sta
toned Oh Loudon heights, which over.
look Harpers Ferry The weather was
bitter cold. the coolest that had been
known In that section for many years.
The mercury was coquetting around
zero, a six inch fall Of snow. half melt
ed and frozen again. made the roads
almost impossible. and stin north
wind. added to these other evils. made
the outlook for a pleasant dash of
thirty miles a most dlsmally improb
able one.
ut was about sunset when, muffled
to the eyes against the biting frost and
bitter wind. our column left camp at
Upperville. For the first ten miles our
squadron. made up Of veterans Injured
to all manner Of hardships. did not
suffer much. and occasionally some one
would even essay joke. But In the
slowly eaten its way through overcOat
and jacket and shirt. began to bite into
our bodies. TO restore life 10 our numb
legs We would take our feet from the
stirrups and let them hang until the
circulation was restored-an old trick
with those compelled to ride much in
the cOld-and we would keep our
hands and arms In some measure
warm by beating them against our
bodies or clapping them severely to-
gether.
The second ten was bad enough.
say. but the last was-well. y polar
nightmare. The vitality seemed to be
frozen out OF man and beast. For
hours the horses stumbled through
the snow bearing a TROOP rs silent as
the dead save for an occasional
humping Of some poor DEVILS half
sought to restore life to the dendened
limbs. When took my feet out of
the stirrups TO help the circulation 7
would have TO take my hands and lift
my legs up TO get the feet back IN
place. so lost to all sensation were
they.
AT length about 3 o'clock In the
morning we saw the lights of the en-
emy's picket fires and could distin.
gulsh the muffled forms Of the sentries
as they paced their beats. There was
small strip of woods that ran to
within hundred or less yards Of the
Federal camp, and In this we formed
for the attack. My hands were so
cold that was unable to cock the
hammers Of my revolvers with my
thumb. but was compelled to effect II
with my teeth. holding the pistol be
tween my numbed fists and dra wing
back the hammer by gripping 1t In my
teeth and pulling II back until It
caught.
AT length all was In readiness As
sat there. barely able to grasp my
revolvers. the Charger rang out. and
the next moment we were In the midst
OF the enemy. who were too astounded
NJ an attack on such n hitter night 70
offer much resistance and for the most
part fed down to Harpprs Ferry to
the main body. Some of them. how.
ever. PM up r stout fight for men
awakened from warm sleep To fight to
the death In the hitter night air. and
for couple OF minutes we had all we
could do but " was soon over. and
we were In possession Of the camp
when I came Ia myself found !
was sitting with one leg thrown over
the pummri Ut my saddle. my over.
coat and Jacket flung wide open. while
my shirt, opened 10 the last button,
allowed n grateful zero zephyr Ia play
upon my hare sweating breast In
my hand. from which ! had pulled the
glove. moist with sweat. ! was hold
ing my hat with which ! was vigor.
Dusty tanning myself.
And less than FIVE minutes before |
had been so chilled that had been In
comfortable house with n physician
at hand he would have filed me full
OF hot drinks. wrapped me in blankets
and kept me In bed couple OF days.
NO" concluded the veteran. the