How Men Rush into Eternity.
THE following description of the awful spirit with which men rush into battle, is one of the most vivid pictures of the horrors of war : “Cheers and yells yet ring to the ear, accompanied by oaths. The less fleet are overtaken with a ‘surrender ye.’ Perhaps an oath with a pistol shot is received in reply. It may miss fire, when the stubborn resistant receives a ball which speedily topples him over, while his assailant passes on to new struggles. More frequently the answer is a hasty ‘I surrender,’ a throwing down of weapons, and a spreading of the arms, to prove themselves defenseless. This action must be amazingly quick, or unpleasant results ensue. There is no time to wait. At no other time is there ever heard so much hard swearing as in a charge. There is a perfect chorus of oaths, from husky base to frantic treble. This profanity, painful to the ear, is rarely touched on by correspondents, yet no true idea of a fight can be furnished without its abundant incorporation. Rendered indifferent by habit, and urged by a sense of duty and of pride, men rush to their fate in the whirlpool of companionship, and careless of the future.”