Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-11-08

And then, with waive of his hand, a
silent adieu, the brave soldier retired
from their presence.
The officer of the guard Immediately
proceeded to station the sentinels, and
afterwards the piekets, all except the
outmost, whowas dismissed to his quarters
to rest until his services were required.
It is the custom of the Indian, when
he attacks the camp of the enemy, to
strike in the morning, just before the
day dawns, when sleep is thought to
rest heaviest on man, and the darkness
is most impenetrable. The latter is so
commonly believed, that it haseome to be
an adage: "The darkest hour is just
ere the day."
And this was the hour when the SER
vices ofthe outmost picketwere required.
"Come, Joe," said Captain Smelling,
laying his hand gently on the shoulder
of the sleeping sentinel. cit is past
midnight" @ 10
The young man sprang lightly from
his couch-a blanket spread upon the
ground-shook himself, rubbed the
sleep out of his eyes, donned his cap,
took up his gun, and said to his imme-
diate officer, as he had while before to
his general:
"I am ready!"
"Come, thenr' and the Captain led
the way.
Joe followed, or rather walked by his
side, eating biscuit as they proceeded,
to fortify himself against the cravings
of hunger and the chilliness of the at
mosphere.
At length they rea ched the post, far
in advance of the others, on the edge of
a dense thicket of long grass and under
growth, from which the danger was ap-
pretended.
Here Captain Smelling repeated the
orders of the general, shook the forlorn
sentinel fervently by the hand, uttered
a short, earnest prayer for his safety,
and retraced his steps to the camp.
And the picket was left alone, in the
midst of fatal danger, the guardian of
an army's safety.
I was a trying position. The post
was midway between the hostile forces.
1t lay directly in the course of the
enemy if they advanced. 1t was in the
midst of dense wood, and the darkness
was impenetrabls.
And here he was to remain for hours
The slightest stir might
betray his presence to the quick ear of
a lrking foe. Only the night before,
two sentinels had been shot dead, as
they slowly beat their posts. 1t was an
unpleasant fact to have for company.
The young man leaned against tree
for support. An hour elapsed, and not
a breath of air had rustled the leaves
Another followed, and the death-like
stiffness remained. And all this, while
he had not stirred in the slightest meas
ure.
1t was the third week in August, and
the weather was dry and sultry; yet he
began to experience chilling TT NOR in
his limbs, and rigidity in his joints, so
exceedingly painful as to orequire change
of position.
But before venturing to shift his atti-
tude, he listened for several minutes
with increased intentiveness, to satisfy
himself that the contemplated change
would not be attended with danger. AS
during the period already elapsed the
stiffness was profound.
Convinced that no living object was
near he turned noiselessly upon his heel
and glided behind the tree, where he
stretched his limbs, and set his blood in
free circulation. Then, passing on, he
leaned himself against the other side Of
the tree, and resumed his watch.
But Immediately after, he was startled
by sound resembling football. He
listened, but hearing nothing, thought
himself mistaken. And then he heard
it again. Now it was more distinct
1t was not free foot-step, but creep
ing movement.
Not for moment did he doubt that
it was an Indian warrior, who, in some
manner, had obtained knowledge of his
purpose, and waited all that long while
to discover his exact position, that his
arrow might carry, in its barbed point.
quick and certain death.
The creeping continued, and the
sounds grew more and more distinct
He felt that it was unsafe to let the
stealthy creature approach too near be-
fore he challenged.
"Who comes there?' he demanded
in low firm voice.
Instantly the creeping ceased. A
death like stiffness ensued. Moments
elapsed, and it continued. Then other
moments followed, and still it continued.
And during every one of these he ex-
pected to feel the point of a poisonous
arrow enter his breast.
Meanwhile, he continued to lean
against the tree, motionless, with his
face turned toward the point whence
the sound proceeded; but so deep was
the darkness, that not an object of any
kind ceuld be discerned. How long he
remained in this suspense, he was un-
able to conjecture, but it seemed life
time.
At last, when he almost began to
doubt whether his own ears had not de-
ceiyed him, the creeping was resumed.
He waited long enough to satisfy hin
self that it was growing nearer, and
then he renewed hir challenge;
"Who comes there?'
Again the creeping instantly ceased.
Another death like stiffness ensued.-
Moments elapsed, and others followed.
The suspense was even greater than be-
fore, for the time was increased while
the distance was diminished; in addi-
ton to which, the danger was enlarged
by the proximity. OF this he was in
tensely sensible. And his heart began
to tremble, like the hummiusbird 5
wing-not with apprehension, but with
dread uncertainty.
At length the creeping was again re-
sumed, and it continued to approach
It was not but three or four rods aYay.