New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-13
FROM GEN. McCLELLAN>s COLUMN.
PiciSefirg.
FIcHettEp !,
From our Special Correspondent.
BIiLRY's CRoss-ROAl

From our Specisl Correspondent
BinEY's CRessRoADs FAIRFaK Go. Hs,}
Whatispicket duty Until one has seen and shared
IT, il il not an easy matter 70 define. LIS character in
fact depends very much upon the character of the men
who sustain it. Ii the guard is spirited, pucky, and
open to nirhfuness it is very lively business ftbe
qnard ia stod and moroe il is the duest thing in the
world There are regiments in our army of tie Poto-
mac which crave picket duty as their finest recreation;
and there are Others which shun it as ireIevaby te.
dious. These latter have probably been stationed
where there are no coD-felds, for Virginia corn is
great restorer of uneasy pckets as shall by and by
show. The con.caiion and subsequent absorption, Of
Fairfax County corn has surprising effect upon the
temper Of our troops. have seen who would
gladly take double allowance Of exposure at outposs
for the cake Of twenty -four hours more Of corn.
Picket duty, have said, lie either dreary cheer
full as the men choose 10 make il. 1t liz toeahly dam
gerous but ordinary precaution easily avers ugly con-
sequences. The chances Of individual peril are in
one respect greater than in battle, for the picket
guard may be drawn upon at any time by an unseen
assailant who may have been sighting him and watch
ING opportunities Tor hour; but, on the other hand
the chances OF security are also greater, for the ex-
perepced picket will always choose his station 30 as to
get the advantage of every natural shelter, and will
If necessary, help nature by iudicous appliances Of
shade, and rough carpentry. fair amount of pru-
oence will always insure safety. do not TO say
that our men are always prudent. ] would not do
them tina. injustice. II is usually question with them
between prudence and duness side, and little
rasbness and animation ON the other. They mostly
begin by being very cautious. But twentyour hours
of steady caution are very depressing. Wnen it comes
therturn to 20 out again. they naturally feel more ven
turesome and by the time they get familiar with the
work they are often frocsome as kittens about it.
Only the stolid and parties, alluded 20 above,
cling 10 the practice Of perpetual caution and although
thew rave their skins and joints thereby, they neces-
EARLY lose good deal of sport.
Onr pckets are seldom reckless-h you will admit
thu distinction between reckessness aud rashnes.
Probably they would themselves deny even the rash
ness and perhaps should not insnuse suspicion OF
it. if were as thoroughly mp in the work as many OF
them are They understand their position completely
know exactly what may be and what may not DO
risked; educate their eyes and ears 10 extraordinary
keenne.s; learn rapidly 10 distinguish substance nom
shadow, and, above all, how 20 sharpen their common
sense and have il ways hand and ready for use.
There no better schooling for cold cry than this same
picket DUTY and if it could be administered TO the whole
4
army in regular rotation should have troops rs
good as veterans in little while, without the tougher
experience of the battlefield.
always find Baileys Cross Roads the most attrac-
tive point of the long line Of army ouposts not be-
cause of the proximity Of that wretched and nnocuous
bugbear Munsons Hil but because Of the brisk picket
work that is generally carried on there. Our picket
guards this post really of the first quality They
come from Michigan, and the best compliments could
frame FIR good spirits and sunsbiny courage, would
bestow upon them. / do not speak with any claim to
military Judgment and, for aught know the strict
martial sense would criticse more vigorously; but 10
the unfettered "cvi appreciation, nothing could be
better worth enjoying than the handsome, manly, and
sometimes dro and eccentric manners and behavior OF
these Michigan men. Let us look at them from this
place. The frt point of observation is deserted
blaeksmiihs shop, well ventilated with windows and
rfed-cannonshot holes the latter inflicted some time
ago by the rebels warning TO Michigan not TO
play improper Tricks. The Michigan had erected
furious looking piece of ordnance in the middle Of
the road consisting of stovePiPe and set of wagon
wheels. The Confederate camp WAS thrown into con-
s.ernaton, and Baeys Roads were sheled vigorously
until tho real nature Of As structure wa discovered