Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-10-05
Pleasures of Picket Duty.

correspondent Of the New York Tribune
describes the pleasures of picket DUTY end
excltements which attend il. According to
bis view the Michigan troops arr about the
best fellows at this kind of work. They lie
in pits about six feet long and one deep, With
the earth thrown up iD front as II breastwork
The men when they first go out are naryous
and cautions but twenty four hours are
enough to get them used to the business, so
a. to bs able to estimate its risks and guard
against its dangers, They prefer corn field
Tor picket duty, both for its protection and its
fodder, and the denuded corn cobs are ranged
alone the esrthan breastwOrks in imitation
ot cannon and make quite a formidable array.
Here the pIckets lie watching an opportunity
to try their skill upon "secpsh." occasionally
varying the amosemrnt by dancing or
waving their bats upon a corn. stalk, to
irritats their enemies The first species Of
amusement is frequently interrupted by the
necessity OF dropping down so soon as they
see the smoke of ride or hear the singing
of n Mimic ball The rage which is sometimes
excited by these provoking ,sIna stious is
very amusing, and sometimes the "secesher"
is incsutious enough to show it in a way
which brings half dozen rifles bearing upon
his person, and generally with an "firct that
qnets him. Describing these operations be
says:
For balf an hour, they say eft ,irs have now
heen rather quiet hut something is expected
soon. Soon indeed. "Do~n," is the word
again and this time not one, but half score
OF bullets rush by and overhead. That's
the prima douna," says one. 1t seems they
have learned TO accurately distinguish the
sound OF one kind Of ball from another
rifle s much more cheerful wespon than q
mere musket. 1t sings The musket oCly
grumbes and buzz-s. One ride sings so
shrllly and sharply that the call il the prima
donna. "Prymer dOuner" is their way of
putting it. But to the warm salute they
make 90 immediate response. Presently
another OF the same description comes, and
now they thIGk it needs sttentinn. The
sesp1n are carefully sighted. resting on the
breas:works, the mrn kneelng. One after
smother they pop Of in the direction Of the
nearest rebel hat. There is no sound thence
Tor 6ve or ten mioptes; bat, With giase W.
soon SEE three men moving slowly up the hill
one f-ehly and droop'ngly supported by the
two others.
Psrceiving an nnusnally large group upon
a corner of the rebel earth work, one of our
men prepares himslf Tor IA long shot. A After
adjusting his piece; with the sight elevated to
the full one thousand yards, he is about to
hre, when acompanioo, who spying through
glass, says; "liold up women ap among
them!" The riaemsn lays down his plc-
With a sigb-he had been sure ot scattering
them that time. 1t always happens that the
shot which is interrupted, nippsd in The bar.
rel, as it we're. is just the one which would
have done more damage than any other shot
on record. had II only got fairly OF. The
raeman will have some kind OF sport for
compensation. He retreats within the corn
field, cuts corr stalk. trims il, and, rrtnrn-
ing, percbes his cap npon the end, and bobs
il above his rampsrts. IL INSTANTLY becomes
becomes a mark for rebel vengeance. After
a score or two Of shots have been discharged
straight at il. he slowly pushes il Of sloft
eight feet or so. disclosing the foil extent Of