New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-13

walton on every side.
Just over the way upon the piazza OF little DWELL
ng-house, the Captain in command Of the outpost sits
serious and thoughtful That is easy TO understand.
OF all the little force spread around he is the only
really responsible man. HIS men are not under hls
eye, not within CALL and good part OF them can
only be reached by messengers. The most remote
pickets are nearly quarter Of mile away, and who
knows what may any moment happen TO themf When
the firing gets little heavier than seems TO him neees-
sary be becomes impatient and sends out orders for
less waste of ammunition. The an wer always comes
that the rebels fire on u.s. and we FIRE only in sefde-
tense, which, if it does not convince, is hardly de-
niable under the circumstances Near the Captain sits
the Surgeon, who s stationed here TO attend to any
wounded that may be brought ini but the wounded
are not numerous and there prevailing conviction
that the attention of The Surgeon has to be more fire.
quently directed to corn and its abuses, than to frac
lures or blood.
For the corn fields are very rich hereabout and the
men cannot possibly resist their reductions Cookery
ID practiced with neatness and dispatch in secure
treats. Com is boiled and roasted in ample quantities.
The biggest ears are gracefully eliminated from the
pot and presented form to the captain, who as grace
fully accepts and munches with dignity. Other ears
smaller but not less sweet, bestowed upon subord
nate officers Smoking pailsiul then taken 10 tho
outermost lines, and welcomed with enthusiasm.
The pickets this station do not snfer for Injuries
THE chickens from the deserted arm-hOuses, sayH
lieutenant, "are very aggressive. They attack and
bite men, and our men are bound to resent It. so
the odor of bo is the only perfume that some
times charges the atmosphere at Baeys Gross Roads
There il a cerllin hole in one aide Of the black
smith 3 house which affords a comprehensive view OF
all the enemy's operations The work on their de-
lenses appears have ceased for good, and the Rebel
soldiers do nothing but saunter nj lie about upon The
banks, until sent down 10 he,r picket work. Then
they rattle down the hill as bold you petse while
beyond range but a certain point they become eau
ous and adapt themselves TO the irregularities OF the
ground. Nohiog more is seen Of them until they
show furtivey NJ the little hufs on the boundary Of
their corn-fed-for they too, have con-held, as well
as we. They very ndistnct at this distance, and
look much better "A IL ia a pity that
our pickets should enjoy the exclusive advantage Of
their corer society. Let us travel down there and
share il for an hour or two.
The main road Leesburg turnpike has TO be crossed
carefully for any moving object its viii surface
proves rrcsstby tempt ng tho rebel sbarpshoOter
| call them sharpthooters ont Of technical courtesy,
and not because ey ever do anything 70 justify ttat
honorable title. stay shot might, however. he in
convenient, in spite Of he aimless customs Of the
enemy. Alter reaching the corn, which Is thickly
planted close the roadside all is comfortable again,
provided you can find your way. The stalks rise ten
or twelve feet and II not difficult matter TO get
lost in such labyrinth. Straight forward, about an
eighth OF mie distant, tie line Of pickets begins TO
appear. The first not much exposed, but Us they
stretch out III. ieft they fail we'll within range. It
Is al the extreme left, the edge Of the turnpike,
that the real activity displays itself Here il a curious
scene. Ltle PIE, about foot deep and Fix feet long,
have been dag out and the loose earth is thrown up
about two feet, afford protection when the bullets
come in too fast. Upon the tops Of these
little breastworks, the men Lave ranged corn
COBB with great care and precision, 20 Which they
point with pride, their artillery. There groups
of three four in each pit, and few stggers roam
unconcerned from post % post One rough jacket is
positively in the act Of executing comic in full
view Of the enemy, derisivey waving his cap at the
same time, and vociferatiug sarcasms. Suddenly be
stopt "Down !" s the word, and everybody drops.
The sbilant music Of bullet is heard, too far of,
aud the next instant the dance ia resumed, with att-
tndes still more defiant and bawayings Of still more
Strange es il may seem these shsrp-eyed fellows Of
ours can catch the puff Of smoke the enemys rifles
are drchaged and invariably escape the shot in this
manner.
There is great courtesy in their ption Of visitor
The hospitates Of their ditch at extended. IL
corn is prevalent at the moment usually is at all
moments, that too, is profiered. The peculares Of
the position, and particularly the tremendous battery
of COBB which brstles the breastworks gravely
explained They witty fellows, these Michigan
men, and they the dongs Of the day with great
yivaciy. How they first assailed at day break
four people never begin an attack and how they an-
swered holly, driving the scouts back; how they dis
covered the irritation they able to confer upon
their opponents by mockiDg gesicuaton, and how one
rebel became quite wild and uncomfortable about
at sight Of the comic dancer forgetting himself to such
degree TO hur profane execrations together with
his refesbot the valley how Michigan laughed
and sent bullets 30 thick about his that he dropped
bis weapon in his haste to get away.
For half an hour, they say, affairs have now been
rather quiet; but something" is expected soon.
Soon, indeed. down" is the word again. aud this
time not one but half Of outlets rush by and
overhead. That's the prims DONNA says one. 1t
seems they have learned TO accurately distinguish the
sound Of one kind of ball from another. rife is
much more cheerful weapon than mere musket. Il
Sings The musket only grumbles and buzzes. One
rifle sings SO rhrly and sharply that they call it the
prms donna. "Prymer donor" lie their way of put
ting it, But to the salute they make no immedi.
ate response Presently another Of the same descrp-
ton comes, and now they think it needs attention. The
weapons are carefully sighted resting on the breast
works, the kneeling One after another they pop
off in the direction of the nearest rebel hut There 10
ma saunA thance fnr fva or ten minnieA. hut with