The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-02-28

ing about, ard he himself is determined no,
to furnish another lesson of the kind to hi.
fellows.
THE POST.
The post, in this instance, is one of thos,
little wash-houses, beside spring, which ar,
one of the peculiar institutions of the slave
states. 1t is situated almost at the foot O
the old oak aforesaid, and is not far from ter
feet square, and of height sufficient for the
occupants to stand upright without trouble
A dozen rods beyond it is hole, surround.
ed by loose stones, which is readily recog.
nized as the former cellar of house which
some earnest rebel consigned to the flames
before he turned his face finally toward Ma
nassas. The wash-house itself is clarrei and
blackened on the outside, showing that it was
saved from the fate of the dwelling only by
the humidity of the logs of which it is COM
posed. The window in one end has been
closed with pieces of logs, and sort of door
has been formed of the same materials. In
side, in rude hunks against the wall, are "
ing the three pickets eff duty this detach-
ment being posted in groups, or just as they
would be deployed as skirmishers.) None Of
them are asleep, but they are discussing the
intensity of the cold, and the several subjects
of research belonging to the place and the
hour.
COLD PROSPECT.
AS We stand on the post We have supposed
ourselves, reader and writer, to be visiting .at
midnight, on this cold winter night, it is to
be confessed that the prospect of the picket
IS not remarkably brilliant and attractive. II
he had fire at the cabin, or any sheltered
nook in the vicinity, he would hardly dare
avail himself of its warmth, for has he not
been warned that the enemy's prowling cav
airy are liable to visit him at any moment ?
He has nothing to do but to pace to ard fro,
and keep himself as warm as he can by his
own resources, and at the same time keep 4
good lookout in every direction. If the cold
mist should chance TO turn into a colder
s.eety rain, so much the worse for him, but
he must still keep his eyes and ears open,
and perform his allotted share of the nights
work.
We're it not for those stout gloves some
kind friend has sent him in Christmas box.
it is question if his hands would not be 81
cold that he would be unable, in case of sud
den attack, to hold his gun to his shoulder
and pull the trigger. His feet, stout as are
his boots, fairly ache with the cold, and he is
compelled to cut sundry capers in behalf Of
half frozen members, which are more violent
than elegant.
THE DIGNITY OF THE SENTINEL.
But, for all that, be on your guard against
undertaking the dignity of picket or any
other sentry whatever. For he not only has
legal power of life and death. but the cold
instrument in his hands with which to pu,
that power into practice. If Gen Mcclellan
or Abraham Lincoln himself, were TO endea-
vor to pass that picket without the counter
sign, or if those distinguished gentlemen
were to refuse TO halt at the picket's COM
mand. then their blood would be upon their
own heads if he shot them on the spot In
his particular province the!picke. is autocrat-
ic as the Gar himself Ifhe chooses TO pass a
colored vender Of biscuits, or friend who
presents him with a bottle Of "old rye" in
lieu of the countersign, who shall gainsay his
wisdom? Or. if he chooses not TO let his
own colonel pass when he does not have the
magic word, as sometimes happens, and if
peradventure, he shall keep that colonel shiv-
erins at the point of the bayonet for an hour
or two, under pretence of not knowing him.
albeit he knoweth him as well as he knoweth
his own father, verify, even in this case, is
the sentry not refuged within the limits Of
his just and legal power?
"GRAND ROUNDS"
AT the dead of night, in the "small hours,
it is customary for the officer in charge of the
pickets to make tour of observation among
them. to see that everything is going as il
should. On these occasion, as in regula,
camp duty, the escort of the officer is a ils
of men and sergeant. No sooner does ths
party approach to within a few rods Of ths
sentinel than he challenges them: "Wht
goes there ?" bringing his piece to port
The answer is "Grand Rounds" :" Halt
Grand Rounds. :" is the peremptory command
of the picket, and the party halt, when h
adds: "Advance, sergeant, and give tn
countersign.' The sergeant advances, and
as soon as he is within five PAGES the pickle
brings his piece TO the position of charg
bayonet, and the sergeant whispers the wor'
as he halts Immediately in front of the weap
on. The sentry then says, The countersigl
is correct-advance, Rounds :" and faces f
the front, shouldering his piece, while tn
Rounds pass on. In the immediate pres
ence of the enemy this ceremonious inspec
ton is omitted. The countersign is some
times the name of State, running through
from Maine to California, and sometimes is
name of battle, as Palo Alto, or Waterloo
or number, as twenty, or forty-two.