The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-28
WAR WARM WORK.
The Phrase "Heat Of Battle" Not 1
Mere Figure OF Srsech.


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 q southern FOL
der who was an officer under Col
onel Mosby. cit describes exactly the
sensible, physical condition the SOL
der feels, no matter what the tenn
perature may be.
THAT this lie true WAS evidenced by
my own experience during the war be-
tween the States 1t was In February
1864, and Colonel Mosby, with some
hundred Of las, was camped near Up
persille. village In Virginia about
thirty miles south Of Harpers Ferry
Late one afternoon our leader receiS-
ed dispatch from General Lee to
make a. forced march that night and
attack body OF F'ederal troops that
was stationed on London heights
which overlook 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. six inch fall
OF snow, half melted and frozen again.
made the roads almost impossible, ana
stiff north wind, added to these
other evils. made the outlook for IA
pleasant dash OF thirty miles most
dtsnally improbable one
1T was about sunset when, mufiied
to the eyes against the biting frost and
bitter wind, our column left camp at
lpperv,lie. For the first ten miles our
squadron, made mp of veterans insured
to ALL manner oil hardships, did NOT
suffer much, and occasionally some
one would even essay a joke. But ia
the second ten miles the cold, that had
Il Ia tan.
and Jacket and shirt. began TO bite
into our bodies. To restore life TO our
numb legs we would take oir 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 then.
against our bodies or clapping them
severely together.
The second ten was bad enough.
say. but the last was--well. a polar
nightmare. The vitality seemed to bs
frozen out of man and heast, for
hours the horses STUN hled through
the snow bearing a troop as silent as
the dead save for an occasional
Athumping or some poor devils hall
frozen arms against his side as he
sought to Restore lite to the tieadcned
limbs When ] took my feet GU, OK
the stirrups TO help the circulation |
would have to- taAe nay hands ard FIT
my legs up to get the feet back in
place, so lost To all sensation were
they.
Az length about 8 O'Clock in the
morning We saw the lights of the en-
emys picket fires and could distin-
guish the muffled forms of the sentrics
as they paced their beats, There WAS
a 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 reviewers with my
thumb, but was compelled to effect ii
with my teeth. holding the pistol be-
tween my numbed fists and drawing
back the hammer by gripping It In my
teeth and pulling 1t back until it
caught
Eat length all was in readiness. As
sat there, barely able TO grasp my
revolvers. the Charge rang out and
the next moment we were In the midst
of the enemy, who were too astounded
at an attack on such a bitter night 10
offer much resistance and for the most
part fled down 10 Harpers Ferry to
the main body. Some of them, how
ever. put UP a stout fight for men
awakened from warm sleep to fight to
the death in the bitter night air. ana
for couple OF minutes we had all we
could do, but Il was soon over, aud
we were In possession OF the camp.
When / came 10 myself I found
was sitting with one leg thrown over
the pummel Of my saddle. my over.
coat and Jacket flung wide open, whilo
my shirt. opened 20 the last button,
allowed grateful zero zephyr to play
upon my bare sweating breast. In
my hand, from which had pulled the
glove, moist with sweat. wsa hold
ing my hat. with which was visor
oAsly tanning myself. .3s a
And less than five minutes before
had been 10 chilled that had been
IN comfortable house with a ply
stefan at hand he would have fined
me. full Of hptodrinks- wrapped ma,
IN BLANKETS and kept me in bed cou-
ssaA nf days.
NO." concluded the veteran, "the
| heat Of battle n something NOR.
thsn 4 mere figure of speech. New