The weekly Butte record., 1862-06-21
The Pickets Ruse
BY GEORGE ARNOLD.

OF an enemys position Is less mo1otonous tnan
might be supposed and is not unfrequently
diversified by incidents of much interest.
During the first days the troops are excited,
enthusiastic, and full Of feverish desire to
throw themselves at once upon the enemys
works trusting to numbers, courage, the bril-
liancy of the movement, and the aid of the
God of Battles. to drive out the opposing for
ces and occupy their intrenchments at single
I blow.
! But Generals are cooler in their methods.
They value brilliant feats sufficiently, and at
/ the decisive moment of actual engagement
make powerful use of the magnetism of physi-
cal daring but splendid dash is rarely a
good thing to begin with, and the soldiers in
vesting fortress or an armed city must do
much hard work and isolated skirmishng be
fore they are called upon to overwhelm the
I foe with torrent of fire and blood.
| As the days slip by, and earthworks begin
to mark the lines and angles of the besiegiug
army, bristling with the long black barrels of
field batteries and heavier siege-guns, the men
men get more accustomed to their position.
and acquire more tranquil manner of seeing
things. The enemy's banner waving defantly
above his works, no longer inspires them with
that impatient rage that marked the inception
The picket guards cease shooting at each other
save at intervals, when reconnaissance is the
81, -. l. 81.
less anxious to pick off the officers that expose
| themselves upon the wall or bastion from time
to time, and the working parties are more eau
tious to avoid the shells that the foe occasion
ally sends among them to prevent or delay the
construction of new works.
Now and then, too, they may get taste of
sharp fighting, and have the edge of their ap-
petites taken off in measure 4 redoubt
must be destroyed. 1t has sprung into exist
ence in single night, and its heavy guns bear
directly upon the weakest point of the besieg-
er's line. A hot, incessant fire from field
battery is opened upon it, under cover of which
some daredevil regiment rushes over the inter-
vening space between the armies, regardless of
the murderous hail-storm that sings from long
rihe-pits on either hand. The assault pours in
a close volley of musketry at short range, while
charging, and dashing upon the redoubt bayo.
nets every soldier who dares remain. Half
then keep up sharp fire from the parapet
while the other half overthrow the stockades
shovel down the earthworks, dismount and
spike the guns, food the magazines or put
long fuses to them. The return must be spec
dy, and is always fatal TO many. The path of
the brave fellows is marked by host of dead
and suffering, who must be picked up under a
white fag-the most melancholy and thankless
of all soldiers tasks. More and heavier guns
must be Immediately put in position to com
mand the site of this ruined work, and rifemen
must be detailed to pick off any engineers who
may attempt to rebuild it.
In some places, where the opposing lines lie
very near each other, the pckets exchange
words as we'll as bullets. As a general thing
the conversation is not remarkably instructive
1t consists, for the most part, of savage threats
against the commanders each sentry threaten
ing to hang draw, quarter, fay, behead, etc.
the others General. They also exchange in
formation concerning the numbers of men and
guns on their respective sides, but such num-
bers may always be set down as highly imagi-
native and apocryphal. This leads to accusa-
tions of untruthfulness, and this to personal
threats. A brief duel ensues, the seDtinels
popping away briskly at each other, from be-
hind trees, until one is hit or the relief comes
along, when the officer of the guard generally
puts stop to the waste of ammunition.
Such was the life of our army before York
town during a considerable time; and such
the incidents by which the monotony of the
siege was diversified. One of these later epi-
sodes betrayed so much ingenuity that l must
detail it here as a specimen of the cool and in
ventive shrewdness that the New England SOL
der exhibits even under circumstances OF per-
sonal danger, and with instant death staring
him in the face.
Private Joel Shapes, of hardworklng,
tough sinewed regiment of Vermont volunteers,
was good shot and smart soldier. He found
great satisfaction in picket-duty, and hardly
ever came in after days exercise in that
branch of military industry without having a
report to make to his superior officer, of some
new work discovered, some conversation over
heard, some little chance circumstances per-
ceived, that might be of use in gaining an
advantage over the enemy.
Joel was long, lanky, yellow-haired fellow,
not very soldiery in speech or bearing but of
infinitely more service than many one of our
snug, dapper, well-looking city soldiers. He
was frightfully sunburned, and his face, coarse
featured and demure, suggested good-humor
and power of endurance more than courage or
discipline. But there was twinkle about bis
small gray eyes, which enlveued them despite