Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-07
For the Daily State Sentinel.
Gut ON Picket.

BY LIEUTENANT JEROME BEALs.
Bang Dorm. hogs, there comes a rebel bull
let. At tine word dorm. all the boys the post
lay fiat to escape the MIME ball, or perhaps some
sporting rifle. Where we were pcketing not
many miles from MuuSons Hill We did picket
duty by companies. relieving each other every
day having to walk some three miles to
camp When the relief came up--and can as
sure you it was great relief, too, when it did
come. for lying on ones back or side for twenty
four hours. not daring hardly to raise ones head.
if YOU did n bullet was sure to follow, is any
thing but pleasant, however we enjoy i, after
getting used to it, was quickly done Our com.
pany had. usual thing. the lett wing OF the
picket, and 10 station men TO relieve these
required considerable caution, having to take
particular caution in front of the barn where we
had TO get as near on to our hards and knees as
possible 10 escape being seen. as we'll a 10 escape
the bullets Alter getting our men all posted.
and the proper instructions given them. we would
retire 10 the house OF Father " ech, a. we used
10 call him, which was close at hand. lie was
quite an aged man, and in former times used to
superintend the Arlington Mills, owned by Geo.
Washington CuStSs This We made headquar-
tcrs-h.s daughter and excellent lady serving
those who wished meals at twenty five cents
each. This kind OF living WAS change from
our rations in camp, and | can assure YOU that
every boy who had any currency, boards there
while on picket, provided he could get some one
to ''stand fast while he ate his meal. The in
structinns 10 sentinels were 10 keep q good look
out, but not TO fire muSket unless the enemy
made an advance As soon an officer turned
his back, bang would so musket Go imme-
diately to the post. and inquire who shot.
didn't not |, and - it would 20. never ascertain
ing lcbo shot, but as soon rs our boys saw
lahoo thew were certain 10 fire.
and, general thing, bringing down
their man. One day one of company Ks men
LETT his post TO procure some milk from a house;
he did and as he was returning, bullet struck
him on his belt plate Gin the waist going com-
pleleiy through him. | saw and conyersed with
the poor fellow who was game. and before he
vas taken of IN an ambulance, he seemed quite
cheerful and in full hopes that he would recover
Tie was removed to Alexandria. where he died in
the Hospital. his last words being "Hurrah bows
tor the Union" He Ell like a soldier and we
mourn for him such. Shortly after this one
oi company G's men cot little too high up and
received ball through both lungs he fingered
lev DAYS and finally died. At times our iring
betw cen pickeis would he almost like battle 50
ineessant would be the firing bang, bang bang
the bullets living IN all directions, now filling n
tree and sending the bark into ones ewes land
such was frequently the case) now little lower
where il strikes our Qualifications for such we have
on picket the boys building them ia the uight,
each one having It's respective name.
While on picket duty. almost always had an
aid-Ge camp in the shape OF corporal to carry
messages 10 the different parts when did not
feel like going myself. One day (and an unlucky
one il was for HIM | sent message to post
by my aid in company with brother corporal
who. happening 10 Get too high up. bang went a
sporting rife and down they both went, one says
~ the other. George I'm hit Ne YOU Amt I'm
hit: aud 80 the conversation went on until blood
decided the matter and, in fact, they we're both
bit. a. the ball entered one corporal. struck him
N the back and coming out OF bis shoulder
struck the other corporal on the arm The one
tlnt vas severely wounded. fny aid de canin,
came up 10 father elch's, j asked him what
was the matter. he said 'nothing, only the Ya
hoos have let me know thew we've around .
| told him he must have been very care
les bis reply was that he did not dodge quite
QUICK enough Well. thank fortune. he recover
81 and Is quite well. Speaking OF lodging bull
lets is i quite trade and none DO il successfully
without having learned the ,rade But we got 80
used to il that we could DO il to perfection. with
an occasional mistake as We are all liable to-
also the bullet that coming we could tell
whether j; was a mimic niusket sporting rifle or
one OF our common muskets The sporting rife